State Sen. Steve Conway, D-South Tacoma, presiding pro tempore over a pro forma Senate session on Jan. 15 Democratic state Sen. Steve Conway, a liberal lion and unapologetic voice for labor throughout a 34-year career in the Washington Legislature, announced Wednesday he will not seek reelection this fall. “This will be my last session in the Legislature, and I can tell you, it was a hard decision,” he told colleagues on the Senate floor. “I have to turn the page, start a new chapter. I love all of you. I have loved this place.” Conway, 81, of South Tacoma, has represented the 29th Legislative District in Pierce County since winning a special election in 1993. He spent 18 years in the House before winning the Senate seat in 2010 following the retirement of Rosa Franklin. He is the longest actively serving Democrat in Washington’s state Legislature, according to the Senate Democratic Caucus. Democratic state Rep. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, confirmed late Wednesday she would run for the seat. “She has my full support,” said her district seatmate, Rep. Melanie Morgan, D-Spanaway. Morgan, who is in her eighth year and one of the caucus’s senior members, said the two lawmakers did discuss
