Katherine Jacobson started her political life participating in peace vigils and teach-ins during the Vietnam War. That activism proved to her that every person’s actions matter and that collective work can indeed change the world.
She has worked on all aspects of campaigns in Southern Arizona for over 25 years, from mailing parties, phone banking, and walking door-to-door, to providing message development and campaign strategy. She has developed print and mail programs, written and produced radio and television ads, and has designed and implemented community and media outreach for candidates. Notable campaigns include the 2006 Gabrielle Giffords congressional campaign where she was involved in political strategy, targeting, and scheduling. She also provided campaign services to Giffords in her 2000, 2002, and 2004 state legislative races. She provided advice and training to County Attorney Barbara LaWall before her first campaign and managed Tom Volgy’s congressional race in 1998. She has worked with Senator Paula Aboud, with former senator Elaine Richardson, with Council members Carol West and Karin Uhlich, with Terry Goddard, and on state initiative campaigns.
In 1990, she ran for state senator in LD 12, now known as 26, and has been a Democratic precinct committee person for over 20 years.
Katherine has been a leader in community campaigns including the successful effort to stop the Catalina Foothills area from incorporating into their own city and in the project to shape development at the corner of Skyline and Campbell. That work included cooperative work with Pima County government and resulted in numerous mitigation measures to protect nearby homeowners.
She currently provides political advice to candidates and elected officials, writes a regular article about government and politics for The Desert Leaf, and runs a consulting business, Capital Consulting, which provides financial and accounting services to small businesses.