U.S. Rep. Adam Smith's office is denying rumors that he is up for a position in the Obama administration, possibly in the State Department.

Of course, that's what King County Executive Ron Sims' spokeswoman, Natasha Jones said just before Sims took a job in D.C.

But Mike Amato, Smith's spokesman, said this isn't a Ron Sims denial. There is no hedging. "Not true means not true," he said.

And Smith, a Tacoma Democrat, himself just denied the rumor to Les Blumenthal, the News Tribune's Washington correspondent, although it is clear that Smith had considered taking an administration post.

Reports Blumenthal:

But while Smith said he had some discussions with the administration early on, he concluded he could best serve the new president by staying in Congress. He chairs the House Armed Service's subcommittee on terrorism and unconventional threats and just returned from a trip to Syria, Israel, Lebanon and Iraq.

Of his talks with the administration, Smith said "it was something I had to explore. But I concluded this is the best place for me. There is no question I am going to run for re-election. I love my job. I love Tacoma and I love the 9th District."