Election eve analysis and trends

Nov 02, 2020

Karen Waters of Strategies 360

Political strategist Karen Waters will provide Rotarians an expert, non-partisan perspective on the trends leading up to the 2020 general election, which follows the day after this exciting program. Rotarians will have the benefit of Karen’s many years of political campaign organizing, and service as a staff member to a U.S. senator and the White House.

Waters is president of Strategies 360, a leading political consulting firm with 20 offices in 12 Western states and Washington, D.C. She also uses her extensive knowledge of government relations, public affairs and communications to run Strategies 360’s education division. She was instrumental in the recent creation of the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families to better serve the state’s most vulnerable young people, and has helped local school districts across Washington pass bonds and levies to improve the lives of schoolchildren. Previsously, Karen worked as deputy state director for Sen. Patty Murray, and as a member of the Clinton White House advance team on trips by officials to the Pacific Northwest. She has served on the boards of the Municipal League of King County, EarthCorps, Washington Wilderness Coalition and the Wilderness Volunteer Corps.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Karen holds a master’s degree in educational policy analysis from Stanford University and a B.A. in sociology from William Smith College. An avid trail-runner, downhill skier and stand-up paddleboarder, Karen lives in Seattle with her husband, Colin, their two sons, and Mac the Golden Retriever.