Helen Sommers: An Oral History

pg. 80 Helen’s Final Day of Her Legislature Career!
process forward.
You are a strong woman role model, but you’re
also a model for all of us. You have stood up and
stood strong for the people of your district and
the people of the state of Washington. It has been
a pleasure to watch you work. It is almost defying
at times to see how you can turn the entire process
at your will.
So, a very humbled man stands in front of you
and realizes that this state has lost a treasure! I
will miss you and I know my (Republican) Caucus
will miss you!”
Rep . Hans Dunshee (D-44 th District) Vice-Chair of
the Appropriations Committee
when Helen was Chair: Madam
Chair: “Thank you!” I’ve
learned at the knee of a Great
Chair! As I think about what
I have learned first of all, I
know that a few words are
best, so this will be short and
no fuss. Thank you for enduring
us again; I know you were
adverse to this.
Rep. Han Dunshee
The things I’ve learned, like “the look” that can
freeze a legislator in his or her tracks are admirable
things. A glance that can freeze a buffalo, in fact, as
the representative from the 13 th District will testify
to. (laughter) A pause of a nature that makes the
legislator realize that, if they withdraw their request
right now, they might survive the next few minutes.
An “eyebrow” that can make you question your
intelligence – I got a lot of those! (laughter)
But really, and to be short, no person has advanced
the cause of liberty, justice, equality and wisdom in
our state as much as you have! Your shadow will be
long. I’m not going to give you the list of your amazing
accomplishments, for it, too, will be very long
and very large. But because of you, our communities
are safer, our schools are better, our families are
safer, our environment is cleaner, and our economy
is stronger because of you!
You cast a long shadow, but that shadow is light!
And that light will go far into the future. I want to
thank you for that light. Thank you, Madame Chair.”
Rep . Gary Alexander (R-20 th District) Ranking
Minority on House Appropriations
Committee: “Thank you,
Mr. Speaker. I’ve had the
pleasure of working with the
great lady from the 36 th District
for about one-third of
her tenure in the Legislature,
about 12 years. During those
12 years I’ve either sat two
seats down; or in the last four
Rep. Gary Alexander
years, right next to the great
lady. I’d look over there, and
occasionally I kind of glance at that gavel she has
in her hand, and she turns to me and says “Look,
but don’t touch!” (laughter)
I can’t tell you how many members from my
(Republican) caucus said, “Gary, can you go talk
to Helen? (laughter) We can’t go in there, can you?”
Like, I’m going to have some kind of influence on
that process. (laughter)
What dignity, what respect, and what amount
of history! I’m going to miss Helen dearly, but this
whole institution is going to miss the historical
information she has in her head. Let us not forget
about history, but make a commitment to remember.
That is the best we can do for Helen Sommers. We
can commit to remember what she brought to this
body and the information imparted to us, and the
leadership she provided us; and the guidance she’s
given us on both sides of the aisle.
I hope that someday there will be a building
named on this Capital Campus for one of the great
leaders in our budgetary
operations in the state.
Helen, it’s been a pleasure
to work with you! Thank
you very much.”
Rep. Bill Hinkle (R-13 th District)
acknowledges Helen’s 36 years
of “Integrity”