Loren Parks
Encyclopedia
Loren Parks is a businessman from the U.S. state of Nevada
. He previously lived in Oregon
(from 1957–2002), and is the biggest political contributor in the history of that state. He has financed numerous ballot measure initiative petitions and campaigns since the mid-1990s. He has also contributed heavily to races for prominent offices by his attorney, and frequent chief petitioner of ballot campaigns, Kevin Mannix
.
in 1926. He served in the military from 1944–1946. He has a BA in psychology, having studied at five different universities. He speaks several languages.
Parks later started a business while living in Aloha, Oregon
. He founded Parks Medical Electronics in 1961. The business sells a number of instruments, including a plethysmograph, which measures the blood flow to sexual organs and is used in treating sexual dysfunction and assessing the arousal of sex offenders.
in 1990. His support was instrumental in launching Oregon Taxpayers United, according to executive director Bill Sizemore
.
Parks' dominance of the ballot measure system has been said to undermine the grassroots intent of the system.
In 2001, a former employee filed a sexual harassment
complaint and lawsuit against Parks.
Parks moved from Oregon to Henderson, Nevada
in 2002.
Parks made contributions to uphold the Oregon Death with Dignity Act in 1997.
Parks has been a strong supporter of former state legislator
and gubernatorial
candidate Kevin Mannix
. Mannix has served as Parks' attorney. Parks' staff once said: "Mr. Parks thinks Kevin is one of the few leaders who keeps his word and gets things done."
Parks has not indiscriminately backed Mannix's proposed measures. In 2008, for instance, he declined to fund a proposed initiative that would have allowed for expanded local regulation of strip club
s. As a result, Mannix stopped pursuing ballot qualification.
In 2008, Parks was the source of over half the money used to qualify ballot measures for the statewide ballot
. None of the measures he supported in that year was successful.
Parks is also a major contributor to charitable organizations, including health care and environmental concerns.
Parks is not religious, but is a believer in faith healing
.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. He previously lived in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
(from 1957–2002), and is the biggest political contributor in the history of that state. He has financed numerous ballot measure initiative petitions and campaigns since the mid-1990s. He has also contributed heavily to races for prominent offices by his attorney, and frequent chief petitioner of ballot campaigns, Kevin Mannix
Kevin Mannix
Kevin Leese Mannix is a politician, business attorney, and former chairman of the Republican Party in the U.S. state of Oregon.Mannix has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Democrat and, later, a Republican...
.
Early life
Parks was born in Wichita, KansasWichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
in 1926. He served in the military from 1944–1946. He has a BA in psychology, having studied at five different universities. He speaks several languages.
Parks later started a business while living in Aloha, Oregon
Aloha, Oregon
Aloha is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 49,425.-History:...
. He founded Parks Medical Electronics in 1961. The business sells a number of instruments, including a plethysmograph, which measures the blood flow to sexual organs and is used in treating sexual dysfunction and assessing the arousal of sex offenders.
Influential in Oregon politics
From 1996 to 2006, Parks contributed over $6 million to various political campaigns – far more than any other individual, and more than most organized lobbies. His entry into backing political concerns followed the passage of Ballot Measure 5Oregon Ballot Measure 5 (1990)
Ballot Measure 5 was a landmark piece of direct legislation in the U.S. state of Oregon in 1990. Measure 5, an amendment to the Oregon Constitution , established limits on Oregon's property taxes on real estate....
in 1990. His support was instrumental in launching Oregon Taxpayers United, according to executive director Bill Sizemore
Bill Sizemore
Bill Sizemore is a political activist in Redmond, Oregon, United States. Sizemore has never held elected office, but has nonetheless been a major political figure in Oregon since the 1990s. He is considered one of the main proponents of the Oregon tax revolt, a movement that seeks to reduce taxes...
.
Parks' dominance of the ballot measure system has been said to undermine the grassroots intent of the system.
In 2001, a former employee filed a sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
complaint and lawsuit against Parks.
Parks moved from Oregon to Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
in 2002.
Parks made contributions to uphold the Oregon Death with Dignity Act in 1997.
Parks has been a strong supporter of former state legislator
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
and gubernatorial
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
candidate Kevin Mannix
Kevin Mannix
Kevin Leese Mannix is a politician, business attorney, and former chairman of the Republican Party in the U.S. state of Oregon.Mannix has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Democrat and, later, a Republican...
. Mannix has served as Parks' attorney. Parks' staff once said: "Mr. Parks thinks Kevin is one of the few leaders who keeps his word and gets things done."
Parks has not indiscriminately backed Mannix's proposed measures. In 2008, for instance, he declined to fund a proposed initiative that would have allowed for expanded local regulation of strip club
Strip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
s. As a result, Mannix stopped pursuing ballot qualification.
In 2008, Parks was the source of over half the money used to qualify ballot measures for the statewide ballot
Oregon state elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, the US state of Oregon held statewide general elections for three statewide offices , both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and twelve state ballot measures. The primary elections were held on May 20, 2008...
. None of the measures he supported in that year was successful.
Parks is also a major contributor to charitable organizations, including health care and environmental concerns.
Parks is not religious, but is a believer in faith healing
Faith healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
.