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Representative
Jean Cowan Biography State Representative Jean Cowan is a life-long Oregonian. She was first elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2006, then re-elected in 2008 and 2010. Her nearly three decades of public service also include 12 years as Lincoln County Commissioner, and two terms as mayor of Elgin, along with many volunteer positions. Jean’s legislative committee assignments have included Human Services, Consumer Protection, Land Use, Emergency Preparedness & Ocean Policy, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Ways & Means committees. Currently she co-chairs the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Human Services and is a member of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee. Over the years she has served on numerous, and varied, boards and commissions such as Oregon Seismic Safety Public Advisory Council, New Carissa Task Force, Public Health Advisory Board, League of Oregon Cities Board of Directors, Association of Oregon Counties Board of Directors, Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, Governor’s Homeland Security Council, Oregon Health Council and the Oregon Coastal Caucus. As her family’s primary elder-care provider, Jean knows first-hand the struggle to provide not only medical care and assistance, but also the opportunities that create a good quality of life. Since she was first elected State Representative Jean been the Legislature’s strongest advocate for seniors, especially working to improve the state’s long-term care system. She authored HB 3037 (2011) to update the policies which will assist Oregon’s growing number of seniors to remain in their own homes or other community-based settings. HB 3037 passed the Senate and House unanimously. It is an important step, but it will also require additional financial commitment by the Legislature before all of her goals for seniors are realized. As a former chair of the Oregon Coastal Caucus Jean also led efforts to develop and fund a limited system of marine reserves in Oregon waters. The first two pilot sites are now in place, and three additional locations are expected to be approved with the passage of SB 1510 during the 2012 legislative session. Jean’s focus is to develop a limited experimental system of protected areas, while maintaining a robust and sustainable coastal economy. Jean also authored HJR 7 (2011), which modifies how funds may be spent and specifies how and where the Legislature can convene in response to a catastrophic disaster. HJR 7 passed both Houses, but because it is a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval in the November, 2012 General Election before it can go into effect. Jean holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication from Marylhurst College. She has worked as a medical assistant, emergency medical technician, newspaper editor, and school bus driver. She also led the restructuring of both Elgin’s volunteer ambulance service and its rural health clinic and served as a volunteer police officer. Jean lives in Newport with her retired educator husband, Pat. They have two children and three grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, playing with their dogs, boating, and golf. In order to spend more time with her grandchildren, Jean has announced her plan to retire from legislative service at the end of her current term of office.
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