Jane Eskind
Jane Eskind | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Tennessee Public Service Commission | |
| In office 1981–1986 | |
| Preceded by | Z.D. Atkins |
| Succeeded by | Stephen O. Hewlett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jane Greenebaum May 18, 1933 Louisville, Kentucky,U.S. |
| Died | August 4, 2016(aged 83) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Brandeis University University of Louisville(BA) |
Jane Greenebaum Eskind(May 18, 1933 – August 4, 2016) was an American activist and politician from thestateofTennessee.She served on theTennessee Public Service Commission,becoming the first woman to win an election to a statewide office in Tennessee.
Early life and career
[edit]Eskind was born on May 18, 1933, inLouisville, Kentuckyto Samuel "Bud" and Doni Greenebaum.[1]She graduated fromAtherton High School,and then attendedBrandeis Universitybefore graduating from theUniversity of Louisville.She moved toNashville, Tennessee,in 1956.[2][3]
From 1964 to 1969, Eskind worked as alobbyistfor the Tennessee chapter of theLeague of Women Voters.[4]She left the league to join theDemocratic Partyover what she saw as a limitation of the league'snonpartisanstrategy.[1]Eskind joined the Democratic Women's Club. She was elected and served as the president of the Davidson County Democratic Women in 1973. She served as a representative of Tennessee on the Democratic National Platform Committee in 1972 and 1976, and was elected to the Democratic State Executive Committee in 1974.[4]
Electoral politics
[edit]In the1978 United States Senate elections,Eskind ran for theUnited States Senateseat representing Tennessee. She won theDemocratic Party'sprimary electionto become the Democratic nominee, becoming the first woman to win a statewide primary in Tennessee.[5]She lost the general election toincumbentHoward Baker.In 1980, Eskind won election to theTennessee Public Service Commission,becoming the first woman to win an election to a statewide office in Tennessee.[2]
Eskind ran forgovernor of Tennesseein the1986 election,but lost toNed McWherterin the Democratic Party's primary election, though finishing ahead ofRichard Fulton.[6]In 1987, Eskind ran to representTennessee's 5th congressional districtin a special election to theUnited States House of Representatives,but the election was won byBob Clement.[2]Eskind was elected the chair of theTennessee Democratic Partyin 1994, becoming the first woman to serve in the role.[4]
Recognition
[edit]Eskind was theTennessee Women's Hall of Fame's first inductee and received a lifetime achievement award from theAmerican Civil Liberties Union.[2]
Personal life
[edit]Eskind's husband, Richard Eskind, was a stockbroker.[7]They met while she attended Brandeis and he attendedHarvard University.[8]The Eskinds married in 1954 and had two children and six grandchildren.[5]Her cousin, Linda Eskind Rebrovick, ran formayor of Nashvillein the 2015 election.[9]
Eskind died on August 4, 2016.[2]
References
[edit]- ^abReed, Mary S. (December 26, 1982)."Meet Jane Eskind: A Woman of Firsts".The Jackson Sun.p. 1E.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019– via Newspapers.com.
- ^abcdeBoucher, Dave; Tamburin, Adam (August 6, 2016)."Jane Eskind, Tennessee trailblazer and Louisville native, dead at 83".Louisville Courier-Journal.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019.
- ^Jane Eskind-obituary
- ^abc"1st woman to win Tennessee statewide election dies at 83".AP News.August 4, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019.
- ^abBowman, John (November 1, 2006)."Jane Eskind focuses on empowering people".The Tennessean.p. H4.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Allison, Sue (August 8, 1986)."McWherter received nod".Kingsport Times-News.United Press International. p. 1A.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Gallagher, Kathleen (August 4, 1978)."Now for Mrs. Eskind: The Giant-Killer's Role".The Tennessean.p. 10.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Morrow, Mike (July 26, 1998)."The Eskinds: Blazing a rich civic trail".The Tennessean.pp. 1D–2D.RetrievedSeptember 17,2019– via Newspapers.com.
- ^Garrison, Joey (January 18, 2015)."Rebrovick to use full name in race".The Tennessean.p. 5A.RetrievedSeptember 15,2019– via Newspapers.com.