Deputy Mayor Julie Anderson, who is currently running for Pierce County Auditor, has announced today is her last day as a senior policy advisor for the State of Washington, a position she held since March 2007.

In a statement released by her campaign, Anderson said the decision to ultimately resign from the Department of Commerce was “necessary, but not easily reached.”

“When I filed for candidacy, I knew this would be a tough race,” she said. “I didn’t want to work full-time as a State employee and run a serious campaign simultaneously. I resigned to protect the integrity of State government and to show that I am serious about this campaign.”

In her role at the Washington State Department of Commerce (formerly known as CTED), Anderson served as a liaison between the organization’s director, external partners and the Governor’s policy staff.