Paulette Jordan

Paulette Jordan (born c. 1980, Coeur d'Alene) is an American politician, a Democratic Party member of the Idaho House of Representatives, representing District 5 Seat A. She previously served on the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council, its sovereign government. She is the only Democrat elected from northern Idaho.

Early life, education and career

Paulette Jordan was born into a ranching and farming family in northern Idaho. She is an enrolled citizen of the federally recognized Coeur d'Alene tribe, which is based on the reservation of the same name. She also has Sinkiuse (known as the Moses–Columbia Band of the Colville Confederacy), Nez Perce, and Yakama–Palus ancestry.^[1]

Jordan attended Gonzaga Preparatory before going to the University of Washington, where she graduated. While in Seattle, she held a variety of leadership roles in community activism and became involved in local city politics, also serving as an Advisor to the President of the University.^[2]

After returning to the reservation, Jordan ran for and was elected to the Tribal Council. From this position, she became the co-chair of gaming for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), an organization founded in 1953 so that tribes could act in concert on mutual interests.^[1] She is also a Senior Executive Board representative, Finance Chair and Energy Initiative Chair for the National Indian Gaming Association, serving her third consecutive term.^[2] She also owns timber and farmland in northern Idaho.

Idaho House of Representatives

Jordan serves on the State Affairs Committee, the Business Committee, and the Energy, Environment and Technology Committee. In addition, Jordan was selected for the Legislative Council, which oversees management of the Capitol and permanent staff. It is made up of the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of each house, and four senators and four representatives—two from each party.^[1]

Elections

References