Derek Kilmer

Derek Kilmer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 6th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Norm Dicks
Member of the Washington Senate from the 26th district
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Robert Oke
Succeeded by	Nathan Schlicher
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 26th district
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Lois McMahan
Succeeded by	Larry Seaquist
Personal details
Born	Derek Christian Kilmer (1974-01-01) January 1, 1974 Port Angeles, Washington
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jennifer Kilmer
Residence	Artondale, Washington
Alma mater	Princeton University University of Oxford
Profession	business consultant and manager
Religion	United Methodist Church
Website	Representative Derek Kilmer

Derek Christian Kilmer (born January 1, 1974) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Washington's 6th congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Kilmer previously served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007 and as a member of the Washington State Senate from 2007 to 2013, representing the 26th district.

On March 5, 2012, Kilmer announced he was running to succeed Norm Dicks for the seat representing Washington's 6th congressional district.^[1] On November 6, 2012, Kilmer won the general election to become the district's next representative.^[2] He received 186,661 votes, to opponent Bill Driscoll's 129,725.^[3]

Early life, education, and business career

Kilmer was born and raised in Port Angeles, Washington. Both of his parents were public school teachers. Kilmer earned his certificate in American Studies from Princeton University. He went on to earn his BA in public affairs from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He won a Marshall Scholarship to obtain his PhD in Comparative Social Policy from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford.^[4]

Kilmer is a former business consultant for McKinsey and Company. He was also a business retention manager for the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County. He is also a trustee for Tacoma Community College and served on the board of Peninsula Schools Education Foundation.^[5][6]

Washington legislature

Elections

In 2004, Kilmer challenged incumbent Republican State Representative Lois McMahan of Washington's 26th house district, seat 2. He defeated her 50%-48%, a difference of 1,009 votes.^[7]

In 2006, Republican State Senator Bob Oke decided to retire. Kilmer decided to run for Washington's 26th senate district. He defeated Republican Jim Hines 60%-40%.^[8] In 2010, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Marty McClendon 59%-41%.^[9]

Tenure

In 2007, he was one of just three Democratic state senators to vote against the bill that would allow labor unions to spend non-members' bargaining fees on political causes without first getting their permission.^[10]

He sponsored the senate bill that would increase fines to pay for a new $849 million Tacoma Narrows bridge in his district.^[11]

Business groups have praised Kilmer for being one of the most pro-business Democrats in Olympia. He is the three-time recipient of the “LEADER Award” from the Washington Economic Development Association. He was named the "Legislative Business Star Award" from Enterprise Washington's Business Institute. He was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Department of Veterans Affairs. He was recognized by the Northwest Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America as “Legislator of the Year”. He was also named “Legislator of the Year” by the Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs. He was named an "Honorary Fire Chief" by the Washington Fire Chiefs.^[12]

Committee Assignments (State of Washington)

Senate

• Capital Budget Committee (Chair)
• Economic Development, Trade, & Innovation Committee
• Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
• Ways and Means Committee (Vice Chair)^[13]

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 election

After redistricting, Democratic U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks decided to retire. Kilmer decided to run for the newly redrawn Washington's 6th congressional district. He won the endorsements from The Seattle Times, which called him “a problem solver who can be bipartisan.” The News Tribune of Tacoma praised him for having “an uncommon understanding of trade, business taxation, smart regulation, job creation and other fundamentals of economic growth.” Port Angeles, Rep. Kilmer's hometown and an area for which he was elected to represent suffers from an unemployment rate 2.3 percent higher than the Washington State average, consonant with the rate of increase recorded before he took office.^[14][15] In the November general election, he defeated Republican nominee Bill Driscoll 59%-41%. He won all six counties in the district.^[16][17]

Israel Policy and Lobbyists

Derek Kilmer was a cosponsor of the United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013.^[18]

Kilmer was part of a 37-member congressional delegation that visited Israel. The trip was sponsored by the lobby group, American Israel Education Foundation, with the stated goal of working to strengthen strategic economic and military cooperation between Israel and the United States.^[19]

Co-Sponsorship of the United States-Israel Partnership Act of 2013

Through his cosponsorship of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013,^[20] Rep. Kilmer supports spending U.S. tax revenue to fund Israel's military, and to provide assistance for collaboration in the fields of energy, water, homeland security, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies.

Legislation

On October 29, 2013, Kilmer introduced the American Savings Promotion Act (H.R. 3374; 113th Congress), a bill that would authorize some financial institutions to conduct a contest, known as a "savings promotion raffle," in which the sole consideration required for a chance of winning designated prizes is obtained by the deposit of a specified amount of money in a savings account or program, where each ticket or entry has an equal chance of being drawn.^[21][22]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

References

• "Project Vote Smart - The Voter's Self Defense System". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 19 October 2014. 
• "House committees: Denny Heck to Financial Services, Derek Kilmer to Science, Space & Technology". Tacoma News Tribune. Retrieved 19 October 2014. 
• "CQ - 113th Congress: Derek Kilmer, D-Wash. (6th District)". Retrieved 19 October 2014. 
• "Local News - The Olympian". Retrieved 19 October 2014. 
• "Democratic state Sen. Kilmer wins race to replace U.S. Rep. Dicks". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 19 October 2014. 

External links

• Congressman Derek Kilmer official U.S. House website
• Derek Kilmer for Congress
• Derek Kilmer at DMOZ
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress