The following is a release from the King County Republican Party:

Dino Rossi, Toby Nixon and Joel Hussey were selected as candidates to replace the late Sen. Andy Hill by 45th District precinct officers and King County GOP officials in a special meeting Nov. 19 in Woodinville.

Rossi, a former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, is now a resident of the 45th District following redistricting in 2010. Nixon, a Kirkland City Council member, is a former state representative from the 45th and a Microsoft senior program manager. Joel Hussey is a former candidate for state representative, school board president and owner of an aircraft leasing company.

Candidates were selected in numerical order with Rossi named to the first position followed in order by Nixon and Hussey.

“I am proud of these three outstanding individuals,” said King County GOP Chairman Lori Sotelo. “Any one of them would make a great legislator. I am hoping the King County Council will follow the wishes of Senator Hill’s district precinct officers and appoint their first choice, Dino Rossi. He is uniquely qualified, as a former senator and budget chair, to make an enormous contribution on behalf of his constituents this year.”

Sotelo added, “The King County Republican Central Committee entrusts the King County Council to make a swift decision regarding the appointment in honor of the dedicated public servant, Senator Andy Hill.”

Sammamish Deputy Mayor Ramiro Valderrama, a 2016 candidate for state representative, was nominated as well by precinct officers but declined the nomination citing his desire “to continue my work on behalf of the citizens of Sammamish and to allow the process to be unified moving forward.”

The King County Council now has 60 days to choose from among the three nominees and name the new interim senator for the 45th District. The 2017 legislative session begins Jan. 9.