Hannah-Beth Jackson

Hannah-Beth Jackson
Member of the California State Senate
from the 19th district
Assumed office
December 3, 2012
Preceded by Tony Strickland
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 35th district
In office
1998–2004
Preceded by Brooks Firestone
Succeeded by Pedro Nava
Personal details
Born (1950-05-19) May 19, 1950
Boston, Massachusetts
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) George Eskin
Residence Santa Barbara, California
Alma mater Scripps College (BA)
Boston University (JD)
Profession Prosecutor

Hannah-Beth Jackson is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate. A Democrat, she represents the 19th Senate District, which encompasses Santa Barbara County and most of Ventura County.

Jackson ran for the 19th Senate District in 2008, but narrowly lost to Republican Tony Strickland.[1] After Strickland chose not to pursue reelection to the State Senate in 2012 in order to mount an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives, Jackson was elected to succeed him. She was re-elected in 2016 for a second term. Prior to her election to the State Senate, Jackson served in the California State Assembly from 1998-2004, representing the 35th Assembly District.

Jackson served as Chair of the California Legislative Women's Caucus from 2015 to 2016. She is also a member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. Jackson is a former prosecutor, the co-founder of two non-profit organizations, and also served as an adjunct professor at Antioch University.

Personal life

Jackson is married to retired Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge George Eskin. She has a daughter, two stepchildren, and six grandchildren. The family has resided in the district for more than 35 years.[2]

Hannah-Beth Jackson received her bachelor's degree in Government and Sociology from Scripps College. After receiving her bachelor's degree, she went on to law school at Boston University and received her Juris Doctor. She opened a law practice in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties that operated for 20 years.[2]

Legislative work

Jackson served as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Coastal Protection. She served as Chair of the bipartisan Legislative Women's Caucus and was Chair of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee from 1999-2002. She served on a number of standing committees including the Budget Committee, Judiciary Committee and the Higher Education Committee. In the State Senate, she served as Vice Chair of the bipartisan Legislative Women's Caucus from 2013-2014, and as Chair from 2015-2016.[3]

Awards and recognitions

Jackson was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Consumer Federation of California for her advocacy on behalf of consumers, particularly in the areas of health care and privacy rights. Jackson was also named "Legislator of the Year" by the Congress of California Seniors for advocacy against elder abuse and health care issues and by the California League of Conservation Voters for her focus on natural resources and public health. She was named "Legislator of the Year" by the National Organization for Women for advancing women's health issues and equal opportunity and by the Junior League of California for her work on domestic violence and issues affecting children. Californians Against Waste named her legislator of the year after the passage of her bills to do with pesticide use and the recycling of electronic-waste. Other awards include "Guardian of the Coast" from Vote the Coast, the "Outstanding Public Service Award" by the California School Employees Association and the Planned Parenthood "Giraffe award" - for sticking her neck out and helping others.[4]

State Senate (2012-present)

On October 18, 2011, Jackson announced that she would run for the California State Senate's 19th District seat.[5] She was endorsed by the California Democratic Party, the Sierra Club, the California Teachers Association, SEIU State Council, the California League of Conservation Voters, and the California Democratic Council, along with over 90 additional endorsements.[6][7] Jackson won the general election on November 6, 2012, and took the oath of office on December 3.[8][9]

In 2013, Jackson introduced a bill to pre-register 15-year-olds to vote.[10] Senate Bill 113 was passed and signed into law in 2014, and took effect in 2017.[11] Now 16 and 17 year olds in California can pre-register to vote online.

In 2015 the California Fair Pay Act, her equal pay bill, was signed into law. This bill is one of the toughest pay equity laws in the nation.[12] This law will ensure employees are not paid more for substantially similar work, based on their gender.

In 2016 The Huffington Post named Hannah-Beth Jackson as one of eleven women around the country “blazing new trails” in American politics.[13]

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_general Archived January 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 About Hannah-Beth Jackson
  3. ↑ "Jackson Elected Chair of the California Legislative Women's Caucus". 1 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Awards". Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Meagher, Chris. "Hannah-Beth Jackson Announces Candidacy". independent.com. Santa Barbara Independent, Inc. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Endorsements
  7. ↑ About Hannah-Beth Jackson
  8. ↑ Magnoli, Giana. "Hannah-Beth Jackson Wins State Senate Seat, May Give Democrats Supermajority". noozhawk.com. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  9. ↑ "Hannah-Beth Jackson Takes the Oath as Senator for 19th Senate District". sd19.senate.ca.gov. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  10. ↑ "Jackson Introduces Bill to Increase Young Voter Participation". Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "16- and 17-Year-Olds Can Now Pre-Register to Vote Online". YubaNet.com. 10 March 2017.
  12. ↑ "California now has one of the toughest equal pay laws in the country". LA Times. 6 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "These 11 Women Are Blazing New Trails In American Politics". Huffington Post. 8 March 2016.

Sources

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