Background
Hayner was born Jeannette Hafner on January 22, 1919, in Portland, Oregon.
Hayner was born Jeannette Hafner on January 22, 1919, in Portland, Oregon.
Jeannette attended Jefferson High School (Portland, Oregon). She earned a scholarship to the University of Oregon, where she studied business administration.
She was the only child of a creamery owner. A dean told her there was a bright future for women as lawyers, so she enrolled at the University of Oregon School of Law. Hayner was one of only two women to graduate from Oregon"s law school in 1942.
In 1947 the couple moved to Walla Walla, Washington.
The Hahners raised three children. Jeannette Hahner was active in a variety of civic and charitable organizations.
She became the first woman elected to the Walla Walla School Board despite the fact that she ran as a write-in candidate. Hahner served on the school board for seven years including two as board chairman
In 1972, at age 53, Jeannette Hahner ran for the open Sixteenth District seat in the State House of Representatives.
She prevailed over three men in the September primary and then defeated Democrat Sam Hunt in the general election. After the election the Hahners changed their last name to "Hayner". The family name originally had an umlaut over the "a," making Hahner sound like Hayner.
Hayner was re-elected in 1974 and served as Minority Whip in the 1975-1976 legislature.
In 1976 party leaders convinced Hayner to run for the state senate seat being vacated by Dan Jolly, a Democrat. Matson had held the position since 1972.
Hayner was reportedly a compromise candidate and narrowly edged Matson in a surprise vote about a week before the end of the session. Hayner thus became, at age 60, the first woman to hold a top leadership post in the Washington legislature.
The Seattle Times reported that it was "a startling upset."
In the elections of 1980 Senate Republicans gained five seats which put them at 24, one shy of a majority.
On February 13, 1981, Democratic Senator Pete von Reichbauer changed his party affiliation to Republican. This move not only gave Republicans the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 26 years, it also made Jeannette Hayner the first woman Majority Leader in the history of the Washington Senate.
Member Walla Walla District 140 School Board, 1956—1963, chairman board, 1959—1961. Member advisory board Walla Walla Youth and Family Service Association, 1968—1972. Active Young Women’s Christian Association, 1968—1972.
Chairman Walla Walla County Mental Health Board, 1970—1972. Former member Washington Council Crime and Delinquency, Nuclear Energy Council, Bonneville Power Regional Advisory Council, State Washington Organized Crime Intelligence Advisory Board. Member Council State Governments Governing Board.
Former assistant whip Republican Caucus. Member Washington State Centennial Commission. Board director Washington Institute Policy Studies, since 1992.
Board director chairman board television Washington. Member of Oregon Bar Association, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary).
Married Herman H. Hayner, 1942. Children: Stephen A., James K., Judith A. Bachelor, U. Oregon.