Rebecca Jackson

Who is Rebecca Jackson?

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 the former chief executive officer of the WHAS Crusade for Children, a local charity that operates a large annual local telethon. She is now CEO of Mastery Mavens, an internet based professional development tool for teaching professionals.

Jackson began her career as a teacher for children with special needs in Jefferson County Public Schools in 1973. She taught children K-12 in a variety of schools. She was promoted to Learning Specialist, an administrative position. Jackson left JCPS and took a position as Director of the Parent Education Project at the University of Louisville. In 1987 Jackson founded JobCenter, Inc., a not-for-profit employment agency for persons with special needs. In this agency specializing in Supported Employment, she placed persons with special needs in businesses within the community.

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.