Brian Boquist
Encyclopedia
Brian James Boquist is a Republican
politician from the US state of Oregon
. He currently serves in the Oregon Senate representing district 12. Previously, he was in the Oregon House of Representatives
, representing District 23 in the mid-Willamette Valley
from 2005 to 2009.
. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout
in the Boy Scouts of America
and graduated from Tillamook High School
before enlisting in the United States Army
in 1975. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University
) and an MBA from Oregon State University
.
Boquist is a special forces lieutenant colonel
in the United States Army Reserve
, and since 1991, is an executive with International Charter Incorporated, an international aviation company that specializes in a variety of support operations for private organizations and the United States government. His firm has worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. He served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Army special forces in Iraq in 2003 – 2004, receiving the Bronze Star Medal
and recommendation for promotion for his service.
in Oregon's 5th congressional district
, but lost both times to incumbent Darlene Hooley
.
In 2004, Boquist decided against a run for Hooley's seat, but when Oregon state representative Lane Shetterly resigned to run the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
commission, Boquist chose instead to run for Shetterly's seat in Oregon House District 23. Though Jim Thompson was named by Oregon Republicans to complete Shetterly's term, Boquist defeated him in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election.
In the 2008 Republican primary
, Boquist announced that he was leaving the Oregon House to seek election to the state Senate. He was unopposed for his party's nomination to represent Oregon Senate District 12 and faced Democrat Kevin Nortness in the general election. He won the general election 61% to 39% so will serve in the Oregon Senate. (Jim Thompson, whom Boquist defeated for the state House in 2004, won the election to succeed Boquist in the House.)
. His three youngest children are Will, Byrnn, and Daria.
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 from the US state of 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...
. He currently serves in the Oregon Senate representing district 12. Previously, he was in 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....
, representing District 23 in the mid-Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
from 2005 to 2009.
Early life and career
Boquist was born and raised on a dairy farm in Tillamook, OregonTillamook, Oregon
The city of Tillamook is the county seat of Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on the southeast end of Tillamook Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The population was 4,352 at the 2000 census...
. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and graduated from Tillamook High School
Tillamook High School
Tillamook High School is a public high school in Tillamook, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 2008, 77% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma...
before enlisting in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1975. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
) and an MBA from Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
Boquist is a special forces lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, and since 1991, is an executive with International Charter Incorporated, an international aviation company that specializes in a variety of support operations for private organizations and the United States government. His firm has worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. He served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Army special forces in Iraq in 2003 – 2004, receiving the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and recommendation for promotion for his service.
Political career
In 2000 and 2002, Boquist was the Republican nominee for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Oregon's 5th congressional district
Oregon's 5th congressional district
Oregon's 5th congressional district represents Oregon's central coast through Salem, north to the southern Portland suburbs, and east to the summit of Mount Hood. It includes Lincoln, Marion, Polk, and Tillamook counties, most of Clackamas County, and part of Benton and Multnomah counties...
, but lost both times to incumbent Darlene Hooley
Darlene Hooley
Darlene Kay Olson Hooley is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon who represented the state's . A native of North Dakota, she spent eight years teaching high school before entering politics when she was elected to the West Linn, Oregon city council in 1975...
.
In 2004, Boquist decided against a run for Hooley's seat, but when Oregon state representative Lane Shetterly resigned to run the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development is the chief land use planning and regulatory agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The DLCD administers the statewide land use planning program...
commission, Boquist chose instead to run for Shetterly's seat in Oregon House District 23. Though Jim Thompson was named by Oregon Republicans to complete Shetterly's term, Boquist defeated him in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election.
In the 2008 Republican primary
Oregon Republican primary, 2008
The 2008 Oregon Republican primary was a mail only primary in the U.S. state of Oregon. Ballots were mailed to registered Republican voters between May 2 and May 6, 2008. To be counted, all ballots must have been received by county elections offices by 8:00 p.m. PDT on May 20, 2008...
, Boquist announced that he was leaving the Oregon House to seek election to the state Senate. He was unopposed for his party's nomination to represent Oregon Senate District 12 and faced Democrat Kevin Nortness in the general election. He won the general election 61% to 39% so will serve in the Oregon Senate. (Jim Thompson, whom Boquist defeated for the state House in 2004, won the election to succeed Boquist in the House.)
Personal
Boquist and his wife Peggy have six children and live near Dallas, OregonDallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
. His three youngest children are Will, Byrnn, and Daria.
See also
- Seventy-fourth Oregon Legislative Assembly
- Seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative AssemblySeventy-fifth Oregon Legislative AssemblyThe seventy-fifth Oregon Legislative Assembly convened beginning on , for its biennial regular session. All of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives and half of the 30 seats in the State Senate were up for election in 2008; the general election for those seats took place on .Democrats took...