Jackie Biskupski

Infobox State Representative
name = Jackie Biskupski


height =
state_house = Utah
district = 30th
term_start = 1999
term_end = present
predecessor = Gene Davis
successor =
party = Democratic
birth_date = bda|1966|01|11 [cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=25631|title=Project Vote Smart - Representative Jackie Biskupski - Biography|accessdate=2008-10-04]
birth_place =Hastings, Minnesota
occupation = Insurance
spouse =
residence = Salt Lake City, Utah

Jackie Biskupski is a member of the Utah House of Representatives, representing the 30th District in Salt Lake County since 1999.

Early life and career

Born in Hastings, Minnesota of Polish-American descent, Biskupski has a criminal justice B.S. from Arizona State University. She then went on to work in the auto insurance industry. She is a lesbian and was the first openly gay member of the Utah legislature. Since her election, she has been joined by two others: Senator Scott McCoy (appointed 2005) and Representative Christine Johnson (elected 2006).

Political career

Biskupski's political career begain in 1996 when Patrice Arent asked her to run her campaign for the Utah House of Representatives. Arent won election.

In 1997, she ran for Salt Lake City Council and won the primary, but lost in the general election.

In 1998, twelve-year state Representative Gene Davis (D) of Utah House District 30 announced his intention to run for the Utah Senate and asked Jackie Biskupski to run for his vacated seat [cite news |title=Out in Front — Utah’s Only Openly Gay Legislator |url=http://www.slmetro.com/2005/2/feature.shtml |last=Shoemaker |first=Joel |date=2005-01-20|publisher=Salt Lake Metro] . Biskupski announced her candidacy for the vacated district which includes parts of Sugar House and Central Salt Lake and South Salt Lake. In what was considered an exceptionally liberal district, Biskupski faced off against Republican Bryan Irving, owner of a construction company.

The election attracted controversy because of an attack campaign against Biskupski led by Utah arch-conservative, Utah Eagle Forum president Gayle Ruzicka. The Utah County activist sent out over 6,000 fliers making explicitly homophobic statements to the district's voters. Irving distanced himself from the tactics. Biskupski won the election by a nearly 2-to-1 margin and has been re-elected four times, still serving District 30 as of the 2007-8 session. Her campaigns have frequently won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Current (57th Utah State Legislature) committee memberships

See List of 57th Utah State Legislature Committees.
* House Rules Committee
* House Judiciary Committee
* House Business and Labor Committee
* Economic Development and Revenue Appropriations Subcommittee

References

External links

* [http://www.le.state.ut.us/house/members2005/bios2005.asp?id=30 Utah House of Representatives - Jackie Biskupski] "'official UT House profile
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=25631 Project Vote Smart - Jackie Biskupski] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Jackie Biskupski
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=85303 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=70545 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=14898 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=53442 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=53112 1998] campaign contributions