John Minnis
Encyclopedia
John Minnis is a former Republican
legislator and police officer in the U.S. state of Oregon
. He was a member of both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
, representing eastern Multnomah County
. He and his wife Karen
, who was Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
in the mid-2000s, were at one time considered the "most powerful duo in the Oregon Legislature." from 2004 to 2009 he headed the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
in Portland, Oregon
. He and Karen met there, and were married in 1972. They had three children; Karen held several jobs while raising the family, putting John through college. He studied at Portland State University
, Portland Bible College
, and Eastern Oregon State University; he was also a jet mechanic for the United States Air Force
and the Oregon Air Guard.
in 1985, after fellow Republican Pat Gillis
was recall
ed from office. He served there until 1999, co-chairing the Ways and Means Committee in 1993, and chairing the Judiciary Committee in 1997.
Minnish left his seat in 1999 due to a term limits law
. His wife, Karen, who had worked as his legislative aide for over a decade, won the seat he vacated. John then won a seat in the Oregon State Senate
in 2000. He was chair of the House Judiciary Committee in 1997 and of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2001 and 2003. Minnis sponsored the controversial and unsuccessful Senate Bill 742, which sought to label certain acts of civil disobedience
as terrorism
, and impose stiff penalties.
Minnis's wife, Karen Minnis
, was Speaker of the Oregon House for the two following sessions. The two were called the "most powerful duo in the Oregon Legislature" in a 2003 profile in the Eugene Register-Guard.
Minnis was a member of the Portland Police Bureau for 27 years. He was appointed director of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training program by Governor Ted Kulongoski
in 2004. He resigned from that post amid allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a female subordinate. The Oregon Attorney General
's office stated it was unable to prove any illegal incidents took place in Oregon. In December 2009, the alleged victim announced plans to file a criminal complaint against Minnis in California.
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
legislator and police officer in the U.S. state of 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...
. He was a member of both houses of 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...
, representing eastern Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. He and his wife Karen
Karen Minnis
Karen Minnis is a Oregon Republican politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.-Early life:...
, who was Speaker of 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....
in the mid-2000s, were at one time considered the "most powerful duo in the Oregon Legislature." from 2004 to 2009 he headed the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.
Early life
Minnis graduated Madison High SchoolMadison High School (Portland, Oregon)
For other schools of the same name, see Madison High School.James Madison High School, known as Madison High School, is a public high school in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1957 and named after James Madison, the fourth US President and coauthor of the Constitution. In 2005,...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. He and Karen met there, and were married in 1972. They had three children; Karen held several jobs while raising the family, putting John through college. He studied at Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
, Portland Bible College
Portland Bible College
Portland Bible College is a private four-year college in Portland, Oregon, USA that offers theological and church ministry degrees. It was founded in 1967 by Dick Iverson and is associated with the City Bible Church. The campus is adjacent to City Bible Church atop Rocky Butte in northeast...
, and Eastern Oregon State University; he was also a jet mechanic for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and the Oregon Air Guard.
Political career
Minnis was appointed to fill a seat in the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon 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....
in 1985, after fellow Republican Pat Gillis
Pat Gillis
Pat Gillis was a Republican politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. He was member of the Oregon House of Representatives until he was recalled in 1985, amidst a civil lawsuit filed by Rep. Annette Farmer, which was settled out of court....
was recall
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
ed from office. He served there until 1999, co-chairing the Ways and Means Committee in 1993, and chairing the Judiciary Committee in 1997.
Minnish left his seat in 1999 due to a term limits law
Term limits in Oregon
Term limits legislation – term limits for state and federal office-holders – has been a recurring political issue in the U.S. state of Oregon since 1992...
. His wife, Karen, who had worked as his legislative aide for over a decade, won the seat he vacated. John then won a seat 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,...
in 2000. He was chair of the House Judiciary Committee in 1997 and of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2001 and 2003. Minnis sponsored the controversial and unsuccessful Senate Bill 742, which sought to label certain acts of civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
as terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, and impose stiff penalties.
Minnis's wife, Karen Minnis
Karen Minnis
Karen Minnis is a Oregon Republican politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2006.-Early life:...
, was Speaker of the Oregon House for the two following sessions. The two were called the "most powerful duo in the Oregon Legislature" in a 2003 profile in the Eugene Register-Guard.
Minnis was a member of the Portland Police Bureau for 27 years. He was appointed director of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training program by Governor 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...
in 2004. He resigned from that post amid allegations of inappropriate behavior toward a female subordinate. The Oregon Attorney General
Oregon Attorney General
The Oregon Attorney General is a statutory office within the executive branch of the state of Oregon, and serves as the chief legal officer of the state, heading its Department of Justice with its six operating divisions. The Attorney General is chosen by statewide partisan election to serve a term...
's office stated it was unable to prove any illegal incidents took place in Oregon. In December 2009, the alleged victim announced plans to file a criminal complaint against Minnis in California.