The Senate Democratic Caucus unanimously voted Thursday to appoint Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, as the assistant ranking Democrat for the operating budget and as the second-highest ranking Democrat on the state Senate’s Ways and Means Committee.

Ranker will remain a member of the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee, but will no longer serve as ranking member.

“I’m honored to have been selected by my peers to take on these new challenges,” Ranker said. “Constructing a state budget which represents the values of our state and our local communities is of the utmost importance to us all.”