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Joe McDermott (politician)
Encyclopedia
J. Joseph McDermott usually known as Joe McDermott, is an American politician
from the state of Washington and a member of King County Council
, representing the 8th district. Elected to the county council in 2010, he previously served ten years as a state legislator: seven years in the Washington House of Representatives
and three years in the Washington State Senate
.
McDermott was elected to the state House in 2000, taking office in January 2001 and serving until 2007. The 34th district – which he has represented both in the House and the Senate – includes the communities of West Seattle, White Center
, Burien
(part) and the islands of Vashon
and Maury
. A Democrat
, he was re-elected to the House by wide margins in 2002, 2004 and 2006, winning over 80% of the vote in 2006.
Following the resignation of Sen. Erik Poulsen
on September 5, 2007, McDermott expressed an interest in being appointed to the 34th district seat in the Washington State Senate
. On 13 October 2007, the precinct committee officer
s (PCOs) of the 34th district recommended McDermott for appointment with 54 of the 65 PCOs voting for him. Two days later, King County Council
unanimously appointed him to the seat. He ran unopposed for the remaining two years of Poulsen's Senate term in 2008 but was not a candidate for re-election in 2010. Instead, he ran for King County Council, seeking the 8th district seat that Dow Constantine
had vacated when elected King County Executive
. The seat had temporarily been filled by former Seattle city councilwoman Jan Drago
, who had pledged prior to her appointment that she would not run for the position in 2010. McDermott won the seat handily and was sworn-in on November 24, 2010.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
in history and political science from Gonzaga University
, he earned a Master of Public Administration
from the University of Washington
. He went on to work for the Pierce County
Prosecuting Attorney and the Seattle School District.
McDermott is a third-generation resident of West Seattle, where he lives with his partner, Michael Culpepper. He is the first openly gay member of King County Council.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from the state of Washington and a member of King County Council
King County Council
The Metropolitan King County Council, the legislative body of King County, Washington, consists of nine members elected by district. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budget...
, representing the 8th district. Elected to the county council in 2010, he previously served ten years as a state legislator: seven years in the Washington House of Representatives
Washington House of Representatives
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without...
and three years in the Washington State Senate
Washington State Senate
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia....
.
McDermott was elected to the state House in 2000, taking office in January 2001 and serving until 2007. The 34th district – which he has represented both in the House and the Senate – includes the communities of West Seattle, White Center
White Center, Washington
White Center is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. It lies between Seattle and Burien part of which was annexed by Burien on 1 April 2010. The population was 13,495 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Burien
Burien, Washington
Burien is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located south of Seattle. As of the 2010 Census, Burien's population is 33,313, which is a 2.9% increase since incorporation. Annexation in 2011 has increased the cities population to about 45,000....
(part) and the islands of Vashon
Vashon Island
Vashon is a census-designated place in King County, Washington, United States. It covers an island alternately called Vashon Island or Vashon-Maury Island, the largest island in Puget Sound south of Admiralty Inlet. The population was 10,624 at the 2010 census. At , it is about 60 percent larger...
and Maury
Maury Island
Maury Island is a small island in Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is connected to Vashon Island by an isthmus built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Before construction of the isthmus, the island was connected to Vashon only during low tide. The island is rural with...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he was re-elected to the House by wide margins in 2002, 2004 and 2006, winning over 80% of the vote in 2006.
Following the resignation of Sen. Erik Poulsen
Erik Poulsen
Erik Poulsen is the former state Senator from Washington's 34th Legislative District, a district that includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, and most of Burien. He announced his resignation on 5 September 2007, to take effect at the beginning of October...
on September 5, 2007, McDermott expressed an interest in being appointed to the 34th district seat in the Washington State Senate
Washington State Senate
The Washington State Senate is the upper house of the Washington State Legislature. The body consists of 49 senators, each representing a district with a population of nearly 120,000. The State Senate meets at the Legislative Building in Olympia....
. On 13 October 2007, the precinct committee officer
Precinct Committee Officer
A Precinct Committee Officer, or PCO, is the name for an office in the U.S. state of Washington that organizes a voting precinct for a political party. The PCO is one of the most grass-roots offices available. The PCO brings to the party organizations the concerns of the voters, and of the...
s (PCOs) of the 34th district recommended McDermott for appointment with 54 of the 65 PCOs voting for him. Two days later, King County Council
King County Council
The Metropolitan King County Council, the legislative body of King County, Washington, consists of nine members elected by district. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budget...
unanimously appointed him to the seat. He ran unopposed for the remaining two years of Poulsen's Senate term in 2008 but was not a candidate for re-election in 2010. Instead, he ran for King County Council, seeking the 8th district seat that Dow Constantine
Dow Constantine
Dow Constantine is an American politician in the state of Washington where he currently serves as King County Executive, an office he has held since November 2009. He was previously in the state legislature and on the King County Council, chairing the latter before his election as Executive...
had vacated when elected King County Executive
King County Executive
The King County Executive is the highest elected official representing the government of King County, Washington, USA. The post was established with the implementation of the Home Rule Charter for King County on November 5, 1968...
. The seat had temporarily been filled by former Seattle city councilwoman Jan Drago
Jan Drago
Jan Drago is an American politician from Seattle who has served on both Seattle City Council and King County Council.Drago was a member of Seattle City Council until her run run for mayor in 2009, having served since January 1994 on Seattle City Council...
, who had pledged prior to her appointment that she would not run for the position in 2010. McDermott won the seat handily and was sworn-in on November 24, 2010.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history and political science from Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
, he earned a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. He went on to work for the Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
Prosecuting Attorney and the Seattle School District.
McDermott is a third-generation resident of West Seattle, where he lives with his partner, Michael Culpepper. He is the first openly gay member of King County Council.