Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, offered this remembrance of former Rep. Lynn Schindler, after learning she had passed away unexpectedly last night.

“I knew Lynn well before she got into politics – which was after raising 10 children – and was not at all surprised that once she became a member of the House, she was an absolute paragon of what a legislator ought to be.

“In addition to being a solid conservative who reflected the values of the 4th District, she displayed a great ability to work with people on both sides of an issue to accomplish things.

“Her work at the committee level was first-rate, she had a sterling reputation, and she made such a positive impression during her 10 years in the House that years later, people around the Capitol would still ask me about her. My family and hers has stayed in touch; I was very sorry to learn that she had passed away and will remember her fondly.”

Rep. Schindler was appointed in mid-1998 to the 4th Legislative District seat Padden had once held, before he became a Spokane County District Court judge in 1995; she was elected to four more terms in the House before stepping down after the 2008 election.