Rick Metsger
Encyclopedia
Richard Thomas "Rick" Metsger (born August 16, 1951) is a Democratic
politician in the US state of Oregon
who served in the Oregon State Senate
from 1999 to 2011. He and was also a candidate for Oregon Secretary of State
and Oregon State Treasurer
. Prior to his political career, Metsger was a sportscaster
in Portland, Oregon
.
where he attended elementary school. He graduated from Centennial High School
in Gresham
. In 1972, he earned a bachelor's degree in communication from Lewis & Clark College
, where he also earned a master's degree in teaching in 1975.
Metsger taught at Sam Barlow High School
in Gresham from 1973 to 1976 and was an assistant basketball coach at Lewis & Clark during that same time.
for Portland
television station KOIN
, eventually working his way up to sports anchor
and sports director. In the early 1990s, Metsger was moved to a combination news and sports role. In August 1992, hours after completing an investigative report about leaking nuclear waste tanks at the Hanford Site
, Metsger was fired from the station. The report aired three weeks later (narrated by another reporter), and later won the Best Investigative Reporting award from the Oregon Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
for the Oregon State Senate
in the 14th state senate district (later renumbered the 26th due to redistricting). He was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and in the general election, defeated former Oregon House
member Jerry Grisham, who had defeated incumbent Ken Baker in the Republican
primary. Metsger was re-elected in 2002 and 2006.
In 2008, he became a candidate for Oregon Secretary of State
, running to succeed incumbent Bill Bradbury
, but lost the Democratic primary to Kate Brown
. Metsger sought the Democratic nomination for Oregon State Treasurer
in the special election to replace Ben Westlund
, but lost to fellow Democrat Ted Wheeler
. His candidacy had been endorsed by the Oregon Progressive Party.
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician in 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...
who served 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,...
from 1999 to 2011. He and was also a candidate for Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
and Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
. Prior to his political career, Metsger was a sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, 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...
.
Early life and career
Metsger was born in Sandy, OregonSandy, Oregon
Sandy is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, and named after the nearby Sandy River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,385, however the 2006 estimate shows 7,070 people....
where he attended elementary school. He graduated from Centennial High School
Centennial High School (Gresham, Oregon)
Centennial High School is a public high school located in Gresham, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 1989, Centennial High School was honored in the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the highest honor a school can receive in the United States....
in 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 1972, he earned a bachelor's degree in communication from Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
, where he also earned a master's degree in teaching in 1975.
Metsger taught at Sam Barlow High School
Sam Barlow High School
Sam Barlow High School is a public high school near Gresham, Oregon, United States in the Gresham-Barlow School District. It was named for the Oregon pioneer Sam Barlow...
in Gresham from 1973 to 1976 and was an assistant basketball coach at Lewis & Clark during that same time.
Sports anchor
In 1977, Metsger was hired as a sportscasterSportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for Portland
Portland, 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...
television station KOIN
KOIN
KOIN is the CBS affiliate television station serving the Portland metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Portland, Oregon, United States; it broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 40...
, eventually working his way up to sports anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
and sports director. In the early 1990s, Metsger was moved to a combination news and sports role. In August 1992, hours after completing an investigative report about leaking nuclear waste tanks at the Hanford Site
Hanford Site
The Hanford Site is a mostly decommissioned nuclear production complex on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington, operated by the United States federal government. The site has been known by many names, including Hanford Works, Hanford Engineer Works or HEW, Hanford Nuclear Reservation...
, Metsger was fired from the station. The report aired three weeks later (narrated by another reporter), and later won the Best Investigative Reporting award from the Oregon Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
Political career
In 1998, Metsger sought his first political office, running as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for 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,...
in the 14th state senate district (later renumbered the 26th due to redistricting). He was unopposed in the Democratic primary, and in the general election, defeated former Oregon House
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....
member Jerry Grisham, who had defeated incumbent Ken Baker in the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary. Metsger was re-elected in 2002 and 2006.
In 2008, he became a candidate for Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
, running to succeed incumbent Bill Bradbury
Bill Bradbury
Bill Bradbury is an American politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he grew up in Chicago and Pennsylvania before moving to the West Coast where he worked in broadcast journalism before running for public office. Democrat, he served as Oregon Secretary of State from 1999...
, but lost the Democratic primary to Kate Brown
Kate Brown (politician)
Kate Brown is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party, She is the current Oregon Secretary of State and was elected to that office in the 2008 elections. Prior to becoming Secretary of State, Brown served in the Oregon State Senate representing Oregon's 21st senate district,...
. Metsger sought the Democratic nomination for Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
in the special election to replace Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund
Ben Westlund was a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was elected State Treasurer in 2008. Previously, Westlund served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as a Republican from 1996 to 2006, as an independent from 2006 to 2007, and then as a Democrat...
, but lost to fellow Democrat Ted Wheeler
Ted Wheeler
Edward Tevis "Ted" Wheeler is an American politician from Oregon. He was appointed Oregon State Treasurer on March 9, 2010 to replace Ben Westlund, who died in office...
. His candidacy had been endorsed by the Oregon Progressive Party.
Personal
Metsger is a principal at MetsgerForbes LLC, a strategic issues management firm. He and his wife Kay, an open heart surgery nurse, live in Welches, OregonWelches, Oregon
Welches is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located within the Mount Hood Corridor between Zigzag and Wemme along U.S. Route 26. It is one of the communities that make up the Villages at Mount Hood....
.
External links
- Official House website *Link Dead – checked April/2011*
- Campaign website