Dennis Richardson
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Dennis Richardson (b. July 30, 1949) was the Oregon secretary of state from 2016 to 2019. Richardson was elected to the position in the general election on November 8, 2016, giving Republicans control of the seat for the first time in over three decades. He passed away after battling cancer on February 26, 2019.[1] Richardson had been diagnosed with brain cancer and was undergoing treatment at the time of his death.[2]
Richardson was a Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 4 from 2003 to 2015.
Richardson also previously ran for governor of Oregon in 2014.[3] Dennis Richardson lost the general election on November 4, 2014.
In February 2015, two of Richardson's campaign staffers initiated a recall against Democratic opponent and incumbent Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) due to concerns over ethics violations in his administration. Kitzhaber resigned from office on February 13, 2015, effective February 18.[4] Click here to learn more about the investigation.[5]
Biography
Richardson earned his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1976. He earned his J.D. from J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, in 1979. His professional experience included working as an attorney and owning Dennis Richardson and Associates, Professional Corporation, Law Firm. Richardson served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971.[6]
Before winning a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives, Richardson served on the city council of Central Point, Oregon. From 1996 to 2000, Richardson served as chairman for the Oregon Republican Party's Second Congressional District. From 1999 to 2003, he served as treasurer for the Oregon State Republican Party.[6]
Political career
Oregon Secretary of State (2016-2019)
Richardson was elected as Oregon secretary of state on November 8, 2016. He assumed office on December 30, 2016.[7] Richardson's election gave Republicans control of the seat for the first time in over three decades. Richardson passed away after battling cancer on February 26, 2019, while still in office.[1]
June 2017 request for voter rolls
On June 29, 2017, the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which had been created by President Donald Trump on May 11, requested information on registered voters from all 50 states dating back to 2006. The states were given until July 14 to respond. On June 30, Secretary Richardson announced that the state would provide only publicly available information to the commission.
| “ | Oregon policy prohibits disclosure of some of the information that you requested, such as social security numbers and drivers' license numbers...It is my duty to follow these statutes.[8] | ” |
| —Secretary Dennis Richardson[9] | ||
Oregon House of Representatives (2003-2015)
Richardson represented District 4 in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2003 to 2015.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Richardson served on the following committees:
| Oregon committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Consumer Protection and Government Efficiency |
| • Ways and Means, Co-Vice Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Richardson served on these committees:
| Oregon committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Fujian Sister State |
| • Legislative Administration |
| • Joint Legislative Counsel |
| • Ways and Means |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Richardson served on these committees:
| Oregon committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Legislative Administration |
| • Sustainability and Economic Development |
| • Ways and Means |
Elections
2016
- Main article: Oregon Secretary of State election, 2016
Richardson ran for secretary of state in the 2016 election. He defeated fellow Republican Sid Leiken in the Republican primary election on May 17, 2016. He competed in the November general election with Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries Brad Avakian (D, Progressive, Working Families), Independent Party of Oregon candidate Paul Damian Wells, Sharon Durbin (Lib.), Constitution Party candidate Michael P. Marsh, and Pacific Green Party of Oregon candidate Alan Zundel.
Incumbent Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins did not run in 2016. Atkins was appointed as a caretaker to temporarily fill the position left vacant when former Secretary of State Kate Brown became governor in 2015.[10]
The following candidates ran in the Oregon secretary of state election.[11]
| Oregon Secretary of State, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Dennis Richardson |
47.44% | 892,669 | |
| Democratic/Progressive/Working Families | Brad Avakian | 43.27% | 814,089 | |
| Independent Party of Oregon | Paul Damian Wells | 3.45% | 64,956 | |
| Pacific Green Party of Oregon | Alan Zundel | 2.53% | 47,576 | |
| Libertarian | Sharon Durbin | 2.50% | 46,975 | |
| Constitution Party | Michael P. Marsh | 0.81% | 15,269 | |
| Total Votes | 1,881,534 | |||
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State | ||||
Dennis Richardson defeated Sid Leiken in the Republican primary for secretary of state.
| Republican primary for secretary of state, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Dennis Richardson |
77.93% | 229,325 |
| Sid Leiken | 21.49% | 63,247 |
| Write-in votes | 0.58% | 1,715 |
| Total Votes | 294,287 | |
| Source: http://oregonvotes.gov/results/2016P/1521964421.html | ||
Campaign finance
| Dennis Richardson campaign finance 2016 |
|---|
2014
- See also: Oregon gubernatorial election, 2014
Richardson ran for election as Governor of Oregon. Richardson won the Republican nomination in the primary. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.[3]
Results
Primary election
| Governor of Oregon, Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Dennis Richardson |
65.9% | 163,695 | ||
| Gordon Challstrom | 9.9% | 24,693 | ||
| Bruce Cuff | 9.6% | 23,912 | ||
| Mae Rafferty | 6.8% | 16,920 | ||
| Tim Carr | 6% | 14,847 | ||
| Darren Karr | 1% | 2,474 | ||
| Write-ins | 0.8% | 2,011 | ||
| Total Votes | 248,552 | |||
| Election results via Oregon Secretary of State. | ||||
General election
| Governor of Oregon, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Kitzhaber Incumbent |
49.9% | 733,230 | |
| Republican | Dennis Richardson | 44.1% | 648,542 | |
| Pacific Green | Jason Levin | 2% | 29,561 | |
| Libertarian | Paul Grad | 1.5% | 21,903 | |
| Constitution | Aaron Auer | 1.1% | 15,929 | |
| Progressive | Chris Henry | 0.9% | 13,898 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.5% | 6,654 | |
| Total Votes | 1,469,717 | |||
| Election results via Oregon Secretary of State | ||||
Race background
Incumbent John Kitzhaber previously served as Governor of Oregon from 1995 to 2003 and was running for a fourth non-consecutive term in 2014. He highlighted taxes and job creation.[12][13]
Republican opponent Dennis Richardson and his supporters highlighted a false start for the state's Cover Oregon health exchange that reportedly cost taxpayers $250 million.[14]
Kitzhaber also drew criticism over potential conflicts of interest by first lady and advisor Cylvia Hayes. Richardson echoed these concerns. Kitzhaber requested an investigation by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission into whether Hayes leveraged her role in the governor's office to improve her consulting business.[14] The seven-member ethics commission had no scheduled meetings prior to the November 4 general election.[15] To read more about the story, click here.
2012
Richardson won re-election in the 2012 election for Oregon House of Representatives District 4. Richardson was unopposed in the May 15 Republican primary and defeated Rick Hake (C) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[16][17][18]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dennis Richardson Incumbent |
87.5% | 21,284 | |
| Constitution | Rick Hake | 12.5% | 3,047 | |
| Total Votes | 24,331 | |||
2010
Richardson won re-election to District 4 in 2010. He had no primary opposition, and defeated Richard Levine (D) in the general election which took place on November 2, 2010.[19][20]
| Oregon State House, District 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Dennis Richardson (R)
|
17,495 | |||
| Richard Levine (D) | 7,279 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Richardson won re-election to Oregon State House District 1.[21][22]
Richardson raised $65,789 for his campaign.[23]
| Oregon State House District 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Dennis Richardson (R)
|
19,641 | |||
| Wangle (I) | 8,053 | |||
| Misc. | 116 | |||
Campaign themes
2016
Richardson's campaign website included the following positions:
| “ |
Audits As the chief auditor of Oregon, the Secretary of State has an important duty to provide taxpayers with an accounting of how government is or isn’t working. In recent years, this position has been underutilized and failed to assess, disclose and prevent the waste of hundreds of millions of dollars in numerous failed projects like Cover Oregon and the Columbia River Crossing. If the Secretary of State auditors were to over-see large-scale projects and ensure accountability every step of the way, it could prevent millions of dollars in future waste. Elections As the chief elections officer, the Secretary of State plays a key role in protecting the rights of citizens to vote and petition their government. Dennis believes that campaign finance in Oregon needs reform and will work with stakeholders to propose legislation that brings more transparency to our elections. Over 440,000 Oregonians are registered with the Secretary of State as being “inactive”, and therefore, do not receive a ballot. Dennis will work with county clerks to make sure every citizen who wants to vote will get the opportunity to cast a ballot. Dennis believes citizens have the right to petition their government. He’ll work to make the initiative process more transparent and citizen friendly. He’ll advocate for fair and non-partisan ballot titling by proposing a citizen’s commission on ballot titling, which would remove the process from partisan hands. Oregon has a rich history of minor political parties participating in politics. Dennis will work to ensure Oregon’s minor political parties have a seat at the table. He’ll support legislation that will allow all parties to have access to taxpayer-funded primary elections, if they choose to use that process. Oregon voters expect honesty in the voter pamphlet, yet only a few lines are subject to truth in advertising under Oregon law. Dennis will collaborate with the legislature to ensure that candidates for office are held accountable for their entire voter pamphlet statement, not just the introductory information. The Corporation Division As a business owner and a volunteer helping people struggling to find work, Dennis knows that a family-wage job is the key to solving many of the issues facing Oregonians. From affordable housing to putting food on the table, a prosperous life starts with a good job. That’s why as the head of the Oregon Corporation Division, Dennis will roll out the welcome mat for businesses seeking to settle in Oregon, and work to expand existing businesses. He’ll make sure Oregon businesses have a voice and the risk that business owners put forth to hire their neighbors is respected. Oregon’s businesses are a partner with the state – respecting their contributions and facilitating their success means all Oregonians rise together. The Archivist Office One of the unique features of the Secretary of State’s role is to ensure the public record is maintained. The recent events in Oregon around public records have shown the need for more access to government documents by individual citizens and the press. The need exists for an office where government whistleblowers can be protected when they come forward with information about corruption and wrongdoing by a state agency or an elected official. Dennis will work to personally meet with public employees who bring forth their concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse in government, giving them the protection they deserve. As the Secretary of State, Dennis will prioritize helping local governments get set up to use the TRIM system—the archiving software used by the Secretary of State to better maintain and disseminate public records. The State Lands Board As Secretary of State, Dennis will have a vote on the State Lands Board, and will support decisions that use our natural resources in a balanced manner for job creation. After several recent lengthy and expensive fire seasons, Dennis knows the citizens who are affected during fire season want better management of our state forests and range lands. With better management, we can preserve our forests and protect them from devastating and costly forest fires, and the tragic loss of homes, businesses, personal property and wildlife. When considering votes on land use issues, Dennis will focus on obtaining maximum value from our natural resources, while preserving the beauty and heritage of our state’s environmental resources for future generations.[24][8] |
” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Oregon scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2014
In 2014, the 77th Oregon State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 3 to March 10.
- Oregon Farm Bureau: 2014 State Legislative Summary
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to family farmers and ranchers.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 77th Oregon State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 4 to July 9.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 76th Oregon State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 1 to March 6.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 76th Oregon State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 1 to June 30.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Dennis Richardson was born August 30, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Central Point, Oregon. He was married to Cathy Richardson. They had nine children.[6]
Organizations
- Delegate, Citizens for America, 1984.
Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees
- Chair, Budget Committee, School District 6.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Dennis Richardson Oregon Secretary of STate. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Oregon | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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|
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- Oregon House of Representatives
- House Committees
- Oregon State Legislature
- Joint Committees
- Oregon state legislative districts
External links
- Campaign Website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions, 2002-2012
- Representative Richardson's Facebook
- Representative Richardson's Youtube Channel
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Oregon Secretary of State, "Secretary of State Dennis Richardson's Courageous Battle with Cancer Comes to a Close," February 27, 2019
- ↑ Governing, "Oregon Secretary of State Diagnosed With Brain Cancer," June 7, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Oregon Live, "Oregon Rep. Dennis Richardson announces run for governor," July 24, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber resigns amid ethics investigations," February 13, 2015
- ↑ Governing, "Oregon AG Launches Criminal Investigation of Gov. Kitzhaber and His Fiancee," February 10, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Rep. Richardson," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ OregonLive.com, "Dennis Richardson sworn in as Oregon Secretary of State, breaking 30-year drought of Republicans in the office," December 30, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Letter to Secretary Kris Kobach," June 30, 2017
- ↑ The Oregonian, Jeff Mapes, "Kate Brown finds a caretaker by appointing Jeanne Atkins as Oregon secretary of state," accessed October 19, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes," accessed May 25, 2017
- ↑ Statesman Journal, "Kitzhaber's 2014 campaign will focus on tax reform," January 8, 2014
- ↑ KGW Portland, "Kitzhaber announces bid for historic 4th term," January 8, 2014
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Willamette Week, "First Lady Inc.," October 8, 2014
- ↑ KGW, "Kitzhaber requests ethics review of Cylvia Hayes," October 15, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2012 Candidate Filings for the House," accessed May 24, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official Results for May 15 Primary election," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Official General Results for 2012," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2010 Oregon Primary Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2010 General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2008 Oregon Primary Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "2008 General Election Results," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Campaign contributions," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Dennis Richardson for Secretary of State, "Issues," accessed March 11, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jeanne Atkins (D) |
Oregon Secretary of State 2016-2019 |
Succeeded by Bev Clarno (R) |
| Preceded by ' |
Oregon House of Representatives - District 4 2003-2015 |
Succeeded by Duane Stark (R) |
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