Laurie Monnes Anderson
OfficePresident pro tempore of the Oregon State Senate
Term startJanuary 9, 2017
Term endJanuary 11, 2021
PredecessorGinny Burdick
SuccessorJames Manning Jr.
State senate 1Oregon State
District 125th
Term start 1January 10, 2005
Term end 1January 11, 2021
Predecessor 1John Minnis
Successor 1Chris Gorsek
State house 2Oregon
District 250th
Term start 2January 8, 2001
Term end 2January 10, 2005
Predecessor 2Ron Sunseri
Successor 2John Lim
Birth dateDecember 31, 1945 (age 80)
Birth placeCoronado, California, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationWillamette University (BS)
University of Colorado, Boulder (MS)
Radford University (BS)

Laurie Monnes Anderson (born December 31, 1945) is an American Democratic politician who most recently served in the Oregon Senate, representing District 25 in eastern Multnomah County, Oregon, including parts of the cities of Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale, and Wood Village. She previously served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives.

Early life and career

Born Laurie Monnes in Coronado, California, she grew up in Gresham, Oregon, one of four children of Bud and Ellene Groening Monnes, who were both teachers.[1][2] She graduated from Gresham High School and received a bachelor's degree in biology from Willamette University in 1968, and a master's in biology from the University of Colorado in 1972. In 1981, she earned a degree in nursing from Radford University.[1][3] She married and raised two children, divorcing in 1985.[2]

Political career

Following a career as a public health nurse, Monnes Anderson began serving on the Gresham-Barlow School District board in 1991. In 1998, she ran for the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 22, but lost to incumbent Ron Sunseri by 250 votes.[4] In 2000, Sunseri did not seek re-election, and Monnes Anderson defeated Republican nominee Ed Golobay for the seat in a close election.[5] She was re-elected to the seat (renumbered to District 50) by a wide margin in 2002 over Ernest Hodgin.[6]

In 2004, she sought election to the Oregon Senate in District 25. In this race, she again faced Ron Sunseri, who had defeated her in her first House race in 1998. However, this time, Monnes Anderson prevailed by 9 percentage points in an expensive race.[7]

She was unopposed for her party's nomination in 2008. She defeated Republican Dave Kim in the general election.[8]

Personal

Monnes Anderson lives in Gresham, Oregon.[1] She is a first cousin of cartoonist Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons. Monnes Anderson's mother, Ellene Groening Monnes, is the sister of Groening's father Homer.[9] Laurie Monnes Anderson has two children and is now a grandmother.

References

  1. ^ "Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson". Oregon State Legislature. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  2. ^ Stine, Mara (June 14, 2008). "A daughter's care of Dad". The Outlook (Gresham). Archived August 30, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. ^ "Laurie Monnes Anderson". Project VoteSmart. Archived September 30, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  4. ^ Stern, Henry (January 4, 1999). "Concerns surround Sunseri as House Education chairman". The Oregonian
  5. ^ Stern, Henry (November 8, 2000). "Monnes Anderson holding slim edge in House District 22". The Oregonian
  6. ^ "How Oregon Voted". The Oregonian. November 10, 2002.
  7. ^ Trevison, Catherine (November 3, 2004). "Monnes Anderson wins pivotal state Senate seat". The Oregonian
  8. ^ "Sign in to OregonLive.com". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2009.
  9. ^ Mortenson, Eric (November 19, 2004). "Lawmaker feels void after mother's death". The Oregonian