Join the LWV Moscow for a Speaker Series event, Preparing for the Risk of Political Violence: Threat Assessment, Constitutional Principles, and Legal Solutions presented by Zena Hartung, Moscow League of Women Voter’s President, and Ashley Jennings, Senior Deputy Prosecutor for Latah County on Oct. 12 at 12 p.m. at the Lecompte Auditorium in the 1912 Center.

As the Pacific Northwest region prepares for its first federal and statewide elections since 2020, the potential for political violence is an ever-present threat. The widespread propagation of disinformation and the rise of extremist ideological movements of all stripes have left American democracy at a vulnerable juncture in 2022. The Pacific Northwest region has experienced this destabilized political turmoil perhaps more acutely than any other, from armed intimidation and violence at protests across the region to threats to election workers and elected officials to the spread of unlawful private militias.

In September, Georgetown’s Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection held a two-day, invitation-only Pacific Northwest Regional Convening of Key Leaders in Portland, Oregon. During this conference, participants gained a common understanding of both the on-the-ground threat landscape and relevant constitutional principles and legal precedents to allow state and local law enforcement, public officials, and community leaders to prepare for, prevent, and promptly respond to intimidation, violence, and other efforts to reduce the participation in the democratic process. Please join, Zena Hartung and Ashley Jennings, who attended this conference to discuss their key takeaways.

Zena Hartung was born and raised in Southern California as Nancy Zuckerman. She was a single mother and RN when she started her career as a hospice administrator in 1982. Her career has ranged from Allstate insurance agent to owner, manager of an antique business. Before retirement she owned properties in Olympia, Washington. Zena moved to Moscow as mother of a local entrepreneur and grandmother to 2 girls. Zena Hartung is the President of the League of Women Voters, Moscow

Ashley Jennings grew up in Texas. She moved to Moscow in 2004 and considers Moscow her permanent home. Ashley graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2010. Between 2011 and 2014, she ran a law practice (McCormick and Rokyta, PLLC and Rokyta Law, PLLC). She has experience in criminal law as a defense attorney and prosecutor, bankruptcy law, family law, and wills and trusts. Since 2014, she has worked for the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office as a Deputy Prosecutor. Since 2017, she has been Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney under Bill Thompson, Elected Prosecutor. Ashley is also an adjunct professor teaching Domestic Violence and the Law at the University of Idaho College of Law. In addition, Ashley is a school board member for the Moscow Charter School, where her daughter, Quinn, attends.