Jim D. Hansen

Infobox Person
name = Jim D. Hansen


image_size = 150px
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1959|11|5
birth_place = Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States
death_date =
death_place =
residence = Boise, Idaho, United States
nationality = American
education = The College of William & Mary (B.A., 1982), University of Idaho (J.D. 1985)
occupation = Idaho Democratic Party executive director, attorney, activist
party = Democratic
spouse = Joan Cartan-Hansen
parents = Orval H. Hansen, June Hansen
children =

Jim D. Hansen (born November 5, 1959) is an 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 [http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/RESULTS/2006/general/tot_stwd.htm November 7, 2006 General Election Results Statewide Totals] Accessed 10 July 2007] .

In April 2008 Hansen was named executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party [http://43rdstateblues.com/?q=jim_hansen_new_idp_executive_director Jim Hansen to become Executive Cat Herding Poobah at the Idaho Democratic Party] Accessed 3 April 2008] .

Background

Hansen attended grade school in Idaho Falls, then moved with his family in 1969 to Arlington, Virginia, 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 [http://idahoptv.org/elections/2006/gendebates/2ndcong/index.cfm US Representative, 2nd Congressional District] Accessed 10 July 2007] . 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 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 [http://www.sos.idaho.gov/elect/bluebook/hist_leg.pdf Idaho Blue Book Legislative Roster, p. 19] Accessed 10 July 2007] .

In 1995 Hansen founded United Vision for Idaho, a coalition of organizations to empower participation in democracy and serves 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 [http://www.studiotheatre.org/theatre/awards.php 2000 Helen Hayes Awards and Nominations] Accessed 10 July 2007] .

Notes

External links

* [http://www.jimhansenforidaho.com Campaign Website]
* [http://www.uvidaho.org United Vision For Idaho]