Nicole LeFavour
Encyclopedia
Nicole LeFavour is an American politician
and educator from Idaho
, currently serving in the Idaho Senate
. Elected to the Senate in 2008, she had previously served four years in the Idaho House of Representatives
.
A Democrat
, LeFavour was first elected to District 19's Seat B in the State House of Representatives in 2004, succeeding long-time Democratic incumbent Ken Robison, who retired. The 19th district, which she now represents in the Senate, is contained within Boise
and includes the city's North End, East End, Downtown and Foothills neighborhoods. She won the three-way Democratic primary with more than 54 percent of the vote and went on to defeat her Republican
opponent by more than two-to-one. In 2006, she ran unopposed for re-election.
Following Mike Burkett
's announcement that he would be retiring from the Idaho Senate
, LeFavour announced on March 8, 2008 her intent to run for the District 19 senate seat. She did not draw a primary election opponent but faced a Republican, Chuck Meissner, in the November general election.
LeFavour defeated Meissner with over 70 percent of the vote. Former Ada County
Democratic Party chair Brian C. Cronin, whom LeFavour defeated in the 2004 primary, was elected to succeed her in the Idaho House.
A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley
(B.A., 1986), the University of Montana-Missoula (M.F.A., 1990) and San Francisco State University
(teaching credentials, 1998), LeFavour sat on the following House committees (2005-2006 session): Environment, Energy and Technology; Judiciary, Rules and Administration; and Revenue and Taxation. In the Senate she has served on both the Health and Welfare, and on the Commerce and Human Resources committees. She currently sits on the Senate's Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, and was twice elected to Legislative Council by her peers.
A lesbian
, her partner is Carol Growhoski. She was the first ever openly gay member of the Idaho Legislature
; her election campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
. More recently she has made a personal "It Gets Better" video.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
and educator from Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, currently serving in the Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
. Elected to the Senate in 2008, she had previously served four years in the Idaho House of Representatives
Idaho House of Representatives
The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives elected to two-year terms and meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the House:...
.
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...
, LeFavour was first elected to District 19's Seat B in the State House of Representatives in 2004, succeeding long-time Democratic incumbent Ken Robison, who retired. The 19th district, which she now represents in the Senate, is contained within Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and includes the city's North End, East End, Downtown and Foothills neighborhoods. She won the three-way Democratic primary with more than 54 percent of the vote and went on to defeat her Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opponent by more than two-to-one. In 2006, she ran unopposed for re-election.
Following Mike Burkett
F. Michael Burkett
F. Michael "Mike" Burkett, Jr. is an attorney and Democratic politician from Idaho.Burkett is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served in the United States Air Force. He earned his law degree from the University of Idaho in 1979...
's announcement that he would be retiring from the Idaho Senate
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.-Composition of the Senate:...
, LeFavour announced on March 8, 2008 her intent to run for the District 19 senate seat. She did not draw a primary election opponent but faced a Republican, Chuck Meissner, in the November general election.
LeFavour defeated Meissner with over 70 percent of the vote. Former Ada County
Ada County, Idaho
Ada County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census, the county had a population of 392,365. The county seat and largest city is Boise, which is also the state capital. Other cities in the county with over 10,000 residents include Meridian, Eagle,...
Democratic Party chair Brian C. Cronin, whom LeFavour defeated in the 2004 primary, was elected to succeed her in the Idaho House.
A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
(B.A., 1986), the University of Montana-Missoula (M.F.A., 1990) and San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
(teaching credentials, 1998), LeFavour sat on the following House committees (2005-2006 session): Environment, Energy and Technology; Judiciary, Rules and Administration; and Revenue and Taxation. In the Senate she has served on both the Health and Welfare, and on the Commerce and Human Resources committees. She currently sits on the Senate's Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, and was twice elected to Legislative Council by her peers.
A lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, her partner is Carol Growhoski. She was the first ever openly gay member of the Idaho Legislature
Idaho Legislature
The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts...
; her election campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
. More recently she has made a personal "It Gets Better" video.