Washington Senate Votes to Oust Transportation Secretary

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The state Senate has rejected the gubernatorial appointment of Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson, ousting her from the job she has held since shortly after Gov. Jay Inslee took office in 2012. The rare move was taken by the Senate Friday, with majority Republicans and a Democrat who caucuses with them voting 25-21 to remove Peterson. Some Democrats argued the act was a political ploy taken in an election year. Peterson, who came to Washington after working as a transportation adviser to Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, has had a tenure filled with controversy over problems surrounding transportation projects like delays on the new 520 bridge and the ongoing troubles with the Seattle tunnel project to replace the Alaska Way Viaduct.