Jim D. Hansen
Encyclopedia
Jim D. Hansen is an American
attorney
, activist and Democratic
politician from Idaho. He was the 2006 Democratic nominee for United States House of Representatives
in the Idaho Second Congressional District
, and was defeated by incumbent Republican
Congressman Mike Simpson
.
In April 2008 Hansen was named executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party
. In May 2011, Hansen was named as director of development at The College of Idaho.
, after his father, Orval H. Hansen
, was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives.
Hansen is a graduate of the College of William and Mary
and University of Idaho
Law School. While in school, Hansen worked as a ranger and naturalist in Yellowstone National Park
.
Hansen began his legal career as an intern for Idaho Attorney General Jim Jones
in 1984. He was a law clerk for Chief Justice Charles Donaldson of the Idaho Supreme Court from 1985 to 1986 and practiced law with Givens Pursley from 1985 to 1991, focusing primarily on water and natural resource issues.
Hansen was elected to the Idaho Legislature
in 1988, representing southeast Boise
. He was re-elected in 1990 and 1992. Hansen imposed his own term limits and voluntarily retired in 1994.
In 1995 Hansen founded United Vision for Idaho, a coalition of organizations to empower participation in democracy and served as its first executive director. He took a sabbatical from that position during his run for the seat once held by his father, but returned to the coalition after the election in 2006. Hansen resigned from United Vision for Idaho in April 2008 upon being named Idaho Democratic Party executive director.
Hansen has been married to Joan Cartan-Hansen since 1990. They have two children. Hansen has one brother and five sisters; his mother, June, is a well-known actress in the Washington, D.C.
area, who was awarded the prestigious Helen Hayes Award
and been nominated several times.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, activist and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Idaho. He was the 2006 Democratic nominee for United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in the Idaho Second Congressional District
Idaho's 2nd congressional district
Idaho's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Idaho. The district encompasses Eastern Idaho and the Magic Valley region of the state and other outlying areas, as well as a small portion of the Boise Metropolitan Area, including two-thirds of the city of Boise...
, and was defeated by incumbent 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...
Congressman Mike Simpson
Mike Simpson
Michael Keith "Mike" Simpson, D.M.D. , is the member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Idaho House of Representatives....
.
In April 2008 Hansen was named executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party
Idaho Democratic Party
The Idaho Democratic Party is an Idaho political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Although the party has been in the minority for most of the state's history, it has produced several notable public figures, including the late U.S...
. In May 2011, Hansen was named as director of development at The College of Idaho.
Background
Hansen attended grade school in Idaho Falls, then moved with his family in 1969 to Arlington, VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, after his father, Orval H. Hansen
Orval H. Hansen
Orval Howard Hansen was a United States Representative from Idaho. Hansen served as a Republican in the House from 1969 to 1975, representing the state's Second Congressional District....
, was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives.
Hansen is a graduate of the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
and University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
Law School. While in school, Hansen worked as a ranger and naturalist in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
.
Hansen began his legal career as an intern for Idaho Attorney General Jim Jones
Jim Jones (jurist)
Jim Jones is a Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court and a former Attorney General of Idaho.Jones was born in Twin Falls, Idaho. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the Northwestern University School of Law...
in 1984. He was a law clerk for Chief Justice Charles Donaldson of the Idaho Supreme Court from 1985 to 1986 and practiced law with Givens Pursley from 1985 to 1991, focusing primarily on water and natural resource issues.
Hansen was elected to the Idaho Legislature
Idaho Legislature
The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts...
in 1988, representing southeast Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. He was re-elected in 1990 and 1992. Hansen imposed his own term limits and voluntarily retired in 1994.
In 1995 Hansen founded United Vision for Idaho, a coalition of organizations to empower participation in democracy and served as its first executive director. He took a sabbatical from that position during his run for the seat once held by his father, but returned to the coalition after the election in 2006. Hansen resigned from United Vision for Idaho in April 2008 upon being named Idaho Democratic Party executive director.
Hansen has been married to Joan Cartan-Hansen since 1990. They have two children. Hansen has one brother and five sisters; his mother, June, is a well-known actress in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area, who was awarded the prestigious Helen Hayes Award
Helen Hayes Award
A Helen Hayes Award is a theater award named for the famed actress Helen Hayes to recognize excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are managed by Linda Levy Grossman. and presented by the Washington Theatre Awards Society.-Awards:The Helen Hayes...
and been nominated several times.