Kevin Mannix

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Kevin Mannix
In office
1999 – 2001
Member of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1998 – 1999
In office
1989 – 1997
Born November 26, 1949 (1949-11-26) (age 58)
Queens, New York
Nationality American
Political party Republican
Spouse Susanna
Children Nicholas, Emily, Gabriel
Alma mater University of Virginia
Occupation Business Attorney
Religion Roman Catholic
Website http://mannixlawfirm.com/main.html

Kevin Leese Mannix (born November 26, 1949) 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. He is better known, however, for his advocacy of statewide ballot measures—many of which were referred as a result of his efforts as a legislator—and as a candidate for the statewide offices of Attorney General and Governor.

In 2008, Mannix ran for the United States House of Representatives in Oregon's 5th congressional district but was defeated by Mike Erickson.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early political career

Mannix earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 1971 from the University of Virginia.[2] In 1974, he earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.[2]

Prior to serving in the legislature, Mannix worked in several different capacities, including Assistant Attorney General of Oregon, Assistant Attorney General of Guam, and a law clerk to the Oregon Court of Appeals.[2]

From 1989 through 1996, Mannix served in the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat.[2] In 1997, he became a Republican and was appointed to the Oregon State Senate.[2] He was elected back into the Oregon House in November 1998 and served through 2000.[2]

[edit] Ballot measure advocacy

Mannix was a driving force behind the effort to get tougher sentences for criminals. In 1994, he helped pass Ballot Measure 11, which imposed mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes.

In 1996, Mannix brought Ballot Measure 40 to the ballot. It passed by a margin of 59% to 41%. Measure 40 was overturned by the Oregon Supreme Court in Armatta v. Kitzhaber, 327 Or. 250, 959 P.2d 49 (1998) on the grounds that it contained more than one amendment to the Oregon Constitution.

Measure 40 case precedent has been the basis for overturning several voter-approved initiatives. Among these are legislator term limits in 2002 and Measure 3, the Oregon Property Protection Act of 2000. Measure 40 returned to voters as Measures 69-75 in November 1999. The measures were primarily funded by conservative millionaires Loren Parks and Mark Hemstreet. Of the seven measures, four were passed by voters.

[edit] Runs for statewide office

In 1996, Mannix ran for Oregon Attorney General as a Democrat.[3] At the last minute, Hardy Myers was recruited by Democrats to run against Mannix in the Democratic primary, as some felt Mannix was too conservative for their party. Myers defeated Mannix in the primary 62.8% to 36.8%. Myers went on to easily defeat his Republican opponent in the November general election. Mannix changed his party affiliation to Republican the following year, 1997. He was appointed to the state Senate in 1998.

In 2000, Mannix again ran for State Attorney General against Myers in a bitter campaign. Myers again defeated Mannix 49.8% to 46.2%. Libertarian candidate Tom Cox received 4.0%. There is the possibility that Cox siphoned off votes from Mannix, although it's far from certain that enough of them would have supported him to deny Myers victory.

In 2002, Mannix ran for Governor.[3] In the Republican primary, he defeated former Labor Commissioner Jack Roberts and Portland attorney and school board chair Ron Saxton. He went on to run against Democrat Ted Kulongoski. Kulongoski won 49% of the vote versus 46% for Mannix. Libertarian candidate Tom Cox received 5% – a margin which many observe could have swung the election, had those votes gone to Mannix. The defeat also marked the fifth time in a row the Republicans failed to gain control of the Governor's mansion.

Mannix became Oregon Republican Party Chair in January, 2003, and stepped down in 2005.[2]

In 2006, Mannix ran again for the Republican nomination for Governor. He finished second in the primary with 30% of the vote, behind Saxton, who won the nomination with 43%, and ahead of state senator Jason Atkinson, who received 22%. Saxton, widely considered more moderate than Mannix,[4] went on to lose the General Election in May to incumbent Kulungoski by an 8.1% margin.

[edit] Other activities

Mannix is president of the Salem Catholic Schools Foundation and has been a member of Rotary International for 25 years.[citation needed] He is backing a ballot measure for 2008 that has 15 provisions, one of which would replace the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.[5] with a free prescription medication program involving the drug Marinol (synthetic THC).

[edit] Electoral history

2008 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - Republican Primary

2006 Race for Governor - Republican Primary

2002 Race for Governor

2002 Race for Governor - Republican Primary

2000 Race for state Attorney General

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Erickson wins 5th District Republican nomination. OregonLive.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Jason Atkinson. Statesman Journal, April 23, 2006.
  3. ^ a b Law, Steve. Oregon governor's race party profile: Republicans. Statesman Journal, April 23, 2006.
  4. ^ Law, Steve. "Governor hopeful Saxton packs coffers", Statesman Journal, February 2, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-05-28. 
  5. ^ Letter from Secretary of State regarding the "Oregon Crimefighting Act."

[edit] External links