Ken Jacobsen

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.

Ken Jacobsen
Ken Jacobsen in 2010
Member of the Washington Senate from the 46th district
In office January 6, 1997 – January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Nita Rinehart
Succeeded by	Scott White
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 46th district
In office January 10, 1983 – January 6, 1997
Preceded by	William H. "Skeeter" Ellis
Succeeded by	Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney
Personal details
Born	Ken Gene Jacobsen (1945-05-02) May 2, 1945 Dannebrog, Nebraska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rachel Jacobsen
Children	2
Education	University of Washington

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

• "Senator Ken Jacobsen, 46th District, Washington State Senate Democrats". Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2006.
• "Ken Jacobsen campaign site". Retrieved December 19, 2006.