A bill that would expand the list of people eligible to fill vacant positions within a county sheriff’s office gained unanimous approval in the Washington House of Representatives Wednesday.  Goldendale Representative Gina Mosbrucker introduced the bill.  She says in rural counties in particular, sheriff’s offices are having a hard time filling vacancies.  Existing law only allows the Civil Service Commission to certify the names of the three highest persons on the eligibility list for consideration to fill a vacancy in the sheriff’s office., while Mosbrucker’s bill increases that to five.  She says the three-person limit makes it difficult for sheriff’s departments to plan for succession, retirement, and recruitments, adding municipal police officers and fire departments have operated under a “rule of five” since 1937.  The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.