Heather Foley To Join Mcdermott Staff

Fri., Dec. 8, 2000

From Staff

Heather Foley, the wife of former House Speaker Tom Foley, will become chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott next month.

“Jim likes to hire the most competent people he can,” said Jennifer Crider, a spokeswoman for the Seattle Democrat.

Heather Foley served as her husband’s unpaid chief of staff for years. When he was speaker from 1989 through 1994, she oversaw his staff for the House leadership position and his district office, wielding considerable behind-the-scenes power in the House through such things as office assignments.

“She has a lot of Hill experience, knows the state and is eminently qualified,” Crider said.

After Tom Foley lost to Republican George Nethercutt in 1994, he took a job as a senior partner at a Washington, D.C., law and lobbying firm. In 1997, he was named ambassador to Japan.

Heather Foley currently works for a Japanese research firm, where she specializes in studying and reporting on government activities in Washington, D.C., former Foley aide Janet Gilpatrick said.

Tom Foley is expecting to retire as ambassador to Japan next year, when a new president takes office, Gilpatrick said.

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