Ray Metcalfe
Encyclopedia
Ray Metcalfe is a politician and political activist in Alaska
. Metcalfe has served in the Alaska House of Representatives
as a Republican, and later ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate
as a Democrat.
in Montana
, where he lived until he left home at the age of fifteen. He spent the next few years hitchhiking around the country, attending high schools in multiple cities and states until graduating from Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana
in 1969. He then hitchhiked to Alaska
, arriving June 5, 1969 with a bedroll, a backpack and $53.00 in his pocket.
His life in Alaska alternated between Alaska's oil fields and college, studying business and history until, without attaining a degree, he opened Metcalfe Real Estate Company in 1976, which he operates to this day. His hobbies include skiing, disco dancing, litigating in defense of liberty and exposing political corruption.
as a Republican. He formed the Republican Moderate Party of Alaska
in 1986, to oppose the religious right
who he felt had invaded and taken over the Republican Party. Shortly after Metcalfe formed the RMP, the leaders of the Republican Party sued him for forming a group using the term “Republican” without their permission. Metcalfe won in Superior Court and the decision was final because the Republican Party did not appeal.
The Superior Court declared Metcalfe to be a “Public Litigant,” “litigating in the public interest in defense of free speech for all.” Consequently, under Alaska’s rules of court governing how public interest litigants are treated, the new leaders of the Republican Party were ordered to pay all Metcalfe's attorney fees.
In 2006, Metcalfe ran as a Democrat for the sole U.S. House seat from Alaska, coming in second to Diane Benson by receiving 34% of the vote in the Democratic Primary.
In 2008 The Republican Moderate Party was dissolved and the Citizens For Ethical Government Inc., a non profit political watchdog
group was created. Ray Metcalfe again declared he was running as a Democrat, this time for the US Senate seat held by Ted Stevens
, but he lost in the 2008 Democratic Primary.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. Metcalfe has served in the Alaska House of Representatives
Alaska House of Representatives
The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits...
as a Republican, and later ran unsuccessfully for 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...
as a Democrat.
Personal life
Ray Metcalfe was born on the Crow Indian ReservationCrow Indian Reservation
The Crow Indian Reservation is the homeland of the Crow Tribe of Indians of the State of Montana in the United States. The reservation is located in parts of Big Horn, Yellowstone, and Treasure counties in southern Montana...
in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, where he lived until he left home at the age of fifteen. He spent the next few years hitchhiking around the country, attending high schools in multiple cities and states until graduating from Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
in 1969. He then hitchhiked to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, arriving June 5, 1969 with a bedroll, a backpack and $53.00 in his pocket.
His life in Alaska alternated between Alaska's oil fields and college, studying business and history until, without attaining a degree, he opened Metcalfe Real Estate Company in 1976, which he operates to this day. His hobbies include skiing, disco dancing, litigating in defense of liberty and exposing political corruption.
Political career
Metcalfe was twice elected to the Alaska House of RepresentativesAlaska House of Representatives
The Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits...
as a Republican. He formed the Republican Moderate Party of Alaska
Republican Moderate Party of Alaska
The Republican Moderate Party of Alaska is a political party in Alaska formed by Ray Metcalfe in 1986 as an alternative to what Metcalfe perceived to be a Republican Party dominated by the Religious Right. Only one candidate has ever won an election, a 2002 race for the state senate, but that...
in 1986, to oppose the religious right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
who he felt had invaded and taken over the Republican Party. Shortly after Metcalfe formed the RMP, the leaders of the Republican Party sued him for forming a group using the term “Republican” without their permission. Metcalfe won in Superior Court and the decision was final because the Republican Party did not appeal.
The Superior Court declared Metcalfe to be a “Public Litigant,” “litigating in the public interest in defense of free speech for all.” Consequently, under Alaska’s rules of court governing how public interest litigants are treated, the new leaders of the Republican Party were ordered to pay all Metcalfe's attorney fees.
In 2006, Metcalfe ran as a Democrat for the sole U.S. House seat from Alaska, coming in second to Diane Benson by receiving 34% of the vote in the Democratic Primary.
In 2008 The Republican Moderate Party was dissolved and the Citizens For Ethical Government Inc., a non profit political watchdog
Consumer organization
Consumer organizations are advocacy groups that seek to protect people from corporate abuse like unsafe products, predatory lending, false advertising, astroturfing and pollution.Consumer organizations may operate via protests, campaigning or lobbying...
group was created. Ray Metcalfe again declared he was running as a Democrat, this time for the US Senate seat held by Ted Stevens
Ted Stevens
Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens, Sr. was a United States Senator from Alaska, serving from December 24, 1968, until January 3, 2009, and thus the longest-serving Republican senator in history...
, but he lost in the 2008 Democratic Primary.
External links
- Citizens for Ethical Government Inc. official website
- Ray Metcalfe official website
- Follow the Money — Ray Metcalf