Rep. Hooley Says She'll Pursue Other Opportunities

POLITICS 

By Kristian Foden-Vencil

Portland, OR  February 7, 2008 12:50 p.m.

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley said Thursday, that she won’t run for re-election. The 68-year-old says she wants to pursue other professional opportunities.

As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, the announcement is something of a surprise -- coming as it does just a month before the filing deadline for her seat.

Darlene Hooley sits in one of the most geographically diverse seats in the nation.

Oregon's Fifth Congressional District runs south from Portland to Corvallis, east to Mount Hood and west to the coast.

After 32 years of public office, she says, there are two main reasons she’s had enough.

Darlene Hooley: “One is spending way too much time on an airplane, because I went back and forth every week for this is now my 12th year. And the other thing is the amount of time you have to spend doing fundraising in a district like mine. And I decided, I don’t want to do this anymore. I love my job. Those two pieces I don’t like and it is time to move on. I’m not going to retire. I’m going to look for some new opportunities, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Hooley spent time in hospital in November, but says health was not a reason for her decision.

Darlene Hooley: “I feel great. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health. I think they took every test in the whole world that you could ever take. The nice thing is that I get to make this decision, on my terms, when I want to do it and I feel very good about that.”

While Hooley has hung onto her job since 1996, the Fifth Congressional District is considered a swing seat.

It has about 5,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats.

Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, Vance Day, says Hooley served admirably, but often had to lean to the right during her tenure. He believes it’s time a Republican represented the district and he’s putting his support behind Lake Oswego businessman, Mike Erickson.

Vance Day: “The party does not endorse a candidate. Having said that, Mike Erickson has built a strong organization, he’s raised a lot of money from individual donors. He’s been out there talking about the issues for three years. So I think that he’s in the cat bird seat when it comes to being our nominee.”

But Erickson wasn’t the only name to be bandied about after Hooley’s announcement.

Republicans who’ve run for the seat in the past include State Senator Jackie Winters, Lake Oswego lawyer Jim Zupancic and State Representative, Brian Boquist.

On the other side of the aisle, fewer names immediately came forward, chiefly because Hooley’s decision was a surprise.

But Marc Siegel, of the Oregon Democratic Party of Oregon, feels confident the seat will remain within the party.

Marc Siegel: “I think this will be a vigorous campaign from both parties, or any other parties that run. But you know the Republican brand in the 5th district and throughout Oregon stands for keeping American troops in Iraq and obstructing change in Washington, D.C. That’s not going to win them the support of 5th district voters.”

One Democrat whose name bubbled to the surface was Dave Hunt, the majority leader in the Oregon House. But he immediately squashed the idea.

Among those most affected by Hooley’s announcement, are members of Oregon’s congressional delegation.

Fellow democrat, Earl Blumenauer, says apart from anything else, the state loses her 12 years of seniority on the budget and commerce committees.

Earl Blumenauer: “Congresswoman Hooley has really worked very hard. She’s in a great position in congress and she’s extraordinarily capable. Her seniority, her knowledge. It’s going to be a great loss. On a personal level, I fully understand and I’m glad for her.”

Hooley was born in North Dakota, but went to Oregon State University in 1961. She served on the West Linn City Council and then in the Oregon House.

The six-term Democrat held onto her seat by working hard for her constituents on issues as varied as I.D. theft, methamphetamine abuse and veterans rights.

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