Rob McKenna
Encyclopedia
Robert Marion "Rob" McKenna (born October 1, 1962) is the Republican
Attorney General
of Washington and was elected in November 2004 for a term beginning in January 2005. He won re-election in November 2008 with over 59 percent statewide. He is a 2012 candidate for Governor of Washington.
McKenna is an Eagle Scout
, was student body president at the University of Washington
, and attended the University of Chicago Law School
, where he was on the law review.
when he was 14.
McKenna graduated from Sammamish High School
in Bellevue in 1980. He earned two bachelor's degrees, in Economics and International Studies, from the University of Washington
and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. McKenna was student body president in 1984–85. He received a J.D.
from the University of Chicago Law School
in 1988.
, one of the 50 largest firms in the country, where he practiced mainly business and regulatory law from June 1988 to January 1996. He was elected to the Metropolitan King County Council in November 1995, took office in January 1996, and was re-elected in 1999 and 2003. As councilman, he represented Bellevue
, Mercer Island
, Kirkland
, Newcastle
, and much of Renton
. His re-elections were without opposition and he was twice rated "Outstanding" by the Municipal League.
He is also currently serving as co-chair of the Campaign for Equal Justice.
McKenna based his 2004 campaign for the office of Attorney General around three areas of protection he promised to bring to Washingtonians: protection of the safety of families by fighting crimes such as identity theft
, internet fraud, and child pornography, and supporting local police, sheriffs, and prosecutors; protection of rights by controlling regulation and supporting the public's right to know what the government is doing; and protection of pocketbooks by counseling state agencies to avoid costly trial and litigation, bringing reform in the matter of reducing what some see as unfair burdens placed on doctors, hospitals, and other professionals.
McKenna developed broad-based alliances to win the election, attracting the support of prosecutors, police chiefs and sheriffs, along with farm and business leaders one at a time and then leveraging those endorsements into broader support. He also built nontraditional alliances with tribal leaders, public safety unions, firefighters and other moderates in both parties. He defeated political novice Mike Vaska, a private attorney from Issaquah
, in the Republican primary for state Attorney General, with approximately 70 percent of the vote. He then defeated former Insurance Commissioner and Democratic Senate candidate Deborah Senn
in the November General election and was one of just a few Republicans to win statewide office in 2004.
three times to defend Washington state laws from challenges, and has won each time.
During his inaugural term, McKenna also created Washington's Law Enforcement Group against Identity Theft (LEGIT), and was subsequently named as one of Security Magazines 25 most influential people in security. He was also active in the National Association of Attorneys General
(NAAG) during his first term, co-chairing both the Financial Practices Committee and the Tobacco Committee during his first term. Acting in this capacity, he helped lead cases against subprime lenders that resulted in the largest settlements in the history of American consumer protection lawsuits.
executive John Ladenburg in the 2008 election
with over 59 percent of the vote.
In his second term, McKenna continued to be active in the National Association of Attorneys General, serving as co-chair on various committees and receiving the NAAG's Distinguished Service Award before becoming Vice-President of the organization in 2009. In 2010, he was elected President of NAAG, and assumed the office on June 22, 2011. He launched his Presidential Initiative, a program caled "Pillars of Hope" aimed at reducing human trafficking
in the US, in Chicago on the following day.
On Monday March 22, 2010 McKenna announced that he was joining a multi-state challenge to the constitutionality
of a health care overhaul bill
passed by US Congress and signed by President Obama.
McKenna decided against defending the Washington State Department of Public Lands in a Superior Court appeal, effectively allowing the Okanogan County PUD to condemn an easement across state trust land. On June 21, 2010 Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark filed a petition with the State Supreme Court asking the Attorney General to represent the agency and the State.
Rob McKenna is now seeking the governor's seat.
. An Eagle Scout, he serves on the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America
, and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Bellevue Schools Foundation and the Eastside Domestic Violence Program. He is also currently serving as co-chair of the Campaign for Equal Justice.
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...
Attorney General
State Attorney General
The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those...
of Washington and was elected in November 2004 for a term beginning in January 2005. He won re-election in November 2008 with over 59 percent statewide. He is a 2012 candidate for Governor of Washington.
McKenna is an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, was student body president at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, and attended the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
, where he was on the law review.
Early life and education
McKenna was born in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the son of Bonnie Jean (née Olson) and Robert Elliott McKenna, an Army officer. He grew up at posts in Germany, Bangkok (where he attended the International School Bangkok), San Francisco and Kansas before his family settled in Bellevue, WashingtonBellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
when he was 14.
McKenna graduated from Sammamish High School
Sammamish High School
Sammamish High School is a public secondary school in Bellevue, Washington, USA, serving students in grades 9–12. The school is part of the Bellevue School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes. The school is known as the Totems, and the mascot is the...
in Bellevue in 1980. He earned two bachelor's degrees, in Economics and International Studies, from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. McKenna was student body president in 1984–85. He received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
in 1988.
Career
After graduating from law school, McKenna worked as an attorney at the law firm of Perkins CoiePerkins Coie
Perkins Coie is an international law firm based in Seattle, Washington. It has been listed on the Fortune Magazine "100 Best Places to Work in America" for the past nine years. It is noted for its intellectual property, Labor and Employment, and Products Liability practice groups, and for its...
, one of the 50 largest firms in the country, where he practiced mainly business and regulatory law from June 1988 to January 1996. He was elected to the Metropolitan King County Council in November 1995, took office in January 1996, and was re-elected in 1999 and 2003. As councilman, he represented Bellevue
Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
, Mercer Island
Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island is a city in King County, Washington, United States and the name of the island in Lake Washington on which the city sits. The population was 22,699 at the 2010 census....
, Kirkland
Kirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
, Newcastle
Newcastle, Washington
Newcastle is an Eastside city in King County, Washington, United States. Its population was 10,380 at the 2010 census.Although Newcastle was not incorporated until 1994, it has been an important settlement and town since the late 19th century and played a major role in the development of Seattle...
, and much of Renton
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
. His re-elections were without opposition and he was twice rated "Outstanding" by the Municipal League.
He is also currently serving as co-chair of the Campaign for Equal Justice.
McKenna based his 2004 campaign for the office of Attorney General around three areas of protection he promised to bring to Washingtonians: protection of the safety of families by fighting crimes such as identity theft
Identity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
, internet fraud, and child pornography, and supporting local police, sheriffs, and prosecutors; protection of rights by controlling regulation and supporting the public's right to know what the government is doing; and protection of pocketbooks by counseling state agencies to avoid costly trial and litigation, bringing reform in the matter of reducing what some see as unfair burdens placed on doctors, hospitals, and other professionals.
McKenna developed broad-based alliances to win the election, attracting the support of prosecutors, police chiefs and sheriffs, along with farm and business leaders one at a time and then leveraging those endorsements into broader support. He also built nontraditional alliances with tribal leaders, public safety unions, firefighters and other moderates in both parties. He defeated political novice Mike Vaska, a private attorney from Issaquah
Issaquah, Washington
Issaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
, in the Republican primary for state Attorney General, with approximately 70 percent of the vote. He then defeated former Insurance Commissioner and Democratic Senate candidate Deborah Senn
Deborah Senn
Deborah Senn is a Washington politician. She was the Insurance Commissioner and ran in the 2000 US Senate Democratic primary election, losing to Maria Cantwell. In 2004, she unsuccessfully ran for Attorney General against Rob McKenna. Senn also has been partner in a law firm.-References:...
in the November General election and was one of just a few Republicans to win statewide office in 2004.
Attorney general
As Washington's 17th Attorney General, McKenna manages the largest public law office in the state with approximately 1,150 employees and offices in 13 cities statewide: Bellingham, Port Angeles, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Wenatchee, Spokane, Yakima, Kennewick, Vancouver, Tumwater, and Pullman. The Washington Attorney General's Office serves over 230 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges, and universities, as well as the Governor and Legislature. As Attorney General, McKenna has made the protection of consumers and businesses, the improvement community safety, and the advancement of open government his chief priorities. He has also argued before the U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
three times to defend Washington state laws from challenges, and has won each time.
First Term
In his first year as Attorney General, McKenna founded "Operation: Allied Against Meth," a new program designed to reduce the drug's manufacture and use in Washington. The initiative included an increase in the law enforcement and prosecution personnel dedicated to cracking down on methamphetamine-related crimes, a statewide educational program to help prevent the use of the drug, and a legislative alliance devoted to improving Washington's meth problem. Since the initiative began, deaths from methamphetamine use in Washington have fallen by a third, while the incidence of driving under the influence of meth decreased by over 25 percent.During his inaugural term, McKenna also created Washington's Law Enforcement Group against Identity Theft (LEGIT), and was subsequently named as one of Security Magazines 25 most influential people in security. He was also active in the National Association of Attorneys General
National Association of Attorneys General
The National Association of Attorneys General is an organization of 56 state and territorial attorneys general in the United States...
(NAAG) during his first term, co-chairing both the Financial Practices Committee and the Tobacco Committee during his first term. Acting in this capacity, he helped lead cases against subprime lenders that resulted in the largest settlements in the history of American consumer protection lawsuits.
Second Term
McKenna kicked off his 2008 campaign in November 2007. He received the support of two Democrats, State Auditor Brian Sonntag and Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis. He defeated Pierce CountyPierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
executive John Ladenburg in the 2008 election
Washington attorney general election, 2008
The Washington attorney general election, 2008, took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent attorney general Rob McKenna was re-elected by a wide margin.-Election results:...
with over 59 percent of the vote.
In his second term, McKenna continued to be active in the National Association of Attorneys General, serving as co-chair on various committees and receiving the NAAG's Distinguished Service Award before becoming Vice-President of the organization in 2009. In 2010, he was elected President of NAAG, and assumed the office on June 22, 2011. He launched his Presidential Initiative, a program caled "Pillars of Hope" aimed at reducing human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
in the US, in Chicago on the following day.
On Monday March 22, 2010 McKenna announced that he was joining a multi-state challenge to the constitutionality
Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services
Florida et al v. United States Department of Health and Human Services is a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida by the State of Florida against the United States Department of Health and Human Services seeking to nullify the Patient Protection and...
of a health care overhaul bill
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
passed by US Congress and signed by President Obama.
McKenna decided against defending the Washington State Department of Public Lands in a Superior Court appeal, effectively allowing the Okanogan County PUD to condemn an easement across state trust land. On June 21, 2010 Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark filed a petition with the State Supreme Court asking the Attorney General to represent the agency and the State.
Rob McKenna is now seeking the governor's seat.
Personal
McKenna and his wife, Marilyn, have four children. The McKenna family lives in Bellevue, WashingtonBellevue, Washington
Bellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
. An Eagle Scout, he serves on the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Bellevue Schools Foundation and the Eastside Domestic Violence Program. He is also currently serving as co-chair of the Campaign for Equal Justice.