Vicki Walker
From dKosopedia
Vicki Walker, a Democrat represents State Senate District 7 in the Oregon legislature.
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Background
Vicki Walker graduated from Reedsport High School in 1974 and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Oregon in 1978. She later studied court reporting at Lane Community College. During the interim, Walker works as a self-employed court reporter. She began the practice in 1983, and became a certified shorthand reporter in 1990 when Oregon adopted certification standards.
Walker served as the chair of the Lane County Democratic Central Committee from 1992-94. She also was secretary-treasurer and area representative for the Cal Young Neighborhood Association from 1990-92. She has volunteered on numerous campaigns and fund-raising projects for various nonprofit organizations. She lobbied the Oregon State Legislature as a citizen lobbyist from 1983 until her election in November of 1998. Walker was reelected to a second term in the Oregon House of Representatives in November of 2000. In 2002, voters in Lane County elected her to the Oregon State Senate.
During the 1999 Legislative Session, as a member of the House, Walker was instrumental in passing legislation to set up Oregon's landmark pesticide tracking program (HB 3602); declaring youth suicide prevention a state priority (HJR 53); and worked on protecting consumers from predatory lending practices (HB 3533).
During the 2001 Legislative Session, Walker served as a member of the Judiciary Committee and Criminal Law Subcommittee; Business, Labor & Consumer Affairs Committee; and the Smart Growth & Commerce Committee. Senator Walker sponsored and passed the Infant Crib Safety Act (HB 3962) on behalf of the Brandt-Amor family who tragically lost their son in an accident due to an unsafe crib. The national Danny Foundation assisted in drafting this important public policy to protect infants across Oregon. Senator Walker was also instrumental in raising the issue of racial profiling, enacting legislation in SB 415 that establishes a law enforcement committee to receive and analyze demographic data to ensure that law enforcement agencies do not engage in racial profiling.
During the 2003 Legislative Session, Walker served as Vice-Chair of the Business and Labor Committee, and as a member of the Judiciary, Health Policy, and General Government Committees. Senator Walker sponsored and passed legislation on visitability (SB 833, increases availability of homes that mobility impaired persons can visit), identity theft, use of breast reconstruction following mastectomy (SB 785 and HB 3654), e-mail spam (SB 910) , workers’ compensation (SB 620), among others. Additionally, Senator Walker became a strong advocate against the use of polished wired glass in hazardous locations. This type of glass is most often seen in schools, athletic facilities, hospitals and prisons. Senator Walker worked closely with <a href="www.safeglass.org" target="blank">Advocates for Safe Glass</a> to change both state and federal building codes to limit the use of this type of glass to protect the health and safety of our citizens.
Currently, during the 2005 Legislative Session, Senator Walker is the Chair of the Education & Workforce Committee. She also serves on the General Government, Judiciary, and Ways & Means Education Sub-Committees.
Walker was recently appointed to two prominent organizations. The Council of State Governments-West has chosen Senator Walker to serve as Vice Chair of the Energy and Public Lands Committee for the 2005-2006 biennium. CSG-West provides a platform for legislators of 13 western states to share ideas on legislation. Walker was also appointed as an associate member of the Western Governors’ Association Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee (CDEAC). The committee arose as a result of the WGA adopting a policy resolution in June 2004 to address clean and diversified energy in the West.
Senator Walker is married to Steven Walker. The couple have two adult children, Adam and Sara.
Education
University of Oregon, BS; Lane Community College, Court Reporting Program.
Governmental Experience
State Representative 1999-present; Secretary-Treasurer, Cal Young Neighborhood Association; Chair, Lane County Democrats.
Affiliations
Contact
'Vicki Walker
900 Court St. NE
S-210
Salem, OR 97301<p>
Phone: (503) 986-1714
Email: Vicki Walker
Related articles
External links
- Vicki Walker - Oregon Legislature Official Website
- Oregon Voter Pamphlet - Bio
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