Friday, February 25, 2022

Deborah Senn Former Washington Insurance Commissioner

 

Deborah Senn, who was elected Washington State Insurance Commissioner in 1992 died on February 18th.

  Senn, popular in her dogged support of the insured, may have been one of Washington's more polarizing political figures. Loved by rank-and-file Democrats, she was a fighter and often a winner.  

Senn served two terms in Olympia, then decided in 2000 to run for the US Senate.  She was defeated by Maria Cantwell, a one-time member of the US House of Representatives who was staging a political comeback.  Cantwell would go on to defeat incumbent Senator Slade Gorton in a close contest.  Cantwell still holds that seat. 

Senn, I believe is still the only Jewish candidate to win a statewide election in Washington. She would later run for State Attorney General, once again, was defeated.  Perhaps by standing up for the little guy (or gal), she made enemies who had deep pockets.  

Deborah's cousin, Tana Senn, serves in the Washington state legislature. 


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post Mike. There are less and less people standing up the the little guy these days. It's pay to play and our country and the world are becoming more and more corrupt by the day. What they have in common is squeezing the little guy for every penny they can.

Mike D said...

She served with integrity and authenticity. Sorry to hear of her life.