# John Koster
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{{Short description|American politician from Washington}}
{{See also|Rape and pregnancy statement controversies in the 2012 United States elections}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2026}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John Koster
| image = JohnKosterLD39.jpg
| state_house = Washington
| district = [39th](/source/Washington's_39th_legislative_district)
| term_start = January 3, 1995
| term_end = January 8, 2001
| predecessor = [Hans Dunshee](/source/Hans_Dunshee)
| successor = [Kirk Pearson](/source/Kirk_Pearson_(politician))
| term_start1 = January 9, 2017
| term_end1 = August 31, 2017
| predecessor1 = [Elizabeth Scott](/source/Elizabeth_Scott_(politician))
| successor1 = [Carolyn Eslick](/source/Carolyn_Eslick)
| office2 = Chair of the [Snohomish County Council](/source/Snohomish_County_Council)
| term_start2 = {{dts|2004|01|01}}
| term_end2 = {{dts|2005|01|03}}
| predecessor2 = [Gary Nelson](/source/Gary_A._Nelson)
| successor2 = Gary Nelson
| office3 = Member of the [Snohomish County Council](/source/Snohomish_County_Council)
from the 1st district
| term_start3 = January 1, 2002
| term_end3 = January 1, 2014
| predecessor3 = Mike Ashley
| successor3 = Ken Klein
| birth_name = John Marvin Koster
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|09|08}}
| birth_place = [Arlington, Washington](/source/Arlington%2C_Washington), U.S.
| alma_mater = [Everett Community College](/source/Everett_Community_College)
| party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
| spouse = Vicki Koster
| children = 4
}}
'''John Marvin Koster'''[{{cite web|url=http://www.cfinst.org/pdf/federal/Congress/2012/Table1_House_OutsideSpending_2012.pdf|title=2012 House Races by Total Amount of Outside Spending|work=Campaign Finance Institute|year=2012|access-date=2021-12-24}}] (born September 8, 1951) is an American politician who served as a member of the [Washington House of Representatives](/source/Washington_House_of_Representatives), representing the [39th district](/source/Washington's_39th_legislative_district) from 1995 to 2001 and again in 2017. A member of the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)), he previously served as a member of the [Snohomish County Council](/source/Snohomish_County_Council), representing the 1st district from 2002 to 2014.[{{cite news|date=July 23, 2012|title=John Koster, Former Washington House Candidate (R)|website=Washingtonpost.com|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/john-koster/gIQAoxqYKP_topic.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222130950/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/john-koster/gIQAoxqYKP_topic.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 22, 2015|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}]
==Career==
On November 8, 1994, Koster won the election and became a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of [Washington House of Representatives](/source/Washington_House_of_Representatives) for [District 39](/source/Washington's_39th_legislative_district), Position 2. Koster defeated [Hans Dunshee](/source/Hans_Dunshee) with 52.70% of the votes. Koster's term began on January 3, 1995.[{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=291502 |title=WA House District 39 Seat 2 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 8, 1994 |accessdate=September 2, 2021}}]{{unreliable source?|date=September 2021}} On November 5, 1996, as an incumbent, Koster won the election and continued serving [District 39](/source/Washington's_39th_legislative_district), Position 2. Koster defeated Jeff Soth with 52.78% of the votes.[{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=283417 |title=WA House District 39 Seat 2 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 5, 1996 |accessdate=September 2, 2021}}]{{unreliable source?|date=September 2021}} On November 3, 1998, as an incumbent, Koster won the election and continued serving [District 39](/source/Washington's_39th_legislative_district), Position 2. Koster defeated Patricia Patterson with 51.87% of the votes.[{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=231998 |title=WA House District 39 Seat 2 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 3, 1998 |accessdate=September 2, 2021}}][{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3212/john-koster |title=John Koster's Biography |publisher=[Vote Smart](/source/Vote_Smart) |accessdate=September 2, 2021}}]{{unreliable source?|date=September 2021}}
On November 6, 2001, Koster was elected to the [Snohomish County Council](/source/Snohomish_County_Council), District 1. Koster defeated incumbent [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) Mike Ashley and others with 51.65% of the votes.[{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=127065 |title=Snohomish County Council District 1 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 6, 2001 |accessdate=September 2, 2021}}]{{unreliable source?|date=September 2021}} As an incumbent, Koster was reelected in November 2005 and November 2009, representing Council District 1.
Koster has three times ran unsuccessfully for the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) in 2000, 2010, and 2012. In November 2015, Koster was elected Charter Review Commissioner for Snohomish County.[{{cite web|url=http://www.snoco.org/elections/results/ecurrent.htm |title=Snohomish County Unofficial Election Results : November 8, 2016 Presidential General Election |website=Snoco.org |accessdate=January 18, 2017}}]
On December 20, 2013 it was announced that the term-limited Koster would be the first-ever Snohomish County Ombudsman after his term in the Snohomish County Council ended on January 1, 2014.[{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20131220/NEWS01/712209894|title=Koster to be first-ever county ombudsman|website=Heraldnet.com|date=December 20, 2013|accessdate=December 28, 2013}}]
On November 8, 2016, Koster won the election and became a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [Washington House of Representatives](/source/Washington_House_of_Representatives) for [District 39](/source/Washington's_39th_legislative_district), Position 2. Koster defeated Ronda Metcalf with 60.96% of the votes.[{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=819971 |title=WA House District 39 Seat 2 |website=ourcampaigns.com |date=November 8, 2016 |accessdate=September 2, 2021}}][{{cite web |url=https://washingtonstatewire.com/representative-john-koster-step/ |title=Representative John Koster to step down |website=Washington State Wire |first=Kylie |last=Walsh |date=July 25, 2017 |accessdate=September 2, 2021 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403203744/https://washingtonstatewire.com/representative-john-koster-step/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}()]
== Personal life ==
Koster's wife is Vicki Koster. They have four children. Koster and her family live in [Arlington, Washington](/source/Arlington%2C_Washington).