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Laurie Jinkins

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Laurie Jinkins
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 27th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2011
Preceded byDennis Flannigan
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
Domestic partnerLaura Wulf
ResidenceTacoma, Washington
Websitelauriejinkins.com

Laurie Jinkins is a public health official from Tacoma, Washington who serves as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 27th district. A Democrat, she was elected in 2010 to succeed Dennis Flannigan and took office on January 10, 2011.

Early life and career

Jinkins grew up in the rural Midwest and attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she earned both bachelor's and master's degrees. She moved to Washington State in 1987 to attend the University of Puget Sound School of Law, earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1990. In 2007, she completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. After graduation, she worked as an assistant attorney general in Tacoma, before joining the Department of Health in Olympia in 1995. She remained at the department until 2008, rising to the post of assistant secretary. In 2008, she joined the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department as deputy director.[1]

Political career

Jinkins has a long record of involvement in civic, government and political organizations. From 1990 to 1992, she chaired the Tacoma Hate Crimes Task Force, later chairing the Tacoma Charter Review Committee and the Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees. In 2009, she led the successful statewide campaign to approve Referendum 71, affirming Washington's domestic partnership law.

When Rep. Dennis Flannigan (D–Tacoma) decided against seeking re-election to the Washington House in 2010, Jinkins declared for the seat. Four Democrats and one independent filed for the open seat with a top two primary held on August 17, 2010. Jinkins was the top vote getter in the primary with fellow Democrat Jake Fey, a member of Tacoma City Council, finishing second.[2] In the general election held on November 2, Jinkins defeated Fey 54–46%.

Personal

Jinkins is openly gay.[3] She and her partner, Laura Wulf, have one son who attends public school in Tacoma.

She is the first openly lesbian member of the Washington State Legislature.[4] She is one of seven openly gay legislators in Washington, alongside Representatives Jim Moeller (D–Vancouver), Joan McBride (D–Kirkland), Christine Kilduff (D–University Place) and Brady Walkinshaw (D–Seattle), as well as Senators Marko Liias (D–Mukilteo) and Jamie Pedersen (D–Seattle).[5]

References

  1. ^ "Elect Laurie Jinkins: About Laurie". Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  2. ^ "Voters narrow field for Legislature". The Olympian. August 18, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  3. ^ Stone, Zak (November 3, 2010). "2010 Elections Gayer Than Ever: Most Gay Candidates Elected in Nation's History". Good. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Jinkins' win in the 27th is a first for Washington". The News Tribune. November 2, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  5. ^ "WA state Legislature has 2nd largest gay caucus in U.S." Associated Press. 2008-01-23. Retrieved 2008-01-23. [dead link]

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