Scott White (politician)

Scott Benton White (June 8, 1970 – October 21, 2011)^[1] was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Washington State Senate representing the 46th legislative district. His district included much of North Seattle, including the neighborhoods of Northgate, Greenwood, Bitter Lake, Broadview, Haller Lake, Pinehurst, Olympic Hills, Maple Leaf, Lake City, Wedgwood, View Ridge, Laurelhurst, and Windermere.^[2]

Scott White
Scott White, March 2011
Member of the Washington Senate from the 46th district
In office January 10, 2011 – October 21, 2011
Preceded by	Ken Jacobsen
Succeeded by	David Frockt
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 46th district
In office January 12, 2009 – January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Jim McIntire
Succeeded by	David Frockt
Personal details
Born	(1970-06-08)June 8, 1970 Olympia, Washington, U.S.
Died	October 21, 2011(2011-10-21) (aged 41) Kittitas County, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Alison Carl White
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Washington, Western Washington University
Occupation	Politician

Political career

White served in a variety of professional and community leadership positions before being elected to the legislature. He was a former Chief of Staff to the Metropolitan King County Council and served as budget and policy staff in both the Washington State Legislature and King County governments. He taught graduate-level courses in public policy at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington. In 2004 he was selected as a Marshall Fellow by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. White served on the board of Humanities Washington, the Public Policy Committee of the United Way of King County, and as a grassroots organizer for the Democratic Party.

During his 2011–2012 term, White's assignments in the Senate would have included serving in leadership as Majority Whip, as Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, and serving on the Higher Education and Rules Committees.

Personal life

A fourth-generation Washingtonian, White lived in the Wedgwood neighborhood of North Seattle with his wife, Alison Carl White, and their two young children.^[3]

Death

On October 21, 2011, White was found dead in a hotel room at Suncadia Resort.^[4] The coroner's report indicated that the cause was a cardiac problem linked to a previously undiagnosed enlarged heart.^[5] A proposal to add White's name to either the Roosevelt or University of Washington light rail stations was passed by the state house in 2015.^[6] Sound Transit instead dedicated the plaza at Northgate station for White.^[7]