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Rosalyn Baker

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Rosalyn Baker[1]
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 6th district
5th (2002–2012)
In office
November 2002 – November 2022
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byAngus McKelvey
Member of the Hawaii Senate
from the 4th district
In office
November 26, 1993 – November 1998
Appointed byJohn Waihee
Preceded byRussell Blair
Succeeded byJan Buen
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 7th district
10th (1988–1992)
In office
November 1988 – 1993
Succeeded byMichael B. White
Personal details
Born (1946-09-20) September 20, 1946 (age 78)
El Campo, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceLahaina, Hawaii
Alma materSouthwest Texas State University
University of Southwestern Louisiana
Websiterozbaker.com

Rosalyn "Roz" Hester Baker (born September 20, 1946) is an American politician. She was a Democratic member of the Hawaii Senate for District 6 from November 2012 to November 2022. Baker served consecutively from 2002 until 2012 in the District 5 seat, and previously served from 1992 until 1998, having served consecutively in the Hawaii State Legislature from 1988 until 1993 in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Baker was appointed by Governor John D. Waiheʻe III to the Senate on November 26, 1993, and served as the Senate Chair of Commerce and Consumer Protection.[2]

Early life

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Baker was born on September 20, 1946, in El Campo, Texas.[3][4] She graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) with a bachelors of arts degree in political science and speech in 1968 and received a masters of arts degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1969.[3][4] She has cited her defining moment to become involved in politics to be at Texas State University when, as a student, she advocated for lowering the voting age to 18.[5] She then became a lobbyist and assistant director of the National Education Association in Washington D.C. From 1980 to 1987, she worked as the owner of a sporting goods store on Maui.[3]

Political career

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Electoral history

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Baker first ran for the Hawaii House of Representatives in 1986, where she lost by six votes.[5] Baker was eventually elected as a representative in the 1988 general election. During her first term, she was appointed as the House majority leader.[6] She was re-elected in 1990. Baker won the three-way 1992 Democratic primary with 2,431 votes,[7] and won the general election with 4,340 votes (66.0%) against Republican Gene Viglione.[8]

Baker was appointed to the Hawaii Senate in 1993 by Governor John Waihee, taking over from Senator Russell Blair in District 4.[6][9] She won the 1994 Democratic primary with 3,828 votes (53.1%) against Jan Buen,[10] and won the general election with 9,418 votes (74.6%) against Republican Zane Dittman.[11] In 1998, Baker lost the primary to Buen,[12] who held the seat from 1999 until 2003. She was redistricted to District 5 in 2002 and with Senator J. Kalani English redistricted to District 6, Baker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, winning with 2,107 votes.[13] She won the general election with 5,556 votes (49.1%) against Republican nominee Don Couch.[14] In 2004, Baker and Couch were both unopposed in their primaries,[15] setting up a rematch. She once again won the general election, with 8,271 votes (56.3%) against Couch.[16] Baker won the 2008 primary with 2,646 votes (67.2%),[17] and won the general election with 8,506 votes (53.7%) against Republican nominee Jan Shields.[18]

In 2012, Baker was redistricted to District 6, and with English redistricted to District 7, Baker was unopposed in the August primary, winning with 3,457 votes,[19] and won the general election with 9,808 votes (67.3%) against Republican nominee Bart Mulvihill,[20] her primary challenger from 2008, having changed parties.

After over 30 years in public service, Baker announced her retirement at the end of the 2022 legislative session.[21][22]

Legislative priorities

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Baker was the co-chair of the Senate Women's Legislative Caucus and advocated for women's rights.[22] She has also pushed for legislation on health care policy and kupuna care.[23]

Personal life

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Baker is a cancer survivor and has volunteered with the American Cancer Society.[22]

During the 2023 Maui fire, Baker lost her Lahaina apartment while giving visitors a ride to the airport.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Senator Rosalyn H. Baker". Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii State Legislature. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  2. ^ 55 years of statehood: a chronicle of legislative history. Hawaii State Senate. 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Dolling, Yolanda, ed. (1991). Who's who of women in world politics (1st ed.). London: Bowker-Saur. p. 18. ISBN 0-86291-627-5. OCLC 24380132.
  4. ^ a b Kresnak, William (April 28, 1998). "'Government can be different'". Honolulu Advertiser. p. A1.
  5. ^ a b "Political science graduate puts her skills to the test as Hawaii legislator". news.txst.edu. 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  6. ^ a b Lovell, Blaze (2022-05-08). "Election-Year Scramble Looms As Veteran Hawaii Lawmakers Retire". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  7. ^ "Primary Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 19, 1992" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  8. ^ "General Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 3, 1992" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  9. ^ "Baker seeks re-election to state Senate". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  10. ^ "Primary Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 17, 1994" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 2. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  11. ^ "General Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 8, 1994" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 3. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  12. ^ "Open Primary 98 - State of Hawaii - Hawaii Statewide September 19, 1998". Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 4. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  13. ^ "Open Primary Election 2002 - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 21, 2002" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  14. ^ "General Election 2002 - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 5, 2002" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  15. ^ "Open Primary 2004 - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 18, 2004" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  16. ^ "General Election 2004 - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 2, 2004" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  17. ^ "Primary Election 2008 - State of Hawaii - Statewide September 20, 2008" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  18. ^ "General Election - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 4, 2008" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  19. ^ "Primary Election 2012 - State of Hawaii - Statewide August 11, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  20. ^ "Hawaii General 2012 - State of Hawaii - Statewide November 6, 2012" (PDF). Honolulu, Hawaii: Hawaii Office of Elections. p. 1. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  21. ^ Lovell, Blaze; Dayton, Kevin (May 5, 2022). "Legislature Closes Historic Session For Housing And Hawaiians". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c "Veteran Maui state lawmaker is leaving Senate after 30 years". mauinews.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  23. ^ Lovell, Blaze (2022-05-08). "Election-Year Scramble Looms As Veteran Hawaii Lawmakers Retire". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  24. ^ Dowd, Eddie (2023-09-06). "Former Maui lawmaker says she lost her house in the Lahaina wildfire, but not her home". www.hawaiinewsnow.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
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