Karen Shepherd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen Shepherd
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Wayne Owens |
| Succeeded by | Enid Greene |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1940 Silver City, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Vincent Shepherd |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Utah Brigham Young University |
Karen Rae Shepherd (born July 5, 1940) is an American politician. She served in the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Karen Shepherd was born in Silver City, New Mexico, in 1940. Her father worked for the U.S. Forest Service. Her family moved often when she was young. They lived in many small towns in southern Utah. Eventually, they settled in Provo, Utah, where she went to high school.
Karen went to the University of Utah. She earned a degree in English in 1962. Then, she went to Brigham Young University (BYU). She received a master's degree in British Literature in 1963.
In 1963, Karen married Vincent Shepherd. They moved to Washington state. There, she taught English at a college. Later, they both worked at the American University in Cairo in Egypt for two years.
Return to Utah and Political Start
After returning to Utah, the Shepherds had two children, Heather and Dylan. Karen taught English at Brigham Young University. She also became active in the Democratic Party. She helped with political campaigns for other politicians.
Karen Shepherd was the first woman to hold a high-level job in the Salt Lake County government. She became the Director of Social Services. In 1978, she became a co-owner of Network Magazine. This magazine focused on issues important to women in the workplace. She also started her own publishing company.
In 1990, Karen Shepherd was elected to the Utah State Senate. This is a part of Utah's state government. She took the place of Frances Farley, who was the only woman serving in the Utah Senate at that time. Karen served in the Utah Legislature for two years. Then, she decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Serving in the U.S. Congress
In 1992, Karen Shepherd ran for a seat in the United States Congress. She wanted to help improve the lives of children. She proposed a 10-point plan for this. It included finding fathers who didn't pay child support. It also included fully funding the Head Start program.
She ran against Enid Greene in the election. Enid Greene had different political ideas. Karen Shepherd won the election by a small amount. She became the second woman from Utah to be elected to Congress.
When she started in Congress in January 1993, Karen Shepherd joined important committees. These included the Natural Resources Committee. She also worked on the Public Works and Transportation Committee. She was a leader among the new members of Congress. She helped create new laws to make lobbying and campaign funding fairer. Lobbying is when groups try to influence lawmakers.
Karen Shepherd supported President Bill Clinton's budget plan in 1993. This plan aimed to cut government spending. It also raised taxes for people with higher incomes. The budget plan passed by just one vote. She also supported laws like the Brady Bill. This bill required background checks for gun purchases. She also supported the Assault Weapon Ban.
In 1994, Karen Shepherd ran for re-election. She faced Enid Greene again, who was now called Enid Greene Waldholtz. Another candidate, Merrill Cook, also ran. The election focused on Shepherd's votes on the budget and gun control. She continued to support health and welfare changes. She also supported what she called "reasonable gun control." Enid Greene Waldholtz won the election.
After Congress
After leaving Congress, Karen Shepherd continued to be active in public service. She was a Fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics. In 1995, she was part of a group that watched the first elections in the West Bank and Gaza.
In 1996, President Clinton asked her to work at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, U.K. She worked there until 2002. While in London, she led a group focused on trade and investment. She also became a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. This group helps advise on foreign policy.
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
