Karen Minnis

Infobox_Politician
name = Karen Minnis


office = Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
term_start = 2003
term_end = 2006
predecessor = Mark Simmons
successor = Jeff Merkley
constituency = Multnomah County
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party = Republican
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Karen Minnis (R-Wood Village) is a Republican politician in Oregon, United States. She has been a member of the Oregon House of Representatives since 1998, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.

Minnis is currently serving her fifth term in the House of Representatives, during the 2007–2008 sessions. She represents District 49, which includes the cities of Fairview, Troutdale, and Wood Village, and a portion of Gresham, in east Multnomah County. She served as Speaker during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions and the 2006 Special Session.

Minnis was first elected to the House in 1998 and served as House majority leader from 2001-03. She had extensive legislative experience, having worked for twelve years as staff for her husband, former State Representative John Minnis. Her 2004 and 2006 bids for reelection drew a strong challenge from Democrat Rob Brading. In 2004, Brading spent only $33,000 to Minnis' $200,000, but came within seven percentage points of winning the race; in 2006, total spending by both candidates approached $1 million, in one of the most expensive House races in Oregon history. [cite news
title= Speaker, foe spending big bucks
first=Janie
last=Har
date=October 18, 2006
work=The Oregonian
url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ORGB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=114DD421441516F8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=8CE642B8CA5C4083BE84A2539D6E1A73] In the 2006 election, Democrats took control of the House. [ [http://egov.sos.state.or.us/division/elections/results/2006_G100_1201_1260.htm Oregon Secretary of State - Unofficial 2006 General Election Results] ] After the election, Minnis stated she would not seek any leadership positions, but would instead focus on representing her district. [cite news
last=Har
first=Janie
title=Minnis says she won't pursue role of leader
date=November 09, 2006
publisher=The Oregonian
url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1163042731301980.xml&coll=7
accessdate=2007-03-29Dead link|date=August 2007]

On the last day of the 2007 legislative session, Minnis announced that she would not seek re-election. [cite news
last=Esteve
first=Harry and Edward Walsh
title=Walker announces bid for secretary of state
date=June 29, 2007
publisher=The Oregonian
url=http://www.oregonlive.com/elections/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/118308571239370.xml&coll=7
accessdate=2007-07-12Dead link|date=June 2008]

Personal life

Born and raised in Portland, Minnis is a graduate of James Monroe High School in Portland and has attended Clark Community College. Married since 1972, Minnis and her husband have two married sons, a daughter, three grandsons and one granddaughter.

References

External links

* [http://www.leg.state.or.us/minnis/ Official website]