The Metropolitan King County Council on Monday appointed David Frockt to fill the vacant state Senate seat in North Seattle's 46th Legislative District caused by the death of Sen. Scott White last month.

The council acted unanimously on the recommendation of 46th District Democratic officers and the King County Democratic Central Committee who overwhelmingly chose Frockt to succeed White, a Democrat who died at 41 from cardiac arrest linked to an enlarged heart.

Frockt, 42, is a lawyer and freshman state representative.

The process will be repeated in coming weeks to select a replacement for Frockt in the state House.

More than 10 candidates are expected to compete for Frockt's seat. A handful of applicants are likely to land in the top five, said Andrew Villeneuve a vice chairman for King County Democrats.

They are: Sylvester Cann, a former aide to White; Gerry Pollet, who ran unsuccessfully against White in 2008; Sarajane Siegfriedt, a longtime 46th District activist; and Javier Valdez, another party activist who has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott.

Democrats in the 46th District are likely to vote on Frockt's replacement at a Dec. 1 meeting. They will forward three names to the county Democratic Central Committee. Under a process spelled out in the state constitution, the party committee will then forward three names to the County Council.

Villeneuve said the central committee will very likely defer to the 46th District's three favorites. "It's their district, their representative," Villeneuve said.

Frockt will jump into his new Senate role when the Legislature convenes Nov. 28 for a special budget session.

To retain the seat, Frockt would need to run next November to finish the remainder of White's term, which ends in 2014. After that, he could then run for a full four-year term.

County Council member Bob Ferguson, who lives in the 46th District, said he had "tremendous" respect for Frockt's intellect and work ethic.

In his first term in the Legislature, Frockt said, he tried above all to be accessible and open-minded in working with lawmakers from both parties.

"I'm humbled by trying to follow someone of Scott's caliber," he said.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com