Wife of senator on military duty to fill in for him

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Sen. John Braun's wife has been sworn in as a temporary senator in order to fill in for the Centralia Republican while he's participating in required military training for the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Marlo Braun was sworn in by Lewis County District Court Judge Wade Samuelson on the Senate floor. The move comes following majority approval by county officials in District 20 of a request of her husband, who invoked a little-used provision for a fill-in so his district wouldn't go unrepresented during the final days of the third special session that ends Thursday.

The last time a temporary senator was sworn in under the provision was in 2005, when Spokane Republican John Wyss served three days for then-Sen. Brad Benson, a major in the Air National Guard.