Hooley Says She Will Not Seek Reelection

Hooley opts out of November race.

Congresswoman Darlene Hooley

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - After serving six terms in office, U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Oregon has announced that she will retire at the end of her current term. The 68-year old lawmaker released the news today. She says she wants to move on to different avenues, and cited travel and fundraising demands as partial reasons for her decision.

Hooley's decision to leave office means Oregon's congressional delegation will change for the first time since Representative David Wu's 1998 election.

Hooley said in a statement: "There is a verb in the title 'representative,' and representing the people of Oregon's Fifth Congressional District for the last twelve years has been my greatest honor and privilege."

Hooley has been a restless fighter for Oregonians and she has championed military and veteran's causes as well as making sure law enforcement agencies are well equipped. She has been extremely vocal in the fight against meth and Identity Theft, a serious problem in this state and beyond.

Her departure could open open up what is known as a "swing seat" and a Republican businessman named Mike Erickson ran what many called a spirited campaign against Hooley in 2006, during which he received nearly 43 percent. Representative David Hunt of Gladstone says he is not interested in the seat that will be vacated by Hooley.

Hunt, a former district director for Hooley, told the Portland Business Journal "When Democrats took over the Oregon House in 2007, we had one of the most productive sessions in recent memory,"

"Now, as we look toward the fall elections, I believe we have a chance to increase our 31 to 29 advantage in the House. ... I am proud to be the House Majority Leader and I am committed to seeking re-election" to his own seat."

Darlene Hooley's career in politics began 32 years ago after her young son injured himself on playground concrete. She was a teacher for many years in the Gervais area.

"When the local park board wasn't responsive to concerns for safer playgrounds, I ran for office myself and we changed the hardtop to bark dust," Hooley said.

her first political role was as a West Linn city councilor. After that she was elected as an Oregon state representative and then a Clackamas County commissioner, before being elected to Congress in 1996. Hooley has been responsible for Oregon's Fifth Congressional District which includes all of Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Lincoln counties, as well as significant parts of Clackamas, Benton and Multnomah counties.