Senate

Education

El Campo High School (Texas), 1964
Southwest Texas State University, B.A. in Political Science & Speech, Secondary teaching certificate, 1968 (now known as Texas State University at San Marcos)
University of Southwestern Louisiana, graduate studies in Political Science, 1969 (now known as University of Louisiana, Lafayette)

Professional/Work Experience

Graduate instructor, University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1968-69
Lobbyist and Assistant Director of Government Relations, National Education Association, Washington, D.C., 1969-80
Owner, retail sporting goods/swimwear store on Maui, 1980-87
Business Consultant, 1987-88
Legislative aide to Representative Karen Horita, 1987
Legislator, 1988 - 1998, 2002 - present
Economic Development Coordinator, County of Maui, 1999 - 2002

Political Experience

Chair, National Youth Franchise Coalition, which led effort to secure 26th Amendment of US Constitution lowering the voting age to 18, 1970; Coordinated lobbying effort to enact legislation creating US Dept. of Education, 1979

Elected to the State House of Representatives, 1988; House Majority Leader, 1993; Appointed to the Senate, 1993; Senate Housing Committee Chair, 1994; Elected to the Senate, 1994; Senate Majority Leader, 1995-96; Co-chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection & Information Technology, 1997; Member, Joint Legislative Committee on Long Term Care Financing, 1997-98; Co-chair, Senate Committee on Ways & Means, 1998; Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving, 2006 --, Joint Legislative Task Force to Conduct a Review of the State Highway Fund, 2007; Chair, Senate Committee on Health, 2002-2006, Chair, Senate Ways and Means 2006 to present.

Democratic National Convention delegate 1984, 1992; alternate 1996; Executive Committee, Maui County Democratic Party, 1986-88; State Democratic Convention: Co-Chair Rules Committee, 1990; Co-chair Resolutions Committee, 1992; State Democratic Convention co-chair, 2006, 2008

National Order of Women Legislators (NOWL) Co-Chair, 1997 National Conference; Legislator chair, Committee on Legislative Effectiveness, ASI, National Conference of State Legislators 1996-97; Vice Chair, Assembly on State Issues, NCSL, 1997-1998.

Community Honors and Activities

2007 National Award from C-Change, a national collaboration to conquer cancer, for "Exemplary Leadership by an Elected Official in comprehensive Cancer Control"
Hawaii Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition; Vice-Chair, 2005-2007; Chair, 2007 -
2004 Healthcare Association of Hawaii Legislator of the Year Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership in advancing access to affordable, quality healthcare for all of Hawaii's people.
2003 Hawaii Psychological Association Legislator of the Year Award for outstanding contributions to psychology and mental health in the State of Hawaii
1998 Legislator of the Year Healthcare Association of Hawaii and Hawaii Long Term Care Association
1995 Distinguished Alumna, Southwest Texas State University
1994 Soroptimist International of West Maui Woman of Distinction
Director, Hawaii Pacific, Inc., American Cancer Society
Director, Maui Economic Development Board
Director, Maui Visitors Bureau
Member, Rotary Club, Lahaina Sunrise, 2007-2008
Member, Soroptimist International of West Maui
Member, LahainaTown Action Committee
Member, West Maui Taxpayers Assn.
Member, Kihei Community Assn.
Board member, AKAKU Community Television, 1999-2002
President, American Cancer Society, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i Unit, 1997-01
Pacific Century Scholars mentor 1998-99
Mayor's Advisory Committee on a 4 Year University
Mayor's Advisory Committee on the Old Lahaina Courthouse
Community Work Day volunteer
Former Vice Chair, Maui Service Area Board on Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Family Community Leadership Advisory Committee
Maui Youth & Family Services Board, past board member

Senator Baker's Newsletter

Senator's News and Opinion page

Senator's Website

Member of the Democratic party.

Member of the following committees:

WAM - Ways and Means (Chair)
EDT - Economic Development and Taxation
HTH - Health
JLCAIP - Joint Legislative Committee on Aging In Place
JLCFC - Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving
SHF - Joint Task Force to Conduct a Review of the State Highway Fund