Rick Bauman
Encyclopedia
Richard H. "Rick" Bauman is a former Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon
who served in the Oregon House of Representatives
and on the Multnomah County
Board of Commissioners in the 1980s. He was also the Democratic nominee for United State Senator
from Oregon in 1986. After retiring from politics in 1992, Bauman began organizing bicycle tours and was a founder of Portland Bridge Pedal, an annual bicycle tour crossing all the bridges in Portland.
and is the grandson of Harvey V. Higley
, who served as Veteran's Administration director under President Dwight D. Eisenhower
. Bauman moved with his family to Santa Clara, California
where he graduated from high school, and then enrolled at UC Santa Cruz
where he received a bachelor's degree in anthropology. Bauman spent a year in India setting up a public health program before relocating to Portland, Oregon
, where he transferred to Portland State University
and earned another bachelor's degree, this time in biology. Now married to Judy, who was attending law school, Bauman drove taxis and worked as a home remodeler while helping raise the couple's two daughters. Bauman applied to Oregon Health Sciences University with hopes of becoming a doctor, but was not admitted.
's 1976 Presidential campaign
. In 1978, Bauman was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
, representing District 11 in Portland. He was re-elected three times (his district was renumbered to District 13 in 1983) and was elected speaker pro tempore
twice. An outspoken progressive and opponent of nuclear power
, Bauman demonstrated for the closing of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
in 1979.
In 1979, Bauman announced a run for the United States House of Representatives
for Oregon's 3rd congressional district
, but later withdrew and sought re-election to the Oregon House. In 1981, he ran unsuccessfully for the Portland school board, and in 1983, announced his intention to run for Portland mayor, but again withdrew and ran again for his Oregon House seat.
In 1986, Bauman resigned his seat in favor of his wife to run for the Democratic nomination in the 1986 U.S. Senate election in Oregon
. To draw attention to his candidacy, he hiked across the state from California to Washington, but came in third in a race won by U.S. Congressman Jim Weaver. However, after the primaries, a House Ethics Committee
probe into Weaver's campaign finances led him to withdrew his candidacy and the Oregon Democratic State Central Committee selected Bauman to replace Weaver on the ballot in August, just 10 weeks before the general election against three-term incumbent Bob Packwood
. Packwood went on to defeat Bauman 58%–42%.
Following his loss in the Senate race, Bauman began working with the poor and homeless in Portland, organizing vigils and protests to draw attention to their plight. In 1987, he staged a solid-food fast to urge the Oregon Legislature
to increase funding for social services, ending it when Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt
proposed funding increases. Bauman became vice chairman of the Burnside Community Council, a service center for homeless adults in Portland, but later resigned in protest after the council voted to keep secret a report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against the founder of the council; Bauman opposed the decision.
Bauman was elected to the Multnomah County
Board of Commissioners in 1988. In 1990, Bauman was the target of a recall campaign after he wrote a controversial gun control law, but survived the recall. Two years later, he was defeated for re-election to the commission board by Tanya Collier.
. In 1994, he organized Cycle Vietnam, the first large-scale American bicycle tour of that country. In 1996, Bauman created Portland Bridge Pedal, a bicycle tour with a route over all 10 Portland bridges that cross the Willamette River
. Bauman said he was inspired to organize such an event after he had a view of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
from the Marquam Bridge in his car and thought bicyclists should have a chance to enjoy the views normally available only to drivers. The first event drew 7,500 riders; Providence Health & Services began sponsoring the event a year later and renamed it the Providence Bridge Pedal. By 2007, the tour was the third-largest of the largest organized cycle tours in the world, behind New York City's Five Boro Bike Tour
and Montreal
's Tour de l'Île. Bauman is still involved with the event.
system, and now the chief librarian of the District of Columbia Public Library
system.
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...
who served 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....
and on the 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...
Board of Commissioners in the 1980s. He was also the Democratic nominee for United State Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Oregon in 1986. After retiring from politics in 1992, Bauman began organizing bicycle tours and was a founder of Portland Bridge Pedal, an annual bicycle tour crossing all the bridges in Portland.
Early life and career
Bauman was born in Marinette, WisconsinMarinette, Wisconsin
Marinette is a city in and the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,749 at the 2000 census.Marinette is the principal city of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee...
and is the grandson of Harvey V. Higley
Harvey V. Higley
Harvey V. Higley was born in Cheshire, Ohio, and studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating in October 1915. After serving in World War I he went to work for the Ansul Chemical Company of Marinette, Wisconsin, which specialized in making fire retardant chemicals...
, who served as Veteran's Administration director under President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. Bauman moved with his family to Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
where he graduated from high school, and then enrolled at UC Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
where he received a bachelor's degree in anthropology. Bauman spent a year in India setting up a public health program before relocating to 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...
, where he transferred to 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...
and earned another bachelor's degree, this time in biology. Now married to Judy, who was attending law school, Bauman drove taxis and worked as a home remodeler while helping raise the couple's two daughters. Bauman applied to Oregon Health Sciences University with hopes of becoming a doctor, but was not admitted.
Political career
Having been energized by liberal Democratic politics while at UC Santa Cruz, Bauman worked on Jerry BrownJerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
's 1976 Presidential campaign
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1976
The 1976 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 1976 U.S. presidential election...
. In 1978, Bauman was elected to 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....
, representing District 11 in Portland. He was re-elected three times (his district was renumbered to District 13 in 1983) and was elected speaker pro tempore
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
twice. An outspoken progressive and opponent of nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
, Bauman demonstrated for the closing of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Trojan Nuclear Power Plant was a pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant located southeast of Rainier, Oregon, United States, and the only commercial nuclear power plant to be built in Oregon. After sixteen years of service it was closed by its operator, Portland General Electric , almost...
in 1979.
In 1979, Bauman announced a run for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district
Oregon's 3rd congressional district covers most of Multnomah County, including Portland east of the Willamette River, Gresham, and Troutdale. It also includes the northern part of Clackamas County, including Milwaukie. Parts of northwest Portland also lie within the district...
, but later withdrew and sought re-election to the Oregon House. In 1981, he ran unsuccessfully for the Portland school board, and in 1983, announced his intention to run for Portland mayor, but again withdrew and ran again for his Oregon House seat.
In 1986, Bauman resigned his seat in favor of his wife to run for the Democratic nomination in the 1986 U.S. Senate election in Oregon
United States Senate election in Oregon, 1986
The 1986 United States Senate election in Oregon was held on November 8, 1986. Incumbent Bob Packwood ran for re-election. U.S. Congressman Jim Weaver received the Democratic nomination. A populist Democratic congressman from Eugene, Oregon, he was a darling of the environmentalists. Weaver...
. To draw attention to his candidacy, he hiked across the state from California to Washington, but came in third in a race won by U.S. Congressman Jim Weaver. However, after the primaries, a House Ethics Committee
United States House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
The Committee on Ethics, often known simply as the Ethics Committee, is one of the committees of the United States House of Representatives. Prior to the 112th Congress it was known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct....
probe into Weaver's campaign finances led him to withdrew his candidacy and the Oregon Democratic State Central Committee selected Bauman to replace Weaver on the ballot in August, just 10 weeks before the general election against three-term incumbent Bob Packwood
Bob Packwood
Robert William "Bob" Packwood is a U.S. politician from Oregon and a member of the Republican Party. He resigned from the United States Senate, under threat of expulsion, in 1995 after allegations of sexual harassment, abuse and assault of women emerged.-Early life and career:Packwood was born in...
. Packwood went on to defeat Bauman 58%–42%.
Following his loss in the Senate race, Bauman began working with the poor and homeless in Portland, organizing vigils and protests to draw attention to their plight. In 1987, he staged a solid-food fast to urge the Oregon Legislature
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...
to increase funding for social services, ending it when Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt
Neil Goldschmidt
Neil Edward Goldschmidt is an American businessman and former Democratic politician from Oregon who held local, state, and federal offices over three decades. After serving as the governor of Oregon, Goldschmidt is widely considered the most influential figure in the state's politics, both as an...
proposed funding increases. Bauman became vice chairman of the Burnside Community Council, a service center for homeless adults in Portland, but later resigned in protest after the council voted to keep secret a report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against the founder of the council; Bauman opposed the decision.
Bauman was elected to the 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...
Board of Commissioners in 1988. In 1990, Bauman was the target of a recall campaign after he wrote a controversial gun control law, but survived the recall. Two years later, he was defeated for re-election to the commission board by Tanya Collier.
Bicycle tours
Following his loss, Bauman announced that he was finished with politics and began organizing bicycle toursBicycle touring
Bicycle touring is cycling over long distances – prioritizing pleasure and endurance over utility or speed. Touring can range from single day 'supported' rides — e.g., rides to benefit charities — where provisions are available to riders at stops along the route, to multi-day...
. In 1994, he organized Cycle Vietnam, the first large-scale American bicycle tour of that country. In 1996, Bauman created Portland Bridge Pedal, a bicycle tour with a route over all 10 Portland bridges that cross the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
. Bauman said he was inspired to organize such an event after he had a view of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, a stratovolcano located in Washington state, in the United States, was a major volcanic eruption. The eruption was the only significant one to occur in the contiguous 48 U.S. states since the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California...
from the Marquam Bridge in his car and thought bicyclists should have a chance to enjoy the views normally available only to drivers. The first event drew 7,500 riders; Providence Health & Services began sponsoring the event a year later and renamed it the Providence Bridge Pedal. By 2007, the tour was the third-largest of the largest organized cycle tours in the world, behind New York City's Five Boro Bike Tour
Five Boro Bike Tour
The Five Boro Bike Tour is the largest recreational cycling event in the United States. It is produced by Bike New York. Every year on the first Sunday of May, over 30,000 riders participate in the ride around New York City...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
's Tour de l'Île. Bauman is still involved with the event.
Personal
Bauman divorced Judy Bauman in 1987, and has since remarried twice. He is currently married to Ginnie Cooper, formerly the head librarian of the Multnomah County LibraryMultnomah County Library
Multnomah County Library is a public library system serving Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. Started in 1864, the system has 19 library locations with books, magazines, DVDs, and computers. It is the largest library system in Oregon serving a population of 724,680, with more than 425,000...
system, and now the chief librarian of the District of Columbia Public Library
District of Columbia Public Library
The District of Columbia Public Library is the public library system for residents of Washington, D.C. The system includes 25 individual libraries including Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library .-History:...
system.