King County Councilman Joe McDermott hit the political ground running last week with his appointment as chair of King County Council (KCC), and the announcement that he will run for the congressional seat that is up for grabs this fall as Washington’s 7th Congressional District’s 14-term incumbent, Jim McDermott (no relation), retires.

Joe McDermott, a Democrat and third-generation West Seattleite, has represented Vashon for the past five years as part of King County’s district 8, and for 10 years prior to that in the state legislature, representing the 34th district in both the House and Senate.

On the island for a tour of some of the Land Trust’s projects last Friday, McDermott stopped by The Beachcomber for an interview.

Addressing the question of his ability to chair council and campaign for a congressional run at the same time, he noted that as chair he will have fewer committee obligations, which should afford him more time than he’s had in the past, and that he’s ready to take on the challenge.

“I have a lot of energy for the work I’m engaged in,” he said. “And I am excited about all of it.”

According to McDermott, his “energy” for public service stemmed from his first trip to Washington, D.C. when he was a high school senior.

“Before that, I thought I was going to be an engineer,” he said. “When I came home, I told my parents I was going into public service.”

He went on to get a degree in history and political science from Gonzaga University, and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington. Before beginning his tenure as a state representative in 2001, McDermott worked as an instructor at South Seattle Community College, a senior budget analyst for the Seattle School District and as a staff member in the Pierce County Prosecutor’s office.

In the state house for a decade, he served as a representative for nearly seven years, then as a senator for three. Some of his notable work at the state level included successfully getting “transgender” added to the definition of sexual orientation in the state’s hate crimes statute, campaign finance reform by way of removing a state law prohibition on public funding of local office campaigns and working to stop mining on Maury Island. More recently, McDermott served as chair of the KC Ferry District for four years before it was folded into the King County Department of Transportation and has been chair of the KCC budget committee as well as the Board of Health.

And it’s this 15 years of experience that McDermott points to as the cornerstone of his congressional campaign.

“I am running on my experience,” he said. “I want to take my ability to work across the aisle to meet the needs of middle-class Americans.”

Out of the gate, McDermott has come out strong against “dark money,” and for gun control and accountability. In the press release announcing his candidacy, he stated that overturning Citizens United (referring to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2010 that opened the door for corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money advocating for or against candidates) would be a priority from his first day in office, as well as cracking down on gun violence.

“For too long, politicians in Washington DC have kowtowed to the National Rifle Association,” he said in the release. “It is past time that we pass tough background checks, ban military style assault weapons plaguing our communities and once and for all hold gun manufacturers liable for the over 30,000 deaths they cause in our country every year.”

McDermott told The Beachcomber that income inequality is also an issue that is very important to him.

And while acknowledging the realities of political gridlock, he also believes it’s possible to effect change.

“I’ve worked with Republicans on legislation throughout my career — its about building relationships,” he said. “It has served me well, and it’s those skills that I will take with me.”

The 7th Congressional District encompasses most of Seattle, all of Vashon Island, Edmonds, Shoreline, Kenmore and parts of Burien and Normandy Park. McDermott lives in West Seattle with his husband Michael.

As of press time, three other people had also declared their intent to run for the seat: Third-year State Representative Brady Walkinshaw, a Democrat who graduated from Princeton and who has also worked for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He lives in Seattle with his husband; State Senator Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat with one year of legislative experience. Jayapal, who lives in Seattle — within the 9th Congressional District’s boundaries — with her husband, previously worked as a Seattle-based civil rights activist focusing on immigration advocacy, and is a graduate of Georgetown and Northwestern universities; and Jeff Stilwell, a Democrat, business owner and “humanist thinker,” who lives with his wife in Edmonds. Stilwell attended Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry, though has never pursued ministry as a career.

The deadline for candidates to file is May 20. There will be a blanket primary on Aug. 2, from which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to run in the general election on Nov. 8.