Helen Sommers: An Oral History

“This District isn’t big enough for both of us!”
Oral History, he was asked why you didn’t go on
for higher office; why you stayed in the House for
your 36 year career.
His response: “Helen didn’t want to. She was very
comfortable in the House.” He also said you could
“certainly have moved to the Senate or could have
gone on to U.S. Congress; maybe King County Executive!”
But, he said, you were happy in the House.
Representative Sommers: I was always very happy
in the House. I had attained positions of leadership
in a number of committees dealing with issues that
were very important to me.
I chaired the State Government Committee, the
Revenue Committee, Higher Education and the
Capitol Budget committees. I also was chair of the
Democratic Caucus. And then in 1994, I moved to
serve as chair of House Appropriations Committee
for a total of eight years, as well as co-chair for
three years. The Appropriations Committee is the
one I really wanted to chair. I got that opportunity
when my friend, Rep . Gary Locke won the race to
be King County Executive in 1993, and I succeeded
him as Chair of Appropriations.
pg. 21