Eastside Politicians Respond to Congressman Norm Dicks' Retirement

Huge news out of the other Washington, where long, long, longtime Congressman Norm Dicks (D-Belfair) announced today that he will not seek re-election for the 6th District, which includes Gig Harbor, University Place and parts of Lakewood.

Here is the statement Dicks released today:

I am announcing today my intention to complete my service in the House of Representatives at the end of the current session but not to be a candidate for re-election to the 113th Congress.  After 18 terms representing the people of the 6th Congressional District of Washington, preceded by eight years on the Staff of Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Suzie and I have made the decision to change gears and enjoy life at a different pace.

The privilege of serving in the House of Representatives, with the endorsement of the voters every two years, is indeed an honor unlike no other profession in our country and I have truly enjoyed every day here and have cherished all of the friendships we have made with many of the finest public servants in the nation.  I am proud that many of these friendships have crossed the ideological and party lines that tend to separate us, and I have always believed that we can achieve greater results if we leave politics aside when the election season and the floor debates are over.

As I look forward to closing this chapter, I am proud of the work we have done over the years and the accomplishments that we have achieved for the people of the Pacific Northwest, including:

• Protecting the waters of Puget Sound and Hood Canal: clean water is one of our region’s highest priorities.
• Community Development – Restoring vitality of downtown Tacoma and Bremerton
• Maintaining a strong national defense and keeping our state’s numerous military bases modern and efficient, including recent efforts to rehabilitate and restore in-base schools for military dependent kids.
• Elwha River Restoration – An internationally-significant ecological project that is in its final stages, with deconstruction of the two Elwha River dams now occurring.
• Supporting Boeing programs that employ tens of thousands of Washington workers, including helping to win the contract for the new Air Force refueling tanker.
• Addressing the many important human service needs in communities across the 6th District, including support for housing programs and for the establishment and continuation of Community Health Clinics, which often represent the only source of medical care for families who have lost health benefits due to job changes and unemployment. 
• And I am very proud of the work that my offices have done, throughout my career, to help individual constituents with the many thousands of problems and questions that are referred to us.  I have appreciated the work of my dedicated staff, who have always acted as powerful advocates seeking assistance from federal agencies.

It is my intention to work very hard over the next several months, as the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, to conduct our Committee’s hearings and to complete work on all of the FY 2013 Appropriations bills.

Eastside politicians weighed in. 

State Attorney General and Bellevue resident Rob McKenna, who is running for governor this year, stated the following on his Facebook page:

Congressman Norm Dicks' dedicated public service has served Washington State well for over four decades. I respect him for focusing on getting things done in the legislative process, often on a bipartisan basis, and for putting the needs of Washingtonians first in his many Congressional accomplishments. I wish Suzie and him well as they enjoy the next chapter of their lives. -Rob

Congressman Adam Smith (D-Tacoma), who represents the district in which Bellevue will be included when redistricting is final in 2013, released the following statement:

“For 36 years, Norm Dicks has been a champion for the people of Washington State. He has been one of the most influential and effective members of Congress and has worked on a range of issues with boundless energy.  Norm has worked tirelessly to support programs that helped build vital relationships for our community and he’s been an advocate for policies that protect the natural resources and habitat within the Puget Sound. Through his work on behalf of our military and their families, Norm has done his best to ensure our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines have the resources and support they need to maintain our national security and are esteemed for their service to our country.

“Since I began my career in Congress, Norm has also been a great mentor and close friend.  As our districts share a border, we’ve worked together on issues that have significantly impacted our economy and the well being of the people living in the South Sound. We’ve partnered to secure funds for school reconstruction on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, to protect the Green River Valley and strengthen the Howard Hanson Dam, and we’ve worked to strengthen the industrial base in the Pacific Northwest.

“I will greatly miss working with Norm as a member of the Washington State Delegation. I thank him for his service, his partnership and for the contributions he has made to our community and to our country. I wish him and his family the very best as he moves into the next stage of his life.”

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, whose county district includes parts of Bellevue, also released a statement. Dunn, who lives in Black Diamond, is the son of the late Jennifer Dunn, the Republican Congresswoman from Bellevue who died in 2004:

“Thank you to Norm Dicks for a lifetime of service to Washington State. Norm has been a tireless and effective advocate for his district and the state as a whole.   

“On a personal note, I was honored to have him serve as a pall bearer at my mom's funeral. They developed a strong bond while working together in Congress, keeping the interests of the state above the interests of their respective parties.  

“For that, I will always be grateful.”