Hooley is Out
February 7, 2008
The Oregonian is reporting that Darlene Hooley will NOT be running for re-election.
Rep. Hooley will not run for re-election
by The Oregonian
Thursday February 07, 2008, 9:55 AMWASHINGTON - Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., told The Oregonian today that she will retire from Congress when her term expires at the end of this year.Hooley, 68, who spent time in the hospital in November, said health was not a reason for her decision not to seek a seventh term. “I’ve never felt better,” she said in an interview.
Instead, she said it was the cumulative effect of arduous travel, the relentless demands of fund-raising and 32 years of public service that converged into a decision.
“At some point in everybody’s life you have to decide, how much longer do I want to do this?” she said.
“It’s time to move on.”
Ironically, in a year when Democrats are expected to gain seats in the House, Hooley said she would have won if she ran and that political considerations factored into her decision.
“I think it will be easier to elect a Democrat this year, and I don’t know about two years,” she said.
Even so, Hooley said that when she informed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of her decision, both pressed her to reconsider.
“They did ask if there was anything that would change my mind,” she said. “I told them ‘no.’ ”
Hooley’s successor would be the first new member of Oregon’s congressional delegation since Republican Greg Walden and Democrat David Wu were elected in 1998.
