Ken Jacobsen

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Ken Jacobsen is a Democratic Party member of the State Senate in Washington, United States. He has been a member of the Washington State Legislature for 24 years.

Elected State Senate 1998; Elected House of Representatives 1983, served seven terms. Leadership: Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman, 2003; Majority Caucus Vice Chairman, 1999, 2001. Former Chair, House Education Committee

PERSONAL: Born in Dannebrog, Nebraska, of "Postcard from Nebraska" fame and raised in NE Seattle, Senator Jacobsen enjoys bird watching, hummingbird and butterfly gardening. He was first elected to the Washington State Legislature in 1982, and then to the State Senate in 1997. He represents the 46th Legislative District, which is in North Seattle. The neighbourhoods include, Wedgewood, View Ridge, Sand Point, Roosevelt, Northgate, Maple Leaf, and Lake City. He is the chair of the Senate Natural Resources, Oceans and Recreation Committee, Vice-Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and also serves on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee. He has been married to Rachel Jacobsen, a teacher from New Zealand, for 35 years. They have two daughters, Sonja (Wellesley College, 2002, 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

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES: 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.