Ron Saxton
Encyclopedia
Ronald L. Saxton is an American lawyer
and Republican
politician
in Oregon
. A native of Oregon, his first public office was with the Portland Public Schools Board. He has run twice for Governor of Oregon
, losing in the 2002 primary election, and winning the Republican nomination in 2006, but losing in the general election.
in 1954. He graduated from Albany High School
in 1972, earned a bachelors degree from Willamette University
in 1976, and a juris doctor
at from University of Virginia School of Law
in 1979.
Saxton helped to co-found the Ater Wynne law firm in 1990. From 1990 to 2000 he served as the chairman of the firm. In 1997, he was elected to the Portland Public Schools Board serving through 2001, and served as its Chair from 1998-2000.
Saxton was also the founding president of the Portland Schools Foundation, a community-based organization that has raised over $30 million in private contributions in Oregon's largest school district. He has also chaired the Strategic Planning committee of the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts, co-chaired the Oregon Higher Education Roundtable, and served on the board of the Saturday Academy, a science and math mentoring program for Oregon's youth.
Saxton is married to Lynne Hume Saxton, also a fourth generation Oregonian, and together they have one son, Andy. The Saxton family are adherents to the Presbyterian faith.
. He placed third in the primary behind Kevin Mannix
and Jack Roberts
.
ran a strong campaign as well. Toward the end of the primary, Saxton and Mannix launched a series of negative ads toward each other.
Saxton won the Republican Primary for Governor of Oregon on May 16, 2006 with 43% of the vote, versus Mannix's 30% and Atkinson's 22%.
On November 7, 2006, Saxton was defeated by Democratic incumbent
Ted Kulongoski
.
Following the election, Saxton announced he was unlikely to run for political office again.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and 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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
. A native of Oregon, his first public office was with the Portland Public Schools Board. He has run twice for Governor of Oregon
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....
, losing in the 2002 primary election, and winning the Republican nomination in 2006, but losing in the general election.
Early life and career
Saxton was born in Albany, OregonAlbany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
in 1954. He graduated from Albany High School
West Albany High School
West Albany High School is a public high school in Albany, Oregon, United States.West Albany High School was formerly named Albany Union High School prior to the completion of South Albany High School in 1972.-Academics:...
in 1972, earned a bachelors degree from Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in 1976, and a juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at from University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
in 1979.
Saxton helped to co-found the Ater Wynne law firm in 1990. From 1990 to 2000 he served as the chairman of the firm. In 1997, he was elected to the Portland Public Schools Board serving through 2001, and served as its Chair from 1998-2000.
Saxton was also the founding president of the Portland Schools Foundation, a community-based organization that has raised over $30 million in private contributions in Oregon's largest school district. He has also chaired the Strategic Planning committee of the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts, co-chaired the Oregon Higher Education Roundtable, and served on the board of the Saturday Academy, a science and math mentoring program for Oregon's youth.
Saxton is married to Lynne Hume Saxton, also a fourth generation Oregonian, and together they have one son, Andy. The Saxton family are adherents to the Presbyterian faith.
2002 run for Governor
In 2002, Saxton unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of OregonGovernor 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....
. He placed third in the primary behind 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...
and Jack Roberts
Jack Roberts (Oregon politician)
Jack Roberts is a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Republican, his highest office has been Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries, which he held from 1995 to 2003...
.
2006 Gubernatorial nomination
On March 23, 2005, Saxton announced that he would again seek the Republican nomination for Governor in 2006. Kevin Mannix also ran again, and State Senator Jason AtkinsonJason Atkinson
Jason Atkinson is an American politician in the US state of Oregon. A native of California, the Republican grew up in the Southern Oregon city of Medford. He is a senator in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Governor of Oregon in 2006, but...
ran a strong campaign as well. Toward the end of the primary, Saxton and Mannix launched a series of negative ads toward each other.
Saxton won the Republican Primary for Governor of Oregon on May 16, 2006 with 43% of the vote, versus Mannix's 30% and Atkinson's 22%.
On November 7, 2006, Saxton was defeated by Democratic incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Ted Kulongoski
Ted Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
.
Following the election, Saxton announced he was unlikely to run for political office again.