Dunlap (born October 31, 1937) served three terms as Washington State Representative from the 41st District, representing Bellevue, Mercer Island and Renton starting in 1974; he would later be appointed the second King County Executive, succeeding John Spellman, for eleven months starting in January 1981.
Spellman had resigned as Executive following his election as the 18th Governor of Washington.
Dunlap was defeated by Randy Revelle in the November 1981 election for King County Executive.