Jennifer Belcher

Jennifer Belcher
13th Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands
In office
January 13, 1993 – January 10, 2001
GovernorMike Lowry
Gary Locke
Preceded byBrian Boyle
Succeeded byDoug Sutherland
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 22nd district
In office
January 10, 1983 – January 11, 1993
Preceded byW. H. “Bill” Garson Jr.
Succeeded byCathy Wolfe
Personal details
Born
Jennifer Emerson Marion

(1944-01-04)January 4, 1944
Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 31, 2022(2022-03-31) (aged 78)
Olympia, Washington, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLarry Belcher
EducationBethany College (attended)
OccupationManagement consultant

Jennifer Emerson Belcher (née Marion; January 4, 1944 – March 31, 2022) was an American politician who was the first woman to serve as Washington commissioner of public lands from 1993 to 2001. Belcher previously represented the 22nd district in the Washington House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993.[1][2] Her major legislative achievements include subsidizing childcare for state employees and furthering equal pay for women in state government.[3] As commissioner of public lands, she oriented the Washington State Department of Natural Resources toward conservation.[2]

  1. ^ "Jennifer Belcher" (PDF). Women in the Legislature. Washington State Legislature. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Mapes, Linda V. (April 7, 2022). "Jennifer Belcher, WA's first woman lands commissioner, dies". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Jennifer Belcher". Legacy Washington. Secretary of State of Washington. Retrieved April 12, 2022.