Jeanette Mott Oxford
Encyclopedia
Jeanette Mott Oxford is an American activist and politician from the state of Missouri
. She is a currently a member of the Missouri House of Representatives
, representing a portion of St. Louis
. A Democrat
, she is the first openly
lesbian
member of the Missouri Legislature.
and graduated from Cave-in-Rock High School in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois
. She received an Associate of Arts degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Illinois
in 1974 and a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1986.
Oxford attended Eden Theological Seminary
in Webster Groves, Missouri
and graduated with her Master of Divinity
in 1989. Prior to her political career, Oxford served as executive director of the Reform Organization of Welfare (ROWEL) and as grassroots coordinator for the American Lung Association, both in St. Louis.
Oxford's political career began in 2000, when she sought election to the Missouri House of Representatives. She narrowly lost the Democratic primary election
to Russ Carnahan
. In 2004, Carnahan gave up the State Representative seat to run for Congress. Oxford again ran for the seat, and was successful. She won in a three-way Democratic primary in August 2004, and obtained almost 90% of the vote against a Libertarian opponent in the November 2004 general election.
Oxford won re-nomination as the Democratic party candidate in the August 2006 primary, obtaining 81% of the vote against opponent Mark Rice, who also opposed her in the three-way August 2004 primary. She faced only a Libertarian opponent in the November 2006 general election and won by more than eight-to-one. She faced no primary opposition in 2008, though a Libertarian filed to run against her in November. She is running unopposed for re-election in 2010 and, unless she is defeated by a write-in candidate
, will be elected to a final term in the House. Term limit
s will prevent her from seeking a fifth term in 2012.
Oxford is an active member of Epiphany United Church of Christ
in St. Louis, and resides in the Benton Park neighborhood with her partner, Dorothy. She is one of three openly gay members of the Missouri General Assembly
, serving alongside Sen. Jolie Justus
(D–Kansas City
) and Rep. Mike Colona
(D–St. Louis). Her campaigns have won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. She is a currently a member of the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
, representing a portion of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. 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...
, she is the first openly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
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...
member of the Missouri Legislature.
Biography
Oxford was born in Eldorado, IllinoisEldorado, Illinois
Eldorado is a city in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,122 at the 2010 census, with a 1925 peak of 8,000. Although the city's name is spelled as if it were Spanish, the name was originally "Elder-Reado" -- a combination of the last names of the town's two founders,...
and graduated from Cave-in-Rock High School in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois
Cave-In-Rock, Illinois
Cave-In-Rock is a village in Hardin County, Illinois, United States. Its principal feature and attraction is a large nearby cave on the banks of the Ohio River. Cave-in-Rock was originally a stronghold for outlaws including; river pirates and highwaymen, Samuel Mason and James Ford, tavern...
. She received an Associate of Arts degree from Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg, Illinois
Harrisburg is a city and township in Saline County, Illinois, United States. It is located about southwest of Evansville, Indiana, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. The 2010 population was 9,017, with a township population of 10,790. It is the county seat of Saline County...
in 1974 and a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1986.
Oxford attended Eden Theological Seminary
Eden Theological Seminary
Eden Theological Seminary is a seminary of the United Church of Christ in Webster Groves, Missouri, near St. Louis, Missouri.The seminary was established in 1850 by German pastors in what was then the American frontier. The pastors soon formed the German Evangelical Synod of North America. This,...
in Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
and graduated with her Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
in 1989. Prior to her political career, Oxford served as executive director of the Reform Organization of Welfare (ROWEL) and as grassroots coordinator for the American Lung Association, both in St. Louis.
Oxford's political career began in 2000, when she sought election to the Missouri House of Representatives. She narrowly lost the Democratic primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to Russ Carnahan
Russ Carnahan
John Russell "Russ" Carnahan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the southern third of the city of St. Louis and most of the southern St. Louis suburbs including most of Jefferson County and all of Ste. Genevieve County...
. In 2004, Carnahan gave up the State Representative seat to run for Congress. Oxford again ran for the seat, and was successful. She won in a three-way Democratic primary in August 2004, and obtained almost 90% of the vote against a Libertarian opponent in the November 2004 general election.
Oxford won re-nomination as the Democratic party candidate in the August 2006 primary, obtaining 81% of the vote against opponent Mark Rice, who also opposed her in the three-way August 2004 primary. She faced only a Libertarian opponent in the November 2006 general election and won by more than eight-to-one. She faced no primary opposition in 2008, though a Libertarian filed to run against her in November. She is running unopposed for re-election in 2010 and, unless she is defeated by a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
, will be elected to a final term in the House. Term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s will prevent her from seeking a fifth term in 2012.
Oxford is an active member of Epiphany United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
in St. Louis, and resides in the Benton Park neighborhood with her partner, Dorothy. She is one of three openly gay members of the Missouri General Assembly
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
, serving alongside Sen. Jolie Justus
Jolie Justus
Jolie L. Justus is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. A Democrat, she is a member of the Missouri State Senate, representing the state's 10th District in Kansas City.-Early life and career:...
(D–Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
) and Rep. Mike Colona
Mike Colona
Mike Colona is a Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Colona represents the 67th district, which is centered on the Tower Grove South area within the city of St. Louis. Colona also serves as the House Minority Whip for the 96th General Assembly.-Personal history:Mike Colona...
(D–St. Louis). Her 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...
.