Karen Fraser
 | This biographical article is written like a résumé. (March 2020) |
Karen Fraser | |
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| Member of the Washington Senate from the 22nd district | |
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Kreidler |
| Succeeded by | Sam Hunt |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 22nd district | |
| In office January 9, 1989 – January 11, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Jolene Unsoeld |
| Succeeded by | Sandra Singery Romero |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 12, 1944 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Washington (BA, MPA) |
| Website | Official |
Karen R. Fraser (born September 12, 1944) was a Democratic Washington State Senator who served 24 years in the Washington State Senate, representing the 22nd Legislative District, which includes Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and northern Thurston County. She held many senior leadership positions in the Senate including: Democratic Caucus Chair; Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Committee; Chair of the Capital Budget; chair of the Senate's administrative committee; and chair of policy committees pertaining to environment, energy, water, parks and recreation, shorelines, Puget Sound, and state employee pensions. She served on the and on many other policy committees. She was a leader in state level international relations.[1]
Prior to serving in the Senate, she served four years as State Representative. She served as a local elected official for 15 years, including becoming the first woman mayor of Lacey, the second woman Thurston County Commissioner, and the first woman President of the .
Fraser was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in the 2016 primary election, which she ultimately lost to fellow Democrat Cyrus Habib.
In October 2017, the Olympia Woodland Trail was renamed to the Karen Fraser Woodland Trail in her honor.[2]
Education[]
Fraser graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a Master of Public Administration from the university's Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. She was founder of the Legislative International Caucus.
Personal life[]
Fraser was born in Seattle and currently resides in Thurston County, Washington. She has one daughter and two grandchildren. She enjoys outdoor recreation, such as hiking, sailboat racing, and marathon running, and travel.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Senator Karen Fraser biography stub on Washington Senate web site". Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "Olympia Woodland Trail Gets a New Name". Thurston County Chamber. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
External links[]
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- Living people
- Mayors of places in Washington (state)
- County commissioners in Washington (state)
- Washington (state) state senators
- Women state legislators in Washington (state)
- 1944 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Evans School of Public Policy and Governance alumni