Helen Sommers: An Oral History

Mary Lou Dickerson
Alaska Way Viaduct and its replacement. We both
believed that it was not fiscally sound to replace
the Viaduct with the initial tunnel plan. Several
years ago the first projections for the replacement
were $11 billion. This was the first projection by
the City of Seattle and the state.
I remember attending a hearing in the City Council
Chamber where Helen testified and essentially
said, “Look, the Emperor has no clothes!” “There’s
no way we’re going to fund $11 billion to replace
the Viaduct, so you need to go back to the drawing
board!” That was, I think, a very courageous act
on her part. She knew that if we spent $11 billion
on the Viaduct, there wouldn’t be money for other
very important things. There are statewide needs
that also must be met. So, Helen and I worked on
the Viaduct over the years.
The 2009 session was the first session Helen
missed after 36 years in the House. I think Helen
took the right year to retire! 2009 was an extremely
brutal session for all of us because of the enormous
deficit and the need to cut and, in some cases,
eliminate programs that provided a great deal
of service to the people of Washington. I’m glad
she didn’t have to go through that! Helen gave so
much of her life to the people of this state through
her work in the Legislature, so although I’m glad
for her sake she wasn’t here for this session, she
certainly was missed.
In 2008 at the end of the session when Helen
announced she’d be retiring at the end of the year,
Eileen Cody and I organized a campaign to buy her
a lovely piece of Dale Chihuly art glass. Most House
members and House staff, and many members of
the Senate as well, pitched in and that, I believe,
shows the respect we have held for Helen; that the
entire Legislature held for Helen! (We gave it to her
privately after the 2008 session ended.)
Helen has traveled the world throughout her
legislative career. She, of course, had lived and
worked in Venezuela before she came to Washington.
I believe that Helen’s world view was informed
by her travel and that helped her form many of her
positions on issues.
Also, Helen and I both love art. She goes to
Georgetown every year where they have an art
pg. 151
show, and she got many of her prized art pieces
there, and also from around the world.
Let me share one more comment about my
friend Helen Sommers. Even though before I came
to Olympia as a legislator, I felt intimidated by
Helen when I first met her, I soon found her to be
very warm and delightful and that she had a very
good sense of humor. A lot of people didn’t know
that about Helen. And, I can also say that when
she’s away from the office, has dinner and a glass
of good wine, she does let her guard down. She’s a
wonderful person and a great friend.
In 2000, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson authored
the book “Small Victories” about premature births.
Small Victories – Conversations about Prematurity,
Disability, Vision Loss, and Success is an
amazing collection of the life stories of people who
where born prematurely and are now adults.
In this interesting compilation, adult “preemies”
relate their experiences growing up - at home, in
school and at work - providing insights on how
being born prematurely has effected their lives.
Compassionate and thoughtful, Mary Lou Dickerson
provides interviews with twenty men and
women from around the United States, who were
born prematurely 30 - 50 years ago.