1998

Two Northern California Dems Call It Quits

Two veteran Northern California Democrats, Reps. Ron Dellums and Vic Fazio, announced Nov. 17 they will leave Congress to pursue other interests.

Dellums plans to step down effective Feb. 6 and not fill out his full term; Fazio indicated he would retire at the end of his current term rather than seek re-election in 1998.

Dellums, a liberal Democrat who fervently opposed the Vietnam War and went on to play a major role in defense and national security policy-making, said his years in Washington have taken a toll on his private life.

"Now I choose to make a personal decision and to empower myself to regain my life," said Dellums, 61. "It's important for me to now move on."

Fazio, 56, cited the "relentless pace" of legislating as a reason for not seeking re-election.

"It is time to put ambition and politics aside," Fazio said in Woodland, Calif. "I have come to a season in my life when I believe it is time to prioritize what matters most to me: the need to put aside the relentless pace of congressional service so I can give more time to family life."

Other '98 Races:

When more than 90 percent of congressional incumbents win re-election, it takes retirements and people seeking higher office to create turnover. Here are some other members of Congress who already have made clear their intention to step aside:

• Rep. Floyd H. Flake, a six-term Democrat from New York.
• Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez (D-Texas) announced Sept. 4 that he would resign from Congress at year's end.
• Rep. Lee Hamilton, the ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, said in early February he would not seek re-election.
• GOP Rep. Bob Inglis (S.C.) has said he will seek the Republican nomination against Democratic incumbent Sen. Ernest F. Hollings, who is expected to seek a sixth term at age 76.
• Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Ill.) has said he will honor his earlier statements about leaving after 10 years. Poshard has been mentioned as a potential candidate for governor.
• Rep. David E. Skaggs of Colorado offered a double surprise in October, when he said he would not run for the Senate and would also retire from the House after the 105th Congress.

• Sidney R. Yates (D-Ill.), the oldest and longest-serving House member, has said his 24th term will be his last. Yates, 87, first won a district on Chicago's North Side in 1948 and has served in every Congress since, save one (1963-65).
• In the Senate, so far, four incumbents facing re-election in 1998 have said they will retire: Republican Daniel R. Coats of Indiana, and Democrats Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, John Glenn of Ohio and Wendell Ford of Kentucky.

Another senator up in 1998 who might retire, according to Congressional Quarterly, is Republican Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, a possible gubernatorial candidate. One senator re-elected in 1996, Democrat Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, has consistently said he will not serve more than two terms.

Updated Nov. 18, 1997