Career
After serving as a top Senate Republican for several years, Zarelli announced his retirement at the end of his current term on May 19, 2012
Jaime Herrera was an intern in Zarelli"s office and he was a major supporter of her rise in politics. According to his official Legislative biography, Senator Zarelli owns a company specializing in business development and risk management services. He has an Associate"s degree from Clark College.
He served in the United States. Navy from 1982 to 1989.
The couple filed petitions for divorce and for legal separation in November 2013. Zarelli was briefly dogged by controversy in 2002 when the Seattle Times reported on the fact that he collected unemployment while simultaneously serving in the State Legislature.
This was seen as especially embarrassing because Zarelli had a well-established political identity as a fiscal conservative firmly opposed to state services of all kinds. The controversy soon passed.
