Rod Monroe
Encyclopedia
Rod Monroe is a Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon
. He currently serves in the Oregon Senate, representing District 24 in the middle part of Multnomah County
, which includes most of eastern Portland
and the city of Happy Valley
.
, Monroe was raised in Oregon and graduated from Portland
's Franklin High School
in 1960. He attended college at Warner Pacific College
and received bachelor's and master's degrees from Portland State College (now Portland State University
) in 1965 and 1969 respectively. He became a teacher at Tigard High School
in Tigard, Oregon
in 1965, teaching history and government and later served on the David Douglas school board
.
, representing District 12 in Portland. He served two terms and then was elected to the Oregon Senate in 1980, representing the 7th district in Portland. He was re-elected to a second Senate term in 1984. During this legislative tenure, Monroe was known for sponsoring safety-oriented legislation, such as mandatory seat belt laws, tougher drunk driving legislation, and bans on indoor smoking.
Monroe ran for the Democratic nomination in the 1986 U.S. Senate election in Oregon
, but came in second behind Jim Weaver.
In 1988, he lost a close election in the Democratic primary to Oregon House Majority Leader Shirley Gold, who had been elected to Monroe's seat when he was elected to the Senate. In the 1990 Democratic primary, Monroe sought to upset incumbent Judy Bauman for a seat in the Oregon House, but he was narrowly defeated.
In 1992, Monroe was elected to the council of Oregon's regional governmental agency, Metro
. He served three terms where he advocated for federal funding of light rail
projects and the Portland Streetcar
, as well as for biking and pedestrian trails such as the Springwater Corridor
. In 2004, he was defeated for a fourth term by environmentalist Robert Liberty.
In Oregon's 2006 legislative elections, Monroe was again elected to the Oregon Senate in the District 24 seat vacated by the retiring Frank Shields.
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 currently serves in the Oregon Senate, representing District 24 in the middle part of 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...
, which includes most of eastern Portland
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...
and the city of Happy Valley
Happy Valley, Oregon
Happy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 4,519 at the 2000 census.-History:Happy Valley was originally called Christilla Valley, named after the first residents, Christian and Matilda Deardorff. They arrived in 1851 and claimed on the floor of the...
.
Early life and career
Born in McBride, British ColumbiaMcBride, British Columbia
Situated on the Yellowhead Highway , McBride is a small community in the Robson Valley region of British Columbia, Canada, located southeast of Prince George, west of the Alberta border, and west of Jasper, Alberta....
, Monroe was raised in Oregon and graduated from Portland
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...
's Franklin High School
Franklin High School (Oregon)
Benjamin Franklin High School is a public high school in Portland, Oregon, United States. Franklin is located in central southeast Portland in the South Tabor neighborhood, at the foot of Mt. Tabor.-History:...
in 1960. He attended college at Warner Pacific College
Warner Pacific College
Warner Pacific College is an urban, Christian liberal arts college located in Southeast Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1937, the college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities...
and received bachelor's and master's degrees from Portland State College (now 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...
) in 1965 and 1969 respectively. He became a teacher at Tigard High School
Tigard High School
Tigard High School is a public high school located in Tigard, Oregon, United States.-Academics:Tigard High School has offered the International Baccalaureate curriculum since January 1987....
in Tigard, Oregon
Tigard, Oregon
Tigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
in 1965, teaching history and government and later served on the David Douglas school board
David Douglas School District
David Douglas School District is a school district located in eastern Portland, Oregon, United States. It was formed in 1959 as a consolidation of the Gilbert, Powellhurst, and Russellville elementary school districts and the David Douglas Union High School District...
.
Political career
In 1976, Monroe was elected to 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....
, representing District 12 in Portland. He served two terms and then was elected to the Oregon Senate in 1980, representing the 7th district in Portland. He was re-elected to a second Senate term in 1984. During this legislative tenure, Monroe was known for sponsoring safety-oriented legislation, such as mandatory seat belt laws, tougher drunk driving legislation, and bans on indoor smoking.
Monroe ran 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...
, but came in second behind Jim Weaver.
In 1988, he lost a close election in the Democratic primary to Oregon House Majority Leader Shirley Gold, who had been elected to Monroe's seat when he was elected to the Senate. In the 1990 Democratic primary, Monroe sought to upset incumbent Judy Bauman for a seat in the Oregon House, but he was narrowly defeated.
In 1992, Monroe was elected to the council of Oregon's regional governmental agency, Metro
Metro (Oregon regional government)
Metro, formerly known as Metropolitan Service District, is the regional governmental agency for the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan area...
. He served three terms where he advocated for federal funding of light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
projects and the Portland Streetcar
Portland Streetcar
The Portland Streetcar is a streetcar system in Portland, Oregon, that opened in 2001 and serves areas surrounding downtown Portland. It is currently a single line that is almost long and serves some 12,000 daily riders, but a second line is expected to open in 2012.As with the heavier-duty MAX...
, as well as for biking and pedestrian trails such as the Springwater Corridor
Springwater Corridor
The Springwater Corridor Trail is a bicycle and pedestrian rail trail in the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon, United States. It follows a former railway line of the same name in its route from Boring, through Gresham, to Portland, where it ends near the Eastbank Esplanade. A large segment...
. In 2004, he was defeated for a fourth term by environmentalist Robert Liberty.
In Oregon's 2006 legislative elections, Monroe was again elected to the Oregon Senate in the District 24 seat vacated by the retiring Frank Shields.