Lynn Woolsey announces retirement

Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, may be retiring, but not to a rocking chair.

"I want to slow down. I want to sit, but not in a rocking chair," she said last week shortly after announcing that she will not seek reelection to an 11th term in Congress.

"I will be doing things that are useful," the 73-year-old Woolsey added. "I just won't be getting on a plane and flying to Washington every week."

Woolsey's retirement had been rumored for several weeks. On Monday, she made her plans official with an announcement before a gathering of more than 200 friends and supporters gathered in the back yard of her Petaluma home. The assembly included not only family, but also many of Sonoma and Marin counties' top Democratic politicians.

"We haven't won every battle over the years, but we have fought valiantly, always holding fast to our principles, never compromising our values," she said. "As much as we've accomplished, of course, there are mountains we haven't climbed, challenges still to be met.

"But I will turn 75 years old just before the next election day, and after two decades of service to this district, it will be time for me to move on. And so, with enormous gratitude, but not an ounce of regret, I am announcing that I will not run for re-election in 2012.

"It's been a privilege to serve. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Leading up to the expected retirement announcement, Woolsey took time to review some of the accomplishments in her district during her nearly two decades in office, noting specifically saving the Two Rock Coast Guard base twice from closure, the converting of Hamilton Field to private development, establishing a national program for breast cancer research established in Marin County, establishing a pilot school breakfast program that included Santa Rosa and the converting of Skaggs Island naval facility into a national wildlife refuge.

Woolsey is best known to her staunch opposition to U.S. involvement in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and she plans to stay active in the anti-war movement.

"Nothing has animated me more than opposition to the wars this country has been fighting for the last 10 years," she said. "They are a moral blight on this nation, and I have not been afraid to say so."

Woolsey said she will continue to work for peace as president of the Americans for Democratic Action, an independent lobbying organization.

She also wants to work to keep the Northern California coast line off limits to offshore oil drilling through passage of the Marine Sanctuary Bill, which would protect the coast from Bodega Bay to Point Arena. "That would put a big smile on my face," she said.

While Woolsey stays involved on the national level, she indicated she will also pay attention to what is happening in her hometown. Asked about Petaluma issues, she said, "I live here. I've always followed Petaluma politics."

What she won't do is favor any candidate in what could be a contentious race to succeed her. "I'm not going to endorse any candidate," she said flatly.

Among those in attendance for Woolsey's announcement were potential Democratic congressional candidates Jared Huffman, a state assemblyman from San Rafael, Marin County Supervisor Susan Adams and Marin County author and activist Norman Solomon.

Whoever runs may well be running in a considerably revised district from the compact Marin-Southern Sonoma County district Woolsey now represents.

Under a proposal by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the new 6th Congressional District would include Marin County; the western portion of Sonoma County, including Petaluma; and stretch all the way to Del Norte County in the north.

Woolsey said the proposed redistricting had nothing to do with her retirement, but made no secret about what she thought of the plan, calling it "ridiculous."

Woolsey was introduced by close friend Representative Barbara Lee, D Oakland. Woolsey, Lee and Representative Maxine Waters, D Los Angeles, form the self-proclaimed "Sisters in the Tirad," opposed to U.S. war involvement.

Lee called Woolsey, "a strong leader for women's rights, civil rights and human rights."

"If she hadn't started (opposing the war in Iraq) when she did, we wouldn't be this close to bringing the final 45,000 troops home," she said.

(Contact John Jackson at acsports@arguscourier.com)