Senator Karen Fraser
22nd District  Thurston County

Official Senate Biography

Democrat: Term expires January 2009.

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: Advisory Council member to the Thurston Mason E3 (Environmental Education Association of Washington); 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 Farm Forestry Association "Senator of the Year", 2007; Washington State School Retirees Association’s “Legislative Excellence Award, 2007;  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.

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