State Rep. Joe McDermott became State Sen. Joe McDermott last week when he was appointed by the Metropolitan King County Council to the Senate to replace Erik Poulsen who resigned earlier this month.

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve the citizens of the 34th District," said McDermott after taking the oath. "I will take my passion for education and equal rights to the Senate."

Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said the Senate looks "forward to welcoming Joe to the Senate. We know he is passionate about education and that he will continue the 34th District tradition of strong advocacy for the environment."

McDermott was elected to the House of Representatives in November of 2000. During his four terms with the House, his legislative priorities included education, elections and public disclosure, the environment, and civil rights issues.

Due to his experience on education issues, McDermott was elected in 2007 by the House Democratic Caucus to join their leadership team as Caucus Education Policy Leader. Over the last several years, he introduced and passed legislation to assure alternative assessments other than the Washington Assessment of Student Learning are available to high school students and to reconstitute the composition and responsibilities of the State Board of Education.

During his tenure in the House, McDermott worked to pass two measures in the struggle for equal rights. First the Anti-Discrimination Bill of 2006, which added sexual orientation to Washington's discrimination laws. Then in 2007, the Domestic Partnership Registry, which gives state-registered domestic partners some basic protections for their families, such the right to visit a partner in the hospital, the right to make health care decisions and the right to make funeral arrangements.

"I believe in the words 'liberty and justice for all' - they mean something to me, and I think they mean something to the people in the great state of Washington," he said.

"It's good to have a person of Joe's caliber in the Senate," said Rep. Eileen Cody, D-West Seattle. "He's a tireless advocate for issues that matter to people back home - strong schools, good jobs, a clean environment and justice. I know we will continue to make a great team for the 34th district."

Judge Michael Heavey administered the oath of office to McDermott at the King County Courthouse. Judge Heavey is a former state senator and representative from the 34th District.

In 2007 he also served on the House Appropriations, Education, State Government and Tribal Affairs Committees as well as the Appropriation's Subcommittee on Education, and previously was a member of the House Judiciary and Agriculture & Natural Resources Committees.

McDermott is a third-generation resident of West Seattle where he lives with his partner, Michael, and is on the board of the West Seattle Helpline. His civic activities and memberships include the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Vashon Allied Arts, and the Highline Historical Society.