Rebecca Jackson
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Jackson is a former Republican politician
from Louisville, Kentucky
, previously serving as the Jefferson County Judge/Executive
and also running unsuccessfully for the party nomination for governor
. She is now the chief executive officer
of the WHAS Crusade for Children
, a local charity
that operates a large annual local telethon.
Jackson first won elective office in 1989, upsetting a long-time Democrat incumbent
Jefferson County clerk. She was re-elected in 1993. In 1998, Jackson ran for and won the race for Judge/Executive, and served one term. She was the last person to serve in that office before city and county governments merged in 2002; the office was largely replaced by the Mayor of Louisville Metro, though technically the office still exists in a largely ceremonial capacity. Jackson had been a staunch proponent of a consolidated city-county
government.
Jackson ran for governor in 2003, losing in the primary election
to Ernie Fletcher
, who eventually won the seat.
Jackson joined the WHAS Crusade for Children
in 2005, the first person from outside the WHAS-TV
corporate structure to hold the post. She has been instrumental in establishing an endowment for the telethon, funded by bequest
s from people who left the Crusade donations in their wills
. This endowment is designed to fund the day-to-day operating expenses of the organization, allowing 100 percent of the donations collected from the general public to go directly to agencies providing direct services to children with special needs.
Jackson is also active in her church, Highview Baptist Church. In 1980 she founded Kentucky's New Horizons, a social-recreation program for adults with handicaps, a ministry of Highview Baptist. She has directed it ever since. In 2006, she was appointed by Fletcher to the Board of Trustee
s for the University of Louisville
.
Jackson was graduated from Southern High School in Louisville, and earned bachelor's
and master's degree
s from the University of Louisville.
Jackson has been married to Ralph W. Jackson since 1969. The couple has three sons and three granddaughters.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, previously serving as the Jefferson County Judge/Executive
Jefferson County Judge/Executive
The Jefferson County Judge/Executive, under state law, is the chief executive of Jefferson County, Kentucky. KRS 67.700 established the position of "County Judge/Executive" for all counties in Kentucky...
and also running unsuccessfully for the party nomination for governor
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
. She is now the chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the WHAS Crusade for Children
WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children is an annual telethon broadcast by WHAS-TV and WHAS Radio in Louisville, Kentucky. The telethon benefits a wide range of children's charities throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana....
, a local charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
that operates a large annual local telethon.
Jackson first won elective office in 1989, upsetting a long-time Democrat incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Jefferson County clerk. She was re-elected in 1993. In 1998, Jackson ran for and won the race for Judge/Executive, and served one term. She was the last person to serve in that office before city and county governments merged in 2002; the office was largely replaced by the Mayor of Louisville Metro, though technically the office still exists in a largely ceremonial capacity. Jackson had been a staunch proponent of a consolidated city-county
Consolidated city-county
In United States local government, a consolidated city–county is a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state...
government.
Jackson ran for governor in 2003, losing in the 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 Ernie Fletcher
Ernie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
, who eventually won the seat.
Jackson joined the WHAS Crusade for Children
WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children is an annual telethon broadcast by WHAS-TV and WHAS Radio in Louisville, Kentucky. The telethon benefits a wide range of children's charities throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana....
in 2005, the first person from outside the WHAS-TV
WHAS-TV
WHAS-TV channel 11 is the ABC affiliated television station in Louisville, Kentucky. Owned by Belo Corporation, the station's transmitter is located in Floyd County, Indiana, near the community of Floyds Knobs...
corporate structure to hold the post. She has been instrumental in establishing an endowment for the telethon, funded by bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
s from people who left the Crusade donations in their wills
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
. This endowment is designed to fund the day-to-day operating expenses of the organization, allowing 100 percent of the donations collected from the general public to go directly to agencies providing direct services to children with special needs.
Jackson is also active in her church, Highview Baptist Church. In 1980 she founded Kentucky's New Horizons, a social-recreation program for adults with handicaps, a ministry of Highview Baptist. She has directed it ever since. In 2006, she was appointed by Fletcher to the Board of Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s for the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
.
Personal
On the web site of her gubernatorial campaign, Jackson listed her "first home" as Short Creek, Kentucky.Jackson was graduated from Southern High School in Louisville, and earned bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
and master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s from the University of Louisville.
Jackson has been married to Ralph W. Jackson since 1969. The couple has three sons and three granddaughters.