Washington Women's History Consortium
Senator Karen Fraser, State of Washington, Olympia

WHC Advisory Board Member

Senator Karen Fraser

Democrat — 22nd Legislative District, Olympia

Elective Office: Washington State Senate, 1993-present; House of Representatives, 1989-92; Thurston County Commissioner, 1981-88; Mayor, City of Lacey, 1976-80; Council Member, City of Lacey, 1973-80; President, Washington State Association of Counties, 1988.

Other Current Legislative Committees and Assignments: Women's History Consortium Board of Advisors - 2005; Washington State Information Services Board; State Treasurer's Advisory Committee on Alternative Financing - 2005; Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought - 2005; Select Committee on Pension Policy, 1995-present, current Vice-Chair and former Chair; Co-Chair, Washington Institute on Public Policy; Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee, Member 1995-present, former Chair; Co-Chair, Legislative International Caucus, 1994-present; Chair, Washington-Hyogo Legislative Friendship Association, 1994-present; Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, 1995-present; Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Supply, Chair.

Current Special Committees, Councils and Boards: Member, Nuclear Waste Roundtable of NCSL (1999 - present); Member, Puget Sound Council; Member, Washington State Parks Centennial Advisory Committee, appointed 2004; Council of State Governments, River Governance Task Force, 1998-present, member; Member of Energy Committee of Western Region Council of State Governments; Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, Environment Committee; Olympic Trials Legacy Committee, Board Member; Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians' Conference on Environment and Development, Executive Committee, Member.

Former Leadership Roles: Water Rights Disputes Task Force, 2003-2005; Washington Combined Fund Drive Board, Member, 2001-2005; Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, Board Member, 1998- 2005; Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities (NOVA) Task Force, 2003, member; Deaf Education Task Force, 2003, member; Joint Task Force on Judicial and Administrative Alternatives for Resolving Water Disputes, member, 2002; Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) 2001-2002; Water Storage Task Force, member, 2000; Task Force on Energy Facility Siting Statutes, member 2000; Former Co-Chair, National Environment Committee, Council of State Governments; Council of State Governments, Western Water Policy Committee, 1999; Legislative Building Preservation and Renovation Commission, 1999; North Puget Sound Oil Spill Risk Management Panel, 1999; Senate Ecology and Parks Committee, Chair, 1993-96; Chair, Senate Committee on Environment, Energy and Water, 1999-2003; Chair, Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Water, Western Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments, 1994-96; President, Washington State Association of Counties, 1987-88; Nisqually River Council, Chair; Nisqually River Basin Land Trust, Founding Board Member; Asia Foundation Environmental Fellow (with Parliament of Thailand), 1994; State Capital Historical Association Trustee; Host Committee of Women's Olympic Marathon Trials Association, Co-Chair, 1984; Tumwater Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, Past Vice President and Treasurer; Joint Committee on Water Resource Policy, Chair, 1993.

Honors/Recognitions: Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Housing Hero Award, 2005; Certificate of Appreciation from Washington State Coalition for the Homeless for "Leadership" and dedication to increasing the Housing Trust Fund, 2005; Washington State Skills Center "Super Star" 2005; Woman of Distinction, Olympia YWCA, 2004; Seventh Generation Legacy Award, from Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, 2004; 2004 Combined Fund Drive Leadership Award 2004 Panorama Democrat Study Group "Fearless Leader, Justice Seeker, Faithful to the Democratic Vision" Award 2004 Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association Service Award;, 2004; Washington Chapter of American Planning Association Co-Legislator of the Year, 2003; "Puget Sound Hero Award", People for Puget Sound, 2001; Neah Bay Rescue Tug, Leadership Recognition, Governor Gary Locke, 2003; "Conservation Champion," Washington Conservation Voters, 2002; "VIP Award,” Washington State College Women’s Programs Council, 2002; “Puget Sound Hero Award,” People for Puget Sound, 2001; Leadership Award," Washington Association of School Administrators, District 113, 2001; "Leadership Counts" Award -- Washington Public Employees Association, 2000; "Legislator of the Year" -- Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs, 2000; Washington Combined Fund Drive, Leadership Award, 1999 and 2004; Legislative Citation of Merit, Washington Recreation & Parks Association, 1998; Program Leadership Award, Nisqually River Management Program, 1998; Distinguished Leadership Recognition, Association of Washington Housing Authorities, 1998; Certificate of Appreciation, Judicial Staff of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, Washington Federation of State Employees, 1998; Legislator of the Year, Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association, 1996; Legislator of the Year, Washington Health Care Association, 1996; Legislator of the Year/Puget Sound Hero, People for Puget Sound, 1995; Woman of Distinction, Pacific Peaks Girl Scout Council, 1995; Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments, 1993; Outstanding Leadership Award, Washington State Boating Safety Officers Association, 1993; Silver Beaver Award for services to youth, Boy Scouts of America; Woman Who Wins Award, a community recognition award sponsored by The Olympian and KGY radio; Finalist, Thurston County Citizen of the Year (twice); Legislator of the Year, Washington Federation of State Employees, 1993.

Education: University of Washington, Master of Public Administration, 1969; University of Washington, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, 1966. Adjunct Faculty, Master of Public Administration Program, The Evergreen State College.

Personal: Senator Fraser is a life-long resident of Washington. She is married to Tim Malone and has one daughter, Hiromi. She enjoys outdoor recreation. She has climbed four of Washington's major peaks; has won numerous awards in sailboat racing; and has completed two marathons. Teaches master's level class in public administration at The Evergreen State College one quarter per year, 1999-present.


Seattle General Hospital Nursery.

Three suffragists post signs advocating women's suffrage on the side of a low wood structure in Seattle. Asahel Curtis took this photogrpah for the Washington Equal Suffrage Association.

Ten raspberry pickers, all women, stand in a row at the edge of a raspberry field in Western Washington.

Three American Red Cross women wearing heavy coats and Red Cross caps, offer bottles of milk and doughnuts from baskets to rows of African American soldiers returning to Fort Lewis at the close of World War II. Photo by Turner Richards, Tacoma, WA.