McDermott says he'll run for another term

By Alex Fryer
Seattle Times Washington bureau

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Seattle Democrat Rep. Jim McDermott says he will seek a ninth term in Congress, energized by the prospect of a Democratic president, future health-care legislation and efforts to combat AIDS in Africa.

Two weeks ago today, another longtime state lawmaker, Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Bellevue, announced she would retire from public office this year.

Beyond party and ideological differences, there are plenty of similarities between these two members of Congress.

They are about the same age: McDermott is 67; Dunn will turn 63 in July.

Both serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees health-care and tax policy.

Both Dunn and McDermott are new grandparents.

But while Dunn decided to hang it up, McDermott says he's running for re-election.

One of the harshest congressional critics of President Bush, McDermott said the excitement over the Democratic nomination will lead to a change in administrations.

"Did you see the caucuses? We're going to have a new president!" he said during an interview in his Capitol Hill office. "You think I'm gonna miss being here?"

McDermott also put to rest recent rumors that he might leave Congress to join the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has an endowment of $26 billion to promote global health and learning.
 
While he has worked with the Gates Foundation for more than a decade and has many interests in common with the organization, McDermott said they never discussed employment.

"There are people who would like my seat, to find a place where I'm going," he said.

McDermott, a physician, has traveled to Africa and India to see the ravages of the AIDS epidemic, and he sees his role in Congress as someone who brings real-life experiences to policy debates.

In a nod to local concerns, McDermott said he recently sought to put in about $6 million to rebuild the Alaskan Way Viaduct in a highway package.

"I'm still working on stuff that has to do with the city and international stuff," he said.

Speculating about McDermott's plans is a semiannual sport among liberal Democrats in Seattle, said Blair Butterworth, a political consultant who is close to McDermott.

"There isn't an active Democrat in the 7th District who doesn't have delusions of grandeur," Butterworth said. "Dozens and dozens of people have put on the robe and said, 'God, I look good as a congressman.' "

Alex Fryer: 202-662-7456 or afryer@seattletimes.com.

Times staff reporter Jim Brunner contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company