Jim Moeller
Encyclopedia
James C. "Jim" Moeller is an American
politician and mental health professional from Washington State and a member of the Washington State House of Representatives representing the 49th Legislative District. A Democrat
, he represents the Clark County
communities of Hazel Dell
, Walnut Grove
, Minnehaha
and his native Vancouver
, where he still resides.
During the 2011–12 legislative session, he serves as speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives. He had previously served two terms as deputy speaker pro tempore (2007–10).
Moeller grew up in Vancouver, attending George C. Marshall Elementary School and McLoughlin Junior High School. He went on to Clark College
and Washington State University
, before doing graduate work at Portland State University
. He has worked in mental health since 1979, serving with Kaiser Permanente
since 1985.
Elected in 1995 to Vancouver City Council
, he was re-elected to a second term in 1999. In 2002, when veteran legislator Val Ogden retired, Moeller ran to succeed her in the state House of Representatives. In a hotly contested Democratic primary, Moeller prevailed by less than 1,000 votes – winning 6,564 votes to his opponent's 5,615. He won the subsequent general election handily and took office in January 2003. He has since been re-elected three times.
Moeller is openly gay and is currently one of six LGBT members of the Washington State Legislature
. The others, all Democrats, are Representatives Jamie Pedersen
of Seattle, Dave Upthegrove
of Des Moines
, Laurie Jinkins
of Tacoma
, and Marko Liias
of Mukilteo
as well as Senator Ed Murray of Seattle.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and mental health professional from Washington State and a member of the Washington State House of Representatives representing the 49th Legislative District. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he represents the Clark County
Clark County, Washington
Clark County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Washington, across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon.Clark County was the first county of Washington, named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition...
communities of Hazel Dell
Hazel Dell, Washington
Hazel Dell is an unincorporated area of Clark County, Washington located north and west of Vancouver, Washington, USA. The area runs parallel to and is bisected by Interstate 5...
, Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove, Washington
Walnut Grove is a census-designated place in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,164 at the 2000 census.Based on per capita income, one of the more reliable measures of affluence, Walnut Grove ranks 78th of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be...
, Minnehaha
Minnehaha, Washington
Minnehaha is a census-designated place in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 7,689 at the 2000 census.- Name meaning :...
and his native Vancouver
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
, where he still resides.
During the 2011–12 legislative session, he serves as speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives. He had previously served two terms as deputy speaker pro tempore (2007–10).
Moeller grew up in Vancouver, attending George C. Marshall Elementary School and McLoughlin Junior High School. He went on to Clark College
Clark College (Washington)
Clark College is a community college located in Vancouver, Washington.The college, which celebrated its 75th anniversary on October 1, 2008, was founded as a private, two-year, junior college in 1933...
and Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, before doing graduate work at Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
. He has worked in mental health since 1979, serving with Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...
since 1985.
Elected in 1995 to Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council
Vancouver City Council is the governing body of the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The city is governed by the Vancouver Charter, not the Community Charter and the Local Government Act which are used for other municipal governments...
, he was re-elected to a second term in 1999. In 2002, when veteran legislator Val Ogden retired, Moeller ran to succeed her in the state House of Representatives. In a hotly contested Democratic primary, Moeller prevailed by less than 1,000 votes – winning 6,564 votes to his opponent's 5,615. He won the subsequent general election handily and took office in January 2003. He has since been re-elected three times.
Moeller is openly gay and is currently one of six LGBT members of the Washington State Legislature
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
. The others, all Democrats, are Representatives Jamie Pedersen
Jamie Pedersen
Jamie Pedersen is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Washington who has served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives since January 2007. During the 2009–10 biennium, he chairs the House Judiciary Committee.A Democrat, he was elected to the House from the reliably...
of Seattle, Dave Upthegrove
Dave Upthegrove
Dave Upthegrove is an American politician from the state of Washington. He is currently a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 33rd legislative district. His district encompasses part of Burien, SeaTac as well as Normandy Park, Des Moines and large parts of...
of Des Moines
Des Moines, Washington
Des Moines is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 29,673 at the 2010 census. Property within the city has been the subject of land buyouts because of noise from aircraft landing or taking off from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport two miles to the north of...
, Laurie Jinkins
Laurie Jinkins
Laurie Jinkins is a public health official from Tacoma, Washington who serves as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 27th district...
of Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, and Marko Liias
Marko Liias
Marko Liias is an American politician from Washington. He is currently a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 21st legislative district...
of Mukilteo
Mukilteo, Washington
Mukilteo , which means "good camping ground", is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,254 at the 2010 census. It is on the shore of the Puget Sound, and is the site of a Washington State Ferries terminal linking it to Clinton, on Whidbey Island.Mukilteo is...
as well as Senator Ed Murray of Seattle.