State Senator Harriet Spanel recently announced that she plans to retire her Senate seat at the end of this term, on Jan. 1 2009.

Spanel has served in the State Legislature for 22 years, for the 40th Legislative District – north of Burlington to Bellingham and including Anacortes and the San Juan Islands.

Spanel is the Majority Caucus Chair and serves on the Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation, Rules and Transportation committees. She also serves on the Transportation Subcommittee overseeing Phase Two of the Ferry Finance Legislation HS 2358.