John M. Koster (born September 8, 1951) is a former American politician of the Republican Party. He is a former member of the Snohomish County Council and Washington House of Representatives. Koster has three times ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in 2000, 2010, and 2012.During the 2012 election, Koster was asked after a campaign fundraiser on October 28, 2012, about exceptions from abortion prohibition for rape and incest victims. He said, "Incest is so rare, I mean, it's so rare ... But the rape thing—you know, I know a woman who was raped and kept the child, gave it up for adoption, and she doesn't regret it." He added, "On the rape thing, it's like, how does putting more violence onto a woman's body and taking the life of an innocent child that's a consequence of this crime—how does that make it better? You know what I mean?" His comments, including the use of the words "rape thing", drew local and national criticism. Koster acknowledged that his comments may have caused him to lose the election in Washington's most competitive district.On December 20, 2013 it was announced that the term-limited John Koster would be the first-ever Snohomish County Ombudsman after his term in the Snohomish County Council comes to an end on January 1, 2014.
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