Helen Sommers: An Oral History

Preface
Interviewer’s Reflections on Rep. Helen Sommers
As a longtime
staff person for the
House, the Senate
and, way back when,
the Governor’s office,
my first-ever
attempt to conduct
an Oral History interview
gave me a
unique insight into the 36 year career of Representative
Helen Sommers. Helen and I both retired from the
Washington state House of Representatives about the
same time. Helen concluded her amazing career at
the end of her 18th Dan Monahan & Helen Sommers 2010
term on Jan. 9, 2009. As a House
staffer, I had retired nine days earlier.
Helen Sommers began her career in the House of
Representatives when she was elected for the first
time in 1972, and served in her first session in January
1973. I first came to the House as a staffer for the
House Democratic Caucus in 1975, so I knew and
worked with Helen Sommers in her second term,
and I followed her amazing 36-year career in the
House from near and far away. In 1975, I worked for
the House of Representatives Democratic Caucus
in the communications area, writing press releases,
newsletters and doing interviews with members for
radio broadcasts across Washington state. I had
nine years in broadcasting and had my B.A. from
Eastern Washington University in Political Science
and Journalism. I came to Olympia after the end
of EXPO ’74 in Spokane, where I had worked for a
few years in communications and public relations.
I served on House staff for only two years, but it
gave me an opportunity to see first hand the legislative
process. I got to know many of the individual
members in the leadership in the House, including
Leonard Sawyer, John Bagnariol, John L. O’Brien,
Wayne Ehlers, Bud Shinpoch and Helen Sommers.
In 1976, I was hired by newly elected Congressman
Norm Dicks where I served as his first Press
Secretary. I moved to Washington, D.C. when
Jimmy Carter had just been elected president.
Our congressional delegation was: Sens. Warren
Magnuson and Henry Jackson; Rep. Tom Foley
(who later would become Speaker of the House);
pg. 3
and Reps. Joel Pritchard, Al Swift, Don Bonker,
Mike McCormack, Mike Lowry and Norm Dicks!
After Norm’s first term and his reelection to a
second term (he’s now on his 34 th year), I returned
to Olympia as deputy Press Secretary to Gov. Dixy
Lee Ray, who was midway through her one term as
Governor. But, most importantly, I moved home to
wed (1979) my wonderful wife, DeNise, and to raise
our three daughters. (We now have six grandkids
(ages: newborn to 9!)
After Dixy, I returned to the Legislature, as Communications
Director for the Senate for six years;
and in 1988 returned to the House in communications
and in administration for 21 more years until
I retired in 2009. So, for much of my career, I knew
Helen Sommers, worked with her, and admired her
and her career in the House of Representatives.
When I retired from the House, Chief Clerk Barbara
Baker graciously asked me if I’d like to do an
Oral History with Rep. Helen Sommers who was
retiring from the House after 36 years of service to
Washington. I was excited to take on this project
because of my respect for Helen Sommers, and my
eagerness to share Helen’s amazing accomplishments
for the state of Washington.
Helen, as you will read in this Oral History,
worked to bring women to the forefront of state
government; she was the guardian of higher education;
she made tough decisions on how to protect
the state’s resources through good times and bad.
And, she served her state with great distinction.
But, you will also see that Helen, unlike many people
in politics, didn’t take a lot of credit for her accomplishments
– ‘she was just ‘doing her job!’ She avoided
the fanfare. As you read Helen’s often ‘under-stated
comments’ about her amazing career and then read
the comments of Governors; Speakers of the House;
Representatives and Senators; House staff, you’ll see
that Helen Sommers truly was surprised by the praise
and accolades she received throughout her 36 years
of service to Washington. And you’ll read about the
appreciation and respect of Helen from leaders on
both sides of the political aisle. The Legislature will
never be the same without Helen Sommers.
Dan Monahan