The print., February 25, 1981, Page 6, Image 6

Darlene Hooley has real talent for politics
Photo courtesy John Hooley
By Steve Lee
Of The Print
“Darlene has a real talent for
politics,’’ said her husband,
John Hooley, assistant dean of
humanities and social science.
Darlene Hooley was elected
last fall to the Oregon State
Legislature as the represen-.
tative for District 27. For her,
for John and for their children,
their lives have changed since
the election.
. “It started in ’68,” said
Hooley. “We got into local
politics together, helping other
people to get elected.” , John
soon discovered that Darlene
had much more talent in
politics than he did, and subse­
quently gave her all of his sup­
port. Aside from a four-year
stint on the West Linn City
Council, Darlene has “been
behind the scenes up until the
recent election.”
With a 9-year-old daughter
and an 11-year-old son, John
has taken on many added
responsibilities in raising his
children since the legislature
convened in Salem. “My son
cooks breakfast, and I cook
dinner. I’m a pretty good
cook.” He understands how
working women feel,- “going
>y due
Hooley
home after a-full day’s work to
do the cooking and take care of
the kids.”
Darlene is at home an
average of one night a week
during a five-day work week,
but she always weekends clear.
She planned it that way
because she and John agree it’s
important to have home life.
She works late many nights
toward that end. “One night a
week the kids are allowed the
choice . of their favorite
restaurant, and we ' go out
together,” John said. Darlene’s
schedule is pretty regular. “She,
has a place in Salem where she
stays when she has to work
late,” he added.
Darlene serves a six-month
term when the legislature is in
session, then she comes home
for six months. When asked if
the length of time Darlene
spends in Salem becomes a
drain on her, John said, “I
think the adrenalin that goes
with the power of being in
Salem helps to make her feel
like she is accomplishing
something worthwhile.
Darlene is on the' Education
Committee, and also a sub­
committee to decide on the
closure of colleges, especially
important as state-wide belt
tightening increases. “She gets
to fly around in“, a National
Guard helicopter scaring
everybody as she lands” at
colleges and other places, John
said.
, It took one full year of work
knocking on doors, making
.speeches, and shaking a lot of
hands to get Darlene elected,
but the Hooleys believe it was
worth it. Still, during that time,
they didn’t want to neglect their
children, and as John says,-“I
made a point to stay out of the
way during her campaign, just
because someone had to be at
home. I still helped to write
speeches,” but basically-stayed
out of the way, he said.
Of the two children, the
daughter misses her mother
more because John and his.son
are “buddies” and do a few
more things together. Because
the children have a much dif­
ferent schedule than he does,
with school holidays and such]
John has used up almost all of
his vacation time trying to beati
home when they need him. He
maintains an upbeat attitude
about the family situation,
though. “It’s kind of a privilege
to be at home with the kids
more than rhy wife.”
The role reversal is fine .with)
him, and he says, “I’d, like to
take two years off and go all the
way, but Darlene just doesn’fi
make enough money.” As a
state representative, Darlene
takes home $700 a month,
plus $42 a day for expenses
when the legislature is in sesj
sion . John says that most of the
expense money is eaten up by
food and lodging.
He thinks an alternating type
of role reversal may be a trend
in the future, in which eaclf
.parent would take a turn at bei
ing the breadwinner for a
period of time while the othefl
stays home with the children.
Feature magazine
Don’t hesitate, get
your work in now!
If you have composed a great piece of
writing, poetry, a photo, or drawing that
relates to the subject of people or their in­
teractions, the place to submit it Is Student
Publications, Tr. B, or contact Ramona
Isackson, Feature magazine editor-, 657-8400,
ext. 309•
111
inches.
■
1
’
1
2
1
3
1
4
-4.34 1 22*85
D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer
1 8 Ì
S|
5
I 6 Ir7 j
ills 63.51
Density
9
48.55
■■j
11(A)
87.3