Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, who has represented Marin and Sonoma counties in Washington for the past 19 years, announced Monday that she would not be seeking re-election after her term expires this year.
At an event at her Petaluma home, Woolsey thanked family, friends and allies for support during her 10 terms in the U.S. Congress.
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“With enormous gratitude and not an ounce of regret, I’m announcing that I will not run for election in 2012,” said Woolsey, who will turn 75 this November. “So I leave it to you, you brilliant, smart constituents to decide for the Sixth District who should take the mantle and continue this important work.”
Standing at Woolsey’s side Monday was her close friend and colleague Rep. Barbara Lee, who together protested U.S. involvement in Iraq and formed the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus in 2005.
“Our leadership helped hasten the end of a major combat operation in Iraq,” Woolsey said Monday to thunderous applause. “But we still have 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, 50,000 in Iraq and the risk of being involved in perpetual war.”
She also recalled her accomplishments in the region, including saving funding for Hamilton Air Field, helping open UCSF's Center for Excellence in Women's Health, a leader in breast cancer treatment, and creating a free breakfast program for school children.
On Tuesday, Skaggs Island will be transfered to Fish and Wildlife Service to be included in the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which Woolsey helped accomplish via an amendment she authored.
Three Democrats have expressed interest in her seat, including Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), media critic Norman Solomon and Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams.
Huffman on Monday declined to comment on his plans for Woolsey’s office, only saying that he would make a formal announcement soon.
Instead, Huffman praised Woolsey’s track record and her ability to listen to constituents and represent them in Washington, DC.
“She’s a member of Congress who was genuinely connected to her district,” Huffman said. “We’d walk into a diner and people would know her or ranchers in West Marin—who were not her typical supporters—would come and greet her…That was part of the secret of her success.”
Asked about how she’d spent her time after retirement, Woolsey said that she was looking forward to spending time with her family, that includes four children and five grandchildren. Woolsey, who was a Petaluma City Councilwoman from 1985 to 1992, said she didn’t plan to get involved in Petaluma politics again, but always followed what was going on.
“Whatever I do, I will be doing useful things,” she said.
Lynn represented her constituent base which was primarily progressive democrats. With the new boundaries it would be wonderful to have a broader range of representation with a focus on different issues. There are many moderate democrats and republicans looking for a voice in congress.
Lynn did vote with the republicans on Lybia. Illegal war by Obama. Her voting recorded available at www.opencongress.org
As for her not endorsing Adams, Huffman, Arnold or any of those possibilities seeking her seat even she knows a losing cast of characters. Huffman has no creds within the legislature as evidenced by the recent gutting of his housing proposals. As someone else remarked that our supervisors Adams and Arnold are arrogant and self serving is perhaps the best to be said about them. Come on, there has to be a grass roots candidate not already in the special interests pocket. We pray for deliverance and term limits would be real helpful as well.....
Lynn was better than most and she did not go near far enough, and compromised too much. No Child left behind and Race to the Bottom, are disasters. Education, first, and foremost. Wars, bailouts, waste, etc, Nevermore! Homeland insecurity, etc. We need to overhaul the entire system, before nature which supports us, collapses. Money and profits mean little. Lets create a livable future. I believe Normon Solomon has thesmarts, integrity, heart and values that we need in polititians. No more endless war's, and corporate business and dollar profits are everything folks. Our consume everything and turn it into lifeless landfill mentality is wiping out living nature which supports ALL life. lWe need to change our system, and fast, or we are all toast. Nature has such little regard for the insane and self serving rules and laws of humans, and we are ignoring them at our own peril. A bunch of babbling monkeys are more intelligent and saner than we are. What are we giving back folks? Shame on us all! Now why don't we all just drive to the mall in our suv, and go shopping for some cheap disposable crap, made by slaves, from once living enviornments. Oops.
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=10&author_id=167 Though Mr. Solomon may be passionate about the causes he represents we need a representative able to address a much broader array of causes. Arnold has not indicated that she would make a run for congress: Adams has, Huffman has and Solomon has. I'm still waiting for an opportunity to choose a representative that will also hold dear the collapse of the economy that has forced people out of their homes and jobs. Someone with the ability to bring California moderates together as a solid voting base. We need consensus if we are going to create lasting change in broad arenas at the state and federal levels.
Our system is all about power and money, individual empire and profit, and we have forgotten, failed, and bailed, on our responsibilities to a liveable future. We are terrible and horrible stewards (we are in fact consumers) who have reduced all life to a dollar value, and nothing can exist in and of itself, unmolested. The environments which sustain all life need to be the basis for our laws, and not something to compromise through consenseless. There are basic rights which all living things should have. Right now, everything is about money........... how much is the Gulf worth Or Fukushima or an education or healthcare or health? How much is life worth?