Medved remains sedated in hospital

Metropolitan King County Council members and more than 100 others have contacted Acting Assessor Rich Medved's election campaign or his family to express their concern since he suffered a stroke Tuesday morning, his campaign reported Thursday.

Medved, 56, remained sedated at a hospital Thursday as doctors used medications to control swelling and blood pressure after the hemorrhagic stroke, said campaign consultant Cathy Allen.

It remains unclear when he may resume his official duties or his campaign for assessor. Allen said council members "seem to be looking for a signal" about how they should handle the appointment of an assessor to serve until after the November election.

"There are two options here," Allen said: "Let it ride until we know what's happening to Rich or ... take the person he would most want to be working in his stead. I can't tell you which of those two he would prefer."

Chief appraiser Lynn Gering took over the duties of assessor when Medved was hospitalized. The County Council deadlocked Monday on whether to appoint Medved or Gering assessor in the wake of former Assessor Scott Noble's resignation last month.

Times staff and news services