Tom Bunn
Encyclopedia
Thomas E. Bunn is a former law enforcement officer and politician in the U.S. state of Oregon
. A Republican, he served part of a term in the Oregon House of Representatives
while two brothers served in the Oregon State Senate
. A former sheriff’s deputy in Yamhill County
, he later served two terms as a county commissioner. He also was mayor of Amity
and a member of their city council.
, to Ben and Viola (Fulgham) Bunn. Along with his twin Tim, he was the youngest of eleven children in the family with five brothers and five sisters. He grew up on the family farm near Dayton
along the Yamhill River
. As a child he and his brothers usually shunned outsiders and played amongst themselves. Bunn came from a political family with his grandfather once serving as mayor of Lafayette, Oregon
, his father was on the same city’s school board, brother Jim Bunn
served in Congress and the state legislature, and another brother Stan Bunn
served in the legislature as well.
Tom graduated from Dayton High School
and went on to college. He attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho
, where he was in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
. Bunn graduated with a bachelor of arts degree with a focus in business from the school. His ROTC training led to a commission in the National Guard that he had joined as a private, and later let to advancement as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Oregon Army National Guard
. He also attended, but did not graduate from, Northwestern California University School of Law, a correspondence law school.
Following college he returned to Oregon and worked for seven year for the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. Bunn married Lona about 1980 and they had six children; Mark, Thomas, Ukiah, Seth, McKenzie and Peter. He farmed on the family farm near Dayton, and in 1994 began working for the Yamhill County Jail.
, where he served from 1983 to 1987. He then served as mayor of the city from 1987 to 1988. In July 1992, his brother Stan resigned from his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives
after being appointed to the Oregon State Senate
. The next day Tom, a Republican as well, was appointed by the Yamhill County Commission to fill Stan’s seat in the House representing District 29. Brother Jim was already serving in the Senate, so there were three Bunn brothers serving in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
simultaneously. Tom remained only until 1993 as the primary elections had already determined the candidates for the November election when he was appointed. He also at one time was a judge for the Yamhill Municipal Court.
In November 1994, he was elected as a commissioner of Yamhill County. While commissioner he worked to pass a county ordinance that prohibited the selling or making of drug paraphernalia in 1995, and twice tried to ban the possession of marijuana seeds, once in 1996 and again in 1997. As a commissioner in 1997 he wrote a law that prohibited county employees from facilitating an abortion. The law was then challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union
as unconstitutional at both the state and federal levels.
Bunn won re-election to a second four-year term on the commission. In 1999, brother Jim who had lost a re-election bid to Congress in 1996 and was working at the county jail applied for appointment to be county treasurer. Tom recused himself from the interviewing process, but voted to break a tie on the commission to appoint his brother after receiving advice from the county attorney that it would not be inappropriate. The incident led to an ethics investigation in which the complaint was dismissed, and Jim resigned from the position prior to taking office. Following the incident, Tom recused himself from any possible conflict of interest and regularly read state ethics opinions. In 2002, he lost his bid for re-election.
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 Republican, he served part of a term 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....
while two brothers 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,...
. A former sheriff’s deputy in Yamhill County
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
, he later served two terms as a county commissioner. He also was mayor of Amity
Amity, Oregon
Amity is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 1,614.-History:The town was established between 1848 and 1849 by Joseph and Ahio S. Watt, two brothers who had immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail. Part of Joseph’s land claim became the...
and a member of their city council.
Early life
Thomas Bunn was born about 1959 in Yamhill County, OregonYamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
, to Ben and Viola (Fulgham) Bunn. Along with his twin Tim, he was the youngest of eleven children in the family with five brothers and five sisters. He grew up on the family farm near Dayton
Dayton, Oregon
Dayton is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,119 at the 2000 census. As of July 2007 its estimated population was 2,495.-History:...
along the Yamhill River
Yamhill River
The Yamhill River is an tributary of the Willamette River, in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of the South Yamhill River and the North Yamhill River about east of McMinnville, it drains part of the Northern Oregon Coast Range...
. As a child he and his brothers usually shunned outsiders and played amongst themselves. Bunn came from a political family with his grandfather once serving as mayor of Lafayette, Oregon
Lafayette, Oregon
Lafayette is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States on the Yamhill River and Oregon Route 99W. It was founded in 1846 and incorporated in 1878...
, his father was on the same city’s school board, brother Jim Bunn
Jim Bunn
James Lee Bunn is an American politician from Oregon. A native of Yamhill County, he served in the Oregon State Senate before election to the United States House of Representatives where he served one term...
served in Congress and the state legislature, and another brother Stan Bunn
Stan Bunn
Stan Bunn is an American politician and lawyer in the U.S. state of Oregon. Born and raised in Yamhill County, he is part of a political family that includes his brother Jim Bunn who served in Congress...
served in the legislature as well.
Tom graduated from Dayton High School
Dayton High School (Oregon)
Dayton High School is a public high school in Dayton, Oregon, United States. The building was built in 1937 and remodeled in 2000.-Academics:...
and went on to college. He attended Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
, where he was in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
. Bunn graduated with a bachelor of arts degree with a focus in business from the school. His ROTC training led to a commission in the National Guard that he had joined as a private, and later let to advancement as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Oregon Army National Guard
Oregon Army National Guard
The Oregon Army National Guard is a Federally mandated and equipped military organization under the civilian direction of the Oregon Military Department, with the Governor of Oregon as its Commander in Chief. It responds to state and national emergencies, military conflicts and natural disasters,...
. He also attended, but did not graduate from, Northwestern California University School of Law, a correspondence law school.
Following college he returned to Oregon and worked for seven year for the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. Bunn married Lona about 1980 and they had six children; Mark, Thomas, Ukiah, Seth, McKenzie and Peter. He farmed on the family farm near Dayton, and in 1994 began working for the Yamhill County Jail.
Political career
Bunn’s first political office came as a city council member in Amity, OregonAmity, Oregon
Amity is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 1,614.-History:The town was established between 1848 and 1849 by Joseph and Ahio S. Watt, two brothers who had immigrated to Oregon over the Oregon Trail. Part of Joseph’s land claim became the...
, where he served from 1983 to 1987. He then served as mayor of the city from 1987 to 1988. In July 1992, his brother Stan resigned from his seat 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....
after being appointed to 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,...
. The next day Tom, a Republican as well, was appointed by the Yamhill County Commission to fill Stan’s seat in the House representing District 29. Brother Jim was already serving in the Senate, so there were three Bunn brothers serving in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
simultaneously. Tom remained only until 1993 as the primary elections had already determined the candidates for the November election when he was appointed. He also at one time was a judge for the Yamhill Municipal Court.
In November 1994, he was elected as a commissioner of Yamhill County. While commissioner he worked to pass a county ordinance that prohibited the selling or making of drug paraphernalia in 1995, and twice tried to ban the possession of marijuana seeds, once in 1996 and again in 1997. As a commissioner in 1997 he wrote a law that prohibited county employees from facilitating an abortion. The law was then challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
as unconstitutional at both the state and federal levels.
Bunn won re-election to a second four-year term on the commission. In 1999, brother Jim who had lost a re-election bid to Congress in 1996 and was working at the county jail applied for appointment to be county treasurer. Tom recused himself from the interviewing process, but voted to break a tie on the commission to appoint his brother after receiving advice from the county attorney that it would not be inappropriate. The incident led to an ethics investigation in which the complaint was dismissed, and Jim resigned from the position prior to taking office. Following the incident, Tom recused himself from any possible conflict of interest and regularly read state ethics opinions. In 2002, he lost his bid for re-election.
External links
- Radio project beset with troubles - News-RegisterNews-Register (McMinnville)The News-Register is a newspaper published in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. It is a semi-weekly community newspaper serving McMinnville and the surrounding Yamhill Valley. The News-Register Publishing Co. and parent holding company Oregon Lithoprint, Inc...