MEDICAL LAKE, Wash – Terry Cooper, the mayor of Medical Lake, announced Saturday at the Spokane County Republican Convention that she is running for Washington State’s Fifth Congressional District.
Cooper joins a large pool of other candidates vying for the seat including six republicans and three democrats. Incumbent Cathy McMorris Rogers announced Feb. 8 that she isn’t seeking re-election after 20 years in congress.
“You know, I have a different kind of message I think than other people. I’m kind of the people’s people. I’m public servant, I’m not a career politician,” Mayor Terri Cooper said.
Cooper has served as mayor since 2021 and worked in the Cheney Municipal Court, but when tragedy struck this summer with the town going up in flames, she retired from the courts to work full-time on only a part-time salary, according to The Spokesman-Review.
“When the fires came, I ran to the battle, not away from it. I never felt afraid and every moment I knew what to do,” Mayor Cooper said.
Her number one priority is the recovery effort, and that won’t change as she campaigns, according to Cooper, but as she continues her responsibilities as mayor, Cooper is thinking about other issues important to eastern Washington.
“The world needs Washington farmers and we need to support that and there’s a lot to protect there. The dams tie right into that. The House of Representatives is the people’s house and we need to return the power to the people. It’s been taken away and that’s why Congress grinds away and fights and fights as they’ve taken the power away from the house, and we need to get the House in order. That’s why I’m going,” Mayor Cooper said.
The deadline to file for candidacy in Washington state is May 10.
