Laurie Jinkins
| Laurie Jinkins | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 27th district |
|
| Assumed office January 10, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Dennis Flannigan |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Domestic partner | Laura Wulf |
| Residence | Tacoma, Washington |
| Website | lauriejinkins.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
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- Pages with reference errors
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- Living people
- People from Tacoma, Washington
- LGBT state legislators in Washington (state)
- Washington (state) Democrats
- University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
- Seattle University School of Law alumni
- Lesbian politicians
- Members of the Washington House of Representatives
- Women state legislators in Washington (state)
- Politicians from Tacoma, Washington
- Articles with dead external links from October 2010
