Jean Berkey | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Washington State Senate from the 38th district | |
| In office January 4, 2004 – 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Aaron Reardon |
| Succeeded by | Nick Harper |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 38th district | |
| In office January 25, 2001 (appointed) – January 4, 2004 (resigned; appointed to Senate) | |
| Preceded by | Patricia Scott (deceased) |
| Succeeded by | David Simpson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jean Louise Haskell August 22, 1938 Loma Linda, California |
| Died | August 21, 2013 (aged 74) Fidalgo Island, Washington |
Jean Louise Berkey (née Haskell; August 22, 1938 – August 21, 2013) was an American politician who served as a Washington State Senator from Washington's 38th legislative district from 2005 to 2011. Her career ended due to the Moxie Media scandal: in the 2010 primary election, her fellow Democrat, Nick Harper, bankrolled ads for a third candidate in an effort to "Squeeze The Middle" and prevent the moderate incumbent Berkey from running in the general election.[1][2][3] The state's election watchdog committee unanimously voted to refer the case to the state Attorney General Rob McKenna, who promptly "filed suit, alleging multiple campaign-finance violations."[2] Berkey placed third in the primary, and despite a call several former state senators to hold another election, was prevented from running in the general election per Washington state's 'top two' primary system.[2][3] Her term ended in January 2011.