California Lawmaker Is Calling It Quits

Democratic Rep. Norman Mineta, a Japanese American who went from a World War II internment camp to Congress, is quitting midway through his 11th term to work for the nation’s biggest defense contractor.

Mineta’s departure is another blow to Democrats, who lost control of both chambers of Congress in November and are reeling from a series of defections and retirements.

Mineta, 63, whose Northern California district includes San Jose and Santa Cruz, announced Monday that he will leave office Oct. 10 to become a vice president at Lockheed Martin Corp. He would not disclose his salary at Lockheed, whose employees have donated thousands of dollars to his campaigns.

The congressman perhaps is best-known as the lead House sponsor of a 1988 bill that provided $20,000 compensation each to Japanese-Americans who were interned.