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Senator Joe
McDermott
34th District
Seattle
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Nov. 30, 2007
McDermott named to Senate committees, ready to
‘hit the ground running’
OLYMPIA – Sen. Joe McDermott (D-Seattle) has been
named to three influential senate committees, capitalizing on his
experience with issues ranging from education to civil rights.
McDermott will serve on the Early Learning & K-12 Education,
Governmental Operations & Elections and Judiciary committees.
more>>>
October 15, 2007
McDermott appointed to the Senate
In his fourth term with the House, the West Seattle Democrat
changes chambers
OLYMPIA – This afternoon state Representative Joe McDermott
was appointed by the Metropolitan King County Council to the State
Senate to replace Erik Poulsen who resigned earlier this month.
"It's an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of the 34th
District,” said Sen. McDermott after taking the oath. “I will take my
passion for education and equal rights to the Senate.”
“We look forward to welcoming Joe to the Senate,” said Majority
Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. “We know he is passionate about education
and that he will continue the 34th District tradition of strong advocacy
for the environment.”
McDermott was elected to the House of Representatives in November of
2000. During his four terms with the House, his legislative priorities
included education, elections and public disclosure, the environment,
and civil rights issues.
Due to his extensive experience on education issues, McDermott was
elected in 2007 by the House Democratic Caucus to join their leadership
team as Caucus Education Policy Leader. Over the last several years, he
introduced and passed legislation to assure alternative assessments
other than the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) are
available to high school students and to reconstitute the composition
and responsibilities of the State Board of Education.
During his tenure in the House, McDermott worked to pass two historic
measures in the struggle for equal rights. First the Anti-Discrimination
Bill of 2006, which added sexual orientation to Washington’s
discrimination laws. Then in 2007, the Domestic Partnership Registry,
which gives state-registered domestic partners some basic protections
for their families, such the right to visit a partner in the hospital,
the right to make health care decisions and the right to make funeral
arrangements.
“I believe in the words 'liberty and justice for all' -- they mean
something to me, and I think they mean something to the people in the
great state of Washington,” he said.
"It's good to have a person of Joe's caliber in the Senate," said
Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle). "He's a tireless advocate for
issues that matter to people back home -- strong schools, good jobs, a
clean environment and justice. I know we will continue to make a great
team for the 34th district."
Judge Michael Heavey administered the Oath of Office to McDermott
this afternoon at the King County Courthouse. Judge Heavey is a former
State Senator and Representative from the 34th District.
In 2007 he also served on the House Appropriations, Education, State
Government and Tribal Affairs Committees as well as the Appropriation’s
Subcommittee on Education, and previously was a member of the House
Judiciary and Agriculture & Natural Resources Committees.
McDermott is a third-generation resident of West Seattle where he
lives with his partner, Michael, and is on the Board of the West Seattle
Helpline. His civic activities and memberships include the West Seattle
Chamber of Commerce, Vashon Allied Arts, and the Highline Historical
Society. |
