Ken Jacobsen Explained

Ken Jacobsen
State Senate3:Washington
District3:46th
Term Start3:January 6, 1997
Term End3:January 10, 2011
Predecessor3:Nita Rinehart
Successor3:Scott White
State House4:Washington
District4:46th
Term Start4:January 10, 1983
Term End4:January 6, 1997
Predecessor4:William H. "Skeeter" Ellis
Successor4:Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney
Birth Date:1945 5, mf=yes
Birth Place:Dannebrog, Nebraska, U.S.
Birthname:Ken Gene Jacobsen
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Rachel Jacobsen
Children:2
Education:University of Washington

Ken Jacobsen (born May 2, 1945) is an American former politician who served as a Democratic member of the Washington State Senate. He was first elected to the Washington State Legislature in 1982 and he served through 2010.

Political history

He was elected to represent the 46th Legislative District in the Washington State House of Representatives in 1982 and was subsequently reelected for six more terms. He was appointed (and subsequently elected) to the State Senate in 1997, and served as Senator though 2010. He served as the Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman in 2003, the Majority Caucus Vice Chairman in 1999 and 2001, and he is a former chair of the House Higher Education Committee. He was the chair of the Senate Natural Resources, Oceans and Recreation Committee, and also served on the Transportation Committee, the Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee.

District

In the State Senate, Jacobsen represented the Seattle neighborhoods of Wedgwood, View Ridge, Sand Point, Roosevelt, Northgate, Maple Leaf, and Lake City.

Personal

Born in Dannebrog, Nebraska, of "Postcard from Nebraska" fame and raised in northeast Seattle, Senator Jacobsen enjoys bird watching, hummingbird and butterfly gardening. He has been married to Rachel Jacobsen, a teacher from New Zealand, since 1972. They have two daughters, Sonja (Wellesley College, 1999, University of Washington School of Law, 2007) and Kiri (Tulane University, 2000).

Recent awards and recognition

Glenn Galbreath Spirit Award, 2006; Stanley O. McNaughton Leadership Award, 2002; Survivors of the Holocaust Asset Recovery Project of Washington—Honorary Board Member; Northwest Dollars for Scholars Community Hero Award. Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire declared May 22, 2009 Ken Jacobsen day in the State of Washington.

Civic organizations

Board member of Scholarship America and Washington Dollars for Scholars; U.S. Foundation of the Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala; Friends of the University of Washington Library; Seattle Audubon Society; American Indian Endowment Committee; Ravenna & Thornton Creek Alliances'; Bring the Purple Martin Back to Seattle Committee; Education Advisory Committee Nordic Heritage Museum; Founder of the Annual Raoul Wallenberg Dinner. Lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans.

References