Karen Minnis
Encyclopedia
Karen Minnis is a Oregon Republican
politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.
and attended Clark Community College
. She married her high school sweetheart, John Minnis
, in 1972, with whom she has three children: two married sons and a daughter. They also have three grandsons and one granddaughter.
While a housewife, Karen held jobs as a dental assistant, a waitress, and delivering newspapers, putting John through college. John first told Karen he wanted to run for office when she was pregnant with their third child. She then worked as his legislative aide for a decade, an experience she credited with providing a valuable education in politics.
. He went on to serve in the Oregon State Senate
.
Minnis served her fifth term in the House, during the 2007–2008 sessions. She represented District 49, which included the cities of Fairview
, Troutdale
, and Wood Village
, and a portion of Gresham
, in east Multnomah County
. She served as Speaker during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions
and the 2006 Special Session.
Minnis was first elected to the House in 1998 and served as House majority leader from 2001 to 2003. Her 2004 and 2006 bids for reelection drew a strong challenge from Democrat
Rob Brading. In 2004, Brading spent only $33,000 to Minnis' $200,000, but came within seven percentage points of winning the race; in 2006, total spending by both candidates approached $1 million, in one of the most expensive House races in Oregon history. In the 2006 election
, Democrats took control of the House. After the election, Minnis stated she would not seek any leadership positions, but would instead focus on representing her district.
On the last day of the 2007 legislative session, Minnis announced that she would not seek re-election. She was succeeded in District 49 by Democrat Nick Kahl
, who won a closely contested election in November 2008; Democrat Jeff Merkley
succeeded her as House Speaker.
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.
Early life
Born and raised in Portland, Minnis is a graduate of James Monroe High School in PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and attended Clark Community College
Clark College (Washington)
Clark College is a community college located in Vancouver, Washington.The college, which celebrated its 75th anniversary on October 1, 2008, was founded as a private, two-year, junior college in 1933...
. She married her high school sweetheart, John Minnis
John Minnis
John Minnis is a former Republican legislator and police officer in the U.S. state of Oregon. He was a member of both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, representing eastern Multnomah County...
, in 1972, with whom she has three children: two married sons and a daughter. They also have three grandsons and one granddaughter.
While a housewife, Karen held jobs as a dental assistant, a waitress, and delivering newspapers, putting John through college. John first told Karen he wanted to run for office when she was pregnant with their third child. She then worked as his legislative aide for a decade, an experience she credited with providing a valuable education in politics.
Political career
Karen ran for John's seat in the House in 1998, when he was forced out of office by newly enacted (and short-lived) term limitsTerm limits in Oregon
Term limits legislation – term limits for state and federal office-holders – has been a recurring political issue in the U.S. state of Oregon since 1992...
. He went on to serve in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
.
Minnis served her fifth term in the House, during the 2007–2008 sessions. She represented District 49, which included the cities of Fairview
Fairview, Oregon
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,561 people, 2,831 households, and 1,936 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,360.8 people per square mile . There were 3,116 housing units at an average density of 972.9 per square mile...
, Troutdale
Troutdale, Oregon
Troutdale is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, north of Gresham and east of Wood Village. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,962....
, and Wood Village
Wood Village, Oregon
Wood Village is a city in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,878 at the 2010 census. Despite the name, Wood Village is classified as a city.-Geography:...
, and a portion of Gresham
Gresham, Oregon
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile...
, in east Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. She served as Speaker during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions
Seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly
The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly 's period from 2005 to 2006. The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative Assembly (OLA)'s period from 2005 to 2006. The seventy-third Oregon Legislative Assembly was the Oregon Legislative...
and the 2006 Special Session.
Minnis was first elected to the House in 1998 and served as House majority leader from 2001 to 2003. Her 2004 and 2006 bids for reelection drew a strong challenge from Democrat
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
Rob Brading. In 2004, Brading spent only $33,000 to Minnis' $200,000, but came within seven percentage points of winning the race; in 2006, total spending by both candidates approached $1 million, in one of the most expensive House races in Oregon history. In the 2006 election
Oregon statewide elections, 2006
Oregon's 2006 statewide election included a May 16 primary election and a November 7 general election.Ten statewide ballot measures were on the November ballot....
, Democrats took control of the House. After the election, Minnis stated she would not seek any leadership positions, but would instead focus on representing her district.
On the last day of the 2007 legislative session, Minnis announced that she would not seek re-election. She was succeeded in District 49 by Democrat Nick Kahl
Nick Kahl
Nick Kahl is a Democratic politician from Oregon. In the 2008 Oregon legislative elections, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 49 in east Multnomah County, including the cities of Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village, Oregon, and a portion of Gresham...
, who won a closely contested election in November 2008; Democrat Jeff Merkley
Jeff Merkley
Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Merkley is the junior United States Senator from Oregon. A member of the Democratic Party, Merkley was a five-term member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly representing House District 47, located in eastern Multnomah County within the Portland city limits...
succeeded her as House Speaker.
External links
- Archived version of official legislative website