Bradley Scott Owen (born May 23, 1950) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Washington from 1997 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party , he was previously elected to the Washington State Legislature from 1977 to 1997, spending six years in the Washington House of Representatives and fourteen years in the Washington State Senate .
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Owen was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington . He was a small business owner before entering politics. He was elected as Shelton City Finance Commissioner and to the Washington House of Representatives in 1976 and served in those capacities until 1983, when he was elected to the Washington State Senate . In 1989, he formed a non-profit organization called Strategies for Youth, first as a way to fight substance abuse among Washington's young people and later with a greater emphasis on bullying and respecting diversity. The program concluded in 2011.[ citation needed ]
Owen in 2000
In 1996, Owen moved from the legislature to the executive branch with his election as lieutenant governor. He was re-elected to that position in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. Following findings by the state's Executive Ethics Commission that Owen improperly used tax-payer resources, which led to a $15,000 fine being imposed against him, Owen announced that he would not seek another term in the 2016 election. Prior to that announcement, three current legislators from his own party had already begun campaigning for his office.[1] His final term expired in January 2017. He was succeeded in office by Cyrus Habib .
Owen is opposed to abortion, he campaigns against drug use and drug legalisation and he is described as "lukewarm" on gay rights.[2] He has received criticism for his work ethic, not working outside of the legislative calendar, conducting remote work and prioritizing his outside business interests ahead of his duties as Lieutenant Governor.[3] In September 2014, he was fined $15,000 for breaking state law by using state resources to run Strategies for Youth, his personal non-profit group.[3]
On April 2, 2008, the King of Spain Juan Carlos I bestowed the Order of Isabella the Catholic , or Spanish knighthood, on Owen.[4]
More information Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 2 Democratic Primary Election, 1976 ...
Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 2 Democratic Primary Election, 1976
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen
9,010
51.73
Democratic
Leona Savage Osterman (inc.)
8,408
48.27
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More information Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 2 Election, 1976 ...
Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 2 Election, 1976
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen
22,042
62.94
Republican
Irene Conca
12,979
37.06
Close
More information Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 1 Election, 1978 ...
Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 1 Election, 1978
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
18,563
100.00
Close
More information Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 1 Election, 1980 ...
Washington House of Representatives 24th District, Position 1 Election, 1980
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
26,506
60.51
Republican
Philip Sutherland
17,301
39.49
Close
More information Washington State Senate 35th District Democratic Primary Election, 1982 ...
Washington State Senate 35th District Democratic Primary Election, 1982
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen
9,685
65.07
Democratic
Joyce Jaros
5,200
34.93
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More information Washington State Senate 35th District Election, 1982 ...
Washington State Senate 35th District Election, 1982
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen
18,883
67.01
Republican
Marlin Cronquist
9,295
32.99
Close
More information Washington State Senate 35th District Democratic Primary Election, 1986 ...
Washington State Senate 35th District Democratic Primary Election, 1986
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
8,943
67.10
Democratic
Edward Leaf
3,088
23.17
Democratic
Daniel Sanford
1,297
9.73
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More information Washington State Senate 35th District Election, 1986 ...
Washington State Senate 35th District Election, 1986
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
19,150
70.26
Republican
Wayne Estes
8,107
29.74
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More information Washington State Senate 35th District Democratic Primary Election, 1990 ...
Washington State Senate 35th District Democratic Primary Election, 1990
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
8,681
57.19
Democratic
Dan Scott
6,499
42.81
Close
More information Washington State Senate 35th District Election, 1990 ...
Washington State Senate 35th District Election, 1990
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
16,749
61.54
Republican
David Wood
10,467
38.46
Close
More information Washington State Senate 35 District Election, 1994 ...
Washington State Senate 35 District Election, 1994
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
24,265
67.40
Republican
Meta Heller
11,736
32.60
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More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary Election, 1996 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary Election, 1996
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen
242,757
40.24
Democratic
Paull Shin
235,461
39.03
Democratic
Bob Owen
44,510
7.38
Democratic
Bambi Lichtman
34,326
5.69
Democratic
Frank Gavaldon
32,658
5.41
Democratic
Harvey Billmaier
13,613
2.26
Close
More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 1996 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 1996
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen
1,022,878
48.02
Republican
Ann Anderson
989,661
46.46
Reform
Shawn Newman
78,510
3.69
Libertarian
Art Rathjen
39,277
1.84
Close
More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary Election, 2000 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary Election, 2000
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
502,523
79.33
Democratic
Lonnie Williams, Sr.
129,966
20.55
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More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2000 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2000
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
1,247,838
54.25
Republican
Wm. "Mike" Elliott
872,853
37.95
Libertarian
Ruth Bennett
179,567
7.81
Close
More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2004 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2004
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
1,443,505
54.39
Republican
Jim Wiest
1,019,790
38.43
Libertarian
Jocelyn Langlois
117,147
4.41
Green
Bern Haggerty
73,328
2.76
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More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Primary Election, 2008 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Primary Election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
706,641
52.08
Republican
Marcia McCraw
347,551
25.62
Republican
Jim Wiest
193,752
14.28
Democratic
Randel Bell
59,890
4.41
Constitution
Arlene Peck
48,887
3.60
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More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2008 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2008
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
1,718,033
60.80
Republican
Marcia McCraw
1,107,634
39.20
Close
More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Primary Election, 2012 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Primary Election, 2012
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
648,110
48.51
Republican
Bill Finkbeiner
325,195
26.36
Independent Republican
Glenn Anderson
229,318
17.17
Independent
James Robert Deal
53,694
4.02
Democracy Independent
Mark Greene
46,534
3.48
Neopopulist
Dave Sumner, IV
6,057
0.45
Close
More information Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2012 ...
Washington Lieutenant Governor Election, 2012
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Brad Owen (inc.)
1,575,133
53.68
Republican
Bill Finkbeiner
1,359,212
46.32
Close
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