Dave Hunt (Oregon politician)
Encyclopedia
Dave Hunt is an American politician in the state of Oregon
. A Democrat
, he is the State Representative for District 40 of the Oregon House of Representatives
. He was elected House Majority Leader for the 2006–2008 session, succeeding Minority Leader Jeff Merkley
, who was chosen as Speaker. Hunt served as Speaker during the 2009–2011 session, again succeeding Merkley, who was elected to serve in the United States Senate
.
to Karin and Harley Hunt
on November 10, 1967. He attended Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon
and New York City's Columbia University
where he majored in political science.
Following college he worked as a staff member for three members of Congress: Louise Slaughter, Brian Baird
, and Darlene Hooley
.
By profession, Hunt has served since 2001 as Executive Director of the Columbia River Channel Coalition and the Association of Pacific Ports.
Hunt married Tonia in 1992 and they have two children: Andrew (born in 1995) and Emily (born in 1999).
Hunt represents the people of northern Clackamas County
, which includes the communities of Gladstone
, Oak Grove
, Jennings Lodge
, Johnson City
, and North Clackamas
.
In November 2008, Hunt was re-elected to a fourth term in the Oregon House and was subsequently elected to the position of Speaker of the Oregon House for the 2009–2011 legislative session. In November 2010, Hunt was re-elected to a fifth term in the Oregon House and was subsequently elected as House Democratic Leader.
In past years, he has chaired the House Rules Committee and served on the House Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Trade and Economic Development, Head Start, Campaign Finance Reform, and Elections, Ethics and Rules committees. He currently co-chairs the House Transportation and Economic Development Committee.
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...
. A 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...
, he is the State Representative for District 40 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....
. He was elected House Majority Leader for the 2006–2008 session, succeeding Minority Leader 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...
, who was chosen as Speaker. Hunt served as Speaker during the 2009–2011 session, again succeeding Merkley, who was elected to serve in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Early years
Dave Hunt was born in Port Angeles, WashingtonPort Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
to Karin and Harley Hunt
Harley Hunt
Harley Don Hunt was a prominent American Baptist pastor and denominational leader.Harley Hunt was born on February 19, 1940 in Boise, Idaho to Don and Wynnie Hunt...
on November 10, 1967. He attended Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and New York City's Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
where he majored in political science.
Following college he worked as a staff member for three members of Congress: Louise Slaughter, Brian Baird
Brian Baird
Brian Norton Baird is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1999 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district comprises the counties of Thurston, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania....
, and 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...
.
By profession, Hunt has served since 2001 as Executive Director of the Columbia River Channel Coalition and the Association of Pacific Ports.
Hunt married Tonia in 1992 and they have two children: Andrew (born in 1995) and Emily (born in 1999).
Political career
In 1999, Hunt was elected to the Oregon City School Board, and served there until 2003. He also served a two-year term (2002–03) as the youngest-ever National President of American Baptist Churches USA, an organization with over 5,000 churches and 1.3 million members.Hunt represents the people of northern Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, which includes the communities of Gladstone
Gladstone, Oregon
Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and...
, Oak Grove
Oak Grove, Oregon
Oak Grove is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Oak Grove as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with...
, Jennings Lodge
Jennings Lodge, Oregon
Jennings Lodge is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, between Milwaukie, and Gladstone. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Jennings Lodge as a census-designated place...
, Johnson City
Johnson City, Oregon
Johnson City is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It was a manufactured housing community owned entirely by one man, whose residents voted to incorporate by a 49 to 10 vote on June 16, 1970...
, and North Clackamas
Clackamas, Oregon
Clackamas was a census-designated place in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,177 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Portland, Oregon.It is the location of Camp Withycombe, a military base...
.
In November 2008, Hunt was re-elected to a fourth term in the Oregon House and was subsequently elected to the position of Speaker of the Oregon House for the 2009–2011 legislative session. In November 2010, Hunt was re-elected to a fifth term in the Oregon House and was subsequently elected as House Democratic Leader.
In past years, he has chaired the House Rules Committee and served on the House Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Trade and Economic Development, Head Start, Campaign Finance Reform, and Elections, Ethics and Rules committees. He currently co-chairs the House Transportation and Economic Development Committee.