Joe McDermott (politician)

James Joseph McDermott (born July 1, 1967) is an American politician from the state of Washington and Chair of the Metropolitan King County Council. He previously served ten years as a state legislator, seven years in the Washington House of Representatives and three in the Washington State Senate.

Joe McDermott
Joe McDermott, September 2017
Member of King County Council
from the 8th district
Assumed office
November 2010
Preceded byJan Drago
Member of the Washington Senate
from the 34th district
In office
October 2007 – November 2010
Preceded byErik Poulsen
Succeeded bySharon Nelson
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 34th district
In office
January 2001 – October 2007
Preceded byDow Constantine
Succeeded bySharon Nelson
Personal details
Born (1967-07-01) July 1, 1967
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Michael Culpepper
ResidenceWest Seattle, Washington
Websitejoemcdermott.org

Education and Work

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. In 2009, McDermott completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett Foundation LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

State Legislature

McDermott served in the state House from 2001 to 2007. A Democrat, he was re-elected by wide margins in 2002, 2004, and 2006, winning over 80 percent in 2006.[1]

Following the resignation of Senator Erik Poulsen on September 5, 2007, McDermott expressed an interest in being appointed to the 34th district seat in the Washington State Senate. On October 13, 2007, the precinct committee officers (PCOs) of the 34th district recommended McDermott for appointment with 54 of the 65 PCOs voting for him.[2] Two days later, King County Council unanimously appointed him to the seat.[3] 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.

County Council

Instead of seeking re-election to the state senate, in 2010 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.

He is the first openly gay member of King County Council, representing the 8th district.[4]

Personal life

McDermott is a third-generation resident of West Seattle, where he and his husband, Michael Culpepper, make their home.[5] Joe McDermott is not related to Congressman Jim McDermott.[6]

References
  1. Washington Secretary of State: election results, archived from the original on 2007-09-19, retrieved 2007-09-15
  2. "PCOs Recommend Joe McDermott for Senate Seat", 34th District Democrats, archived from the original on 2008-03-22, retrieved 2007-10-14
  3. "Rep. Joe McDermott appointed to replace Poulsen in Senate" (– Scholar search), Seattle Post-Intelligencer, retrieved 2007-10-16
  4. Andrew, Mike (2009-12-11), "Joe McDermott to King County Council?", Seattle Gay News, archived from the original on 2015-09-20, retrieved 2011-10-05
  5. "Rep. Joe McDermott", HouseDemocrats.WA.gov, archived from the original (– Scholar search) on 2007-08-31, retrieved 2007-09-12
  6. Young, Bob (2011-07-28), "Trio face off for District 8 King County Souncil seat", Seattle Times, retrieved 2016-01-04
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