Helen Sommers: An Oral History

Section Vii
the press: newspaper artICles throuGh
rep. helen sommers 36 Year Career
Representative Helen Sommers has been in the public eye throughout
her 36-year career in Washington state government. As her role in
the House of Representatives grew, she served as Chair of five House
Committees, and she was involved in Washington state budgets for
more than three decades. As the only member to have served during
the two historic 49-49 ties in the House (1979-80 and 1999-2001) the
press has been interested in her knowledge, her power and her respect
in the process.
Helen Sommers was not someone who coveted the attention of the
media. But she was respected in most circles of the state’s newspapers,
TV and radio.
In this section of the Helen Sommers Oral History, we are including
some of the newspaper stories that reflect her personality, her knowledge,
and her leadership.
This section of some newspaper articles about Helen over the years are
just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of the media perspective of Helen Sommers.