McIntire started his career working as an economist for the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, from 1977 to 1980, for former Vice President and then SenatorHubert Humphrey.[5] From 1980 to 1981, he worked as an economist for the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, before briefly working as a special legislative assistant for California Congressman Augustus F. Hawkins, in 1981.[6] McIntire was hired as a research scientist for the Battelle Human Affairs Research Center in 1983, before reentering politics; working as a special assistant for fiscal policy for former Washington governorBooth Gardner, from 1985 to 1987.[7] He joined the University of Washington, as a senior lecturer at the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs in 1987.[8] From 1990 to 1996, McIntire served on the board of directors and as the chairman of Common Cause, a nonprofit housing development foundation; in 1993 he was appointed director of the Fiscal Policy Center at the University of Washington, and was appointed to serve as chairman of the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Board in 1994, holding both positions until 1998.[9]
During his tenure in the Washington House McIntire served on the House Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, and the House Caseload Forecast Council. McIntire also served on the committees for:[13]
Finance (chairman)
Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program
Joint Administrative Rules Review
Capital Budget
Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance
Appropriations
Washington State Treasurer
McIntire ran for the Democratic nomination for State Treasurer of Washington, after 14-year incumbent Mike Murphy retired. He ran against Republican Assistant Washington State Treasurer, Allan Martin in the general election. Martin significantly outspent McIntire by a two-to-one margin during the campaign, and saw key endorsements from outgoing State Treasurer Mike Murphy, and the Seattle Times.[14] However, on November 4, 2008, McIntire defeated Martin in the general election with 51.08% of the vote.[15]
In 2012, McIntire ran for reelection against Republican Sharon Hanek, a self-employed accountant.[16] Hanek, who failed to get on the ballot officially as a Republican, ran as a write-in candidate.[17] On November 6, 2012, McIntire won in the general election, receiving 58% of the vote, to Hanek's 41%.[18]
Electoral history
Washington House of Representatives 46th District Position 1 Democratic Primary Election, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jim McIntire
10,176
66.01
Democratic
Brian Peyton
5,240
33.99
Washington House of Representatives 46th District Position 1 Election, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jim McIntire
32,925
76.91
Republican
Nick Slepko
8,622
20.14
Reform
A.J. Skurdal
1,261
2.95
Washington House of Representatives 46th District Position 1 Election, 2000
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jim McIntire (inc.)
40,193
86.05
Libertarian
John Sample
4,471
9.57
Natural Law
Pennie Stasik O'Grady
2,044
4.38
Washington House of Representatives 46th District Position 1 Election, 2002
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
James McIntire (inc.)
30,258
100.00
Washington House of Representatives 46th District Position 1 Election, 2004
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jim McIntire (inc.)
44,410
71.83
Republican
Brien Downie
10,438
16.88
Green
Chris LaRoche
5,700
9.22
Libertarian
Mack Barnette
1,280
2.07
Washington House of Representatives 46th District Position 1 Election, 2006