Jeannette Hamby
Encyclopedia
Jeannette N. Hamby is an American
politician and nurse in Oregon
. A native of Minnesota
, she worked as an airline attendant, nurse, and educator before entering local politics. A Republican
, she served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature
, winning re-election three times to the Oregon State Senate
.
, a mining town in Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. She was born to immigrants from Finland
and only learned English after starting school. After high school she attended the University of Minnesota
where she graduated in 1956 with a degree in nursing and public health education.
She then became a stewardess for an airline and moved to Seattle, Washington. There she met Eugene Hamby on a triple date, and they were soon married. They had two daughters, Tenya and Taryn. Eugene, whose father owned the Chevrolet dealership in Hillsboro, Oregon, was serving in the Air Defense Command
when they were married. The couple moved to Hillsboro after Eugene was told officer’s wives were not supposed to work.
In Hillsboro, Eugene worked for his father while Jeannette began working for Washington County
as a public health
nurse. She then continued her education, earning a master’s degree from Oregon Health Sciences University (now Oregon Health & Science University
) in nursing education and then a doctorate in vocational and career education from Oregon State University
in 1977 on the same day as her oldest daughter graduated from Hillsboro High School. Hamby then worked for the Washington County Education Service District as a career education coordinator.
in 1971. She was the first woman ever on the school board, and served until 1981 when she was elected to higher office. While on the board she fought against allowing the teaching of creationism
in the district. In 1980, Hamby ran against Democrat Al Young to serve District 4 in the Oregon House of Representatives
. She defeated the incumbent Young in the November election. Fellow Republican and state senator Nancy Ryles had encouraged Hamby to run for the office.
In September 1981, she announced she would run for a newly created district in the Oregon State Senate
in the 1982 elections. She won her primary and then again in the November election to represent District 5 and Washington County for a four-year term. Hamby won re-election to another term in 1986, and again in 1990 after she ran unopposed in the Republican primary in May. After wining another four-year term in 1994, Hamby faced conservative Republican Charles Starr
in the Republican primary in 1998. She lost to Starr in the May election, and Starr then went on to win the seat in the November election.
A self-proclaimed progressive, she worked to pass a law that prohibited corporal punishment
in schools in the state and another law that requires health care providers to report babies affected by illegal drugs. The law against corporal punishment was spurred along by an incident where four adults at a private school beat an eight-year-old girl to death. She is also an environmentalist due to her witnessing the destruction of the land around her hometown from open-pit mining
. Other offices she has held include as chairperson of the Western States Conference on Recycling and serving on the Hanford Waste Board. Hamby was thought of as a possible candidate for the Republican nomination in Oregon's 1st congressional district
for 1992.
While state senator in 1983 she was invited by the Council for Human Rights in Latin America to tour Nicaragua
. After the trip she stated the administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan
had given her “outright lies” about the Sandinistas
and their activities and U.S. involvement in the region. This led her to become a supporter of the Sandinistas, as well as to take other trips to Honduras
and El Salvador
. While in the later she served as a human shield
to help protect the president of that country’s Human Rights Commission in 1984. Hamby returned to Nicaragua in 1990 to observe their elections.
As state senator she introduced a bill to eliminate Oregon's Sports Action lottery game. The game allowed people to bet on National Football League
games, with the revenues used to provide funding to intercollegiate athletics in the state. Her bill did not become law, and the lottery game continued until 2005. Hamby had also supported legislation to allow patients at the Oregon State Hospital
and prisoners in the corrections system to receive visits from pets. The legislation was introduced in 1983 and would have establish guidelines where inmates and prisoners under certain conditions could receive the visits due to the pets therapeutic benefits.
’s board of directors. Hamby was also appointed to the Metro
Boundary Appeals Commission.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and nurse in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, she worked as an airline attendant, nurse, and educator before entering local politics. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, she served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
, winning re-election three times to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
.
Early life
Jeannette N. Hamby was born as Jeannette Carrie Anne Johnson born on March 15, 1933, in Minnesota. She grew up in Northern Minnesota in VirginiaVirginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
, a mining town in Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. She was born to immigrants from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and only learned English after starting school. After high school she attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
where she graduated in 1956 with a degree in nursing and public health education.
She then became a stewardess for an airline and moved to Seattle, Washington. There she met Eugene Hamby on a triple date, and they were soon married. They had two daughters, Tenya and Taryn. Eugene, whose father owned the Chevrolet dealership in Hillsboro, Oregon, was serving in the Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
when they were married. The couple moved to Hillsboro after Eugene was told officer’s wives were not supposed to work.
In Hillsboro, Eugene worked for his father while Jeannette began working for Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
as a public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
nurse. She then continued her education, earning a master’s degree from Oregon Health Sciences University (now Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
) in nursing education and then a doctorate in vocational and career education from Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in 1977 on the same day as her oldest daughter graduated from Hillsboro High School. Hamby then worked for the Washington County Education Service District as a career education coordinator.
Political career
Hamby began her political career when she was elected to the Hillsboro Union High School BoardHillsboro School District
The Hillsboro School District 1J is a unified school district located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The district operates 26 elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Founded in 1851, the school district covers Hillsboro, Scholls, Reedville, North Plains, West Union,...
in 1971. She was the first woman ever on the school board, and served until 1981 when she was elected to higher office. While on the board she fought against allowing the teaching of creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
in the district. In 1980, Hamby ran against Democrat Al Young to serve District 4 in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
. She defeated the incumbent Young in the November election. Fellow Republican and state senator Nancy Ryles had encouraged Hamby to run for the office.
In September 1981, she announced she would run for a newly created district in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in the 1982 elections. She won her primary and then again in the November election to represent District 5 and Washington County for a four-year term. Hamby won re-election to another term in 1986, and again in 1990 after she ran unopposed in the Republican primary in May. After wining another four-year term in 1994, Hamby faced conservative Republican Charles Starr
Charles Starr
Charles Starr is an American politician and farmer in Oregon. He served as a Republican member of the Oregon Legislature for 14 years, serving in both houses...
in the Republican primary in 1998. She lost to Starr in the May election, and Starr then went on to win the seat in the November election.
A self-proclaimed progressive, she worked to pass a law that prohibited corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
in schools in the state and another law that requires health care providers to report babies affected by illegal drugs. The law against corporal punishment was spurred along by an incident where four adults at a private school beat an eight-year-old girl to death. She is also an environmentalist due to her witnessing the destruction of the land around her hometown from open-pit mining
Open-pit mining
Open-pit mining or opencast mining refers to a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow....
. Other offices she has held include as chairperson of the Western States Conference on Recycling and serving on the Hanford Waste Board. Hamby was thought of as a possible candidate for the Republican nomination in Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district consists of the northwest corner of Oregon. It includes Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill counties, and southwest Portland, part of Multnomah County, which belonged to the 3rd district before the 2002 redistricting....
for 1992.
While state senator in 1983 she was invited by the Council for Human Rights in Latin America to tour Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. After the trip she stated the administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
had given her “outright lies” about the Sandinistas
Sandinista National Liberation Front
The Sandinista National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Nicaragua. Its members are called Sandinistas in both English and Spanish...
and their activities and U.S. involvement in the region. This led her to become a supporter of the Sandinistas, as well as to take other trips to Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
and El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. While in the later she served as a human shield
Human shield
Human shield is a military and political term describing the deliberate placement of civilians in or around combat targets to deter an enemy from attacking those targets. It may also refer to the use of civilians to literally shield combatants during attacks, by forcing the civilians to march in...
to help protect the president of that country’s Human Rights Commission in 1984. Hamby returned to Nicaragua in 1990 to observe their elections.
As state senator she introduced a bill to eliminate Oregon's Sports Action lottery game. The game allowed people to bet on National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
games, with the revenues used to provide funding to intercollegiate athletics in the state. Her bill did not become law, and the lottery game continued until 2005. Hamby had also supported legislation to allow patients at the Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, United States, is the primary state-run psychiatric hospital in the state of Oregon since Dammasch State Hospital closed in 1995. The facility is best known as the filming location for the Academy Award-winning film based on Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over...
and prisoners in the corrections system to receive visits from pets. The legislation was introduced in 1983 and would have establish guidelines where inmates and prisoners under certain conditions could receive the visits due to the pets therapeutic benefits.
Later years
After leaving politics she served as chairperson of the Jackson Bottom Wetlands PreserveJackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States, is a wetlands area along the Tualatin River in Washington County, Oregon...
’s board of directors. Hamby was also appointed to the Metro
Metro (Oregon regional government)
Metro, formerly known as Metropolitan Service District, is the regional governmental agency for the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan area...
Boundary Appeals Commission.