Laurie Monnes Anderson

Infobox Politician
name= Laurie Monnes Anderson


imagesize=
state_senate= Oregon
district = 25^th
term= 2005–
preceded= John Minnis
succeeded=
state_house2= Oregon
district2 = 50^th
term2= 2001–2005
preceded2= Ron Sunseri
succeeded2= John Lim
date of birth= December 31 1945
place of birth= Coronado, California
date of death=
place of death=
party= Democrat
spouse=
profession= Nurse (retired)
religion= Methodist
footnotes=

Laurie Monnes Anderson (born December 31 1945) is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. She currently serves 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 is seeking reelection in the 2008 Oregon legislative elections.

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.cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.or.us/monnesanderson/bio.htm|title=Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson|publisher=Oregon State Legislature|accessdate=2008-09-25] cite news|title=A daughter’s care of Dad|url=http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=121340811036909200| last=Stine|first=Mara|date=2008-06-14|work=The Outlook (Gresham)] 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.cite web|title=Laurie Monnes Anderson|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=23811|publisher=Project VoteSmart|accessdate=2008-10-01] She married and raised two children, later divorcing in 1985.

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.cite news|title=Concerns surround Sunseri as House Education chairman|date=1999-01-04|work=The Oregonian|last=Stern|first=Henry] In 2000, Sunseri did not seek re-election, and Monnes Anderson defeated Republican nominee Ed Golobay for the seat in a close election.cite news|title=Monnes Anderson holding slim edge in House District 22|date=2000-11-08|work=The Oregonian|last=Stern|first=Henry] She was re-elected to the seat (renumbered to District 50) by a wide margin in 2002 over Ernest Hodgin.cite news|title=How Oregon Voted|date=2002-11-10|work=The Oregonian]

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.cite news|title=Monnes Anderson wins pivotal state Senate seat|date=2004-11-03|work=The Oregonian|last=Trevison|first=Catherine]

She is seeking reelection in 2008 and was unopposed for her party's nomination. She faces Republican Dave Kim in the general election.

Personal

Monnes Anderson lives in Gresham, Oregon. She is a first cousin of cartoonist Matt Groening (her mother, Ellene Groening Monnes, was a sister of Matt's father Homer).cite news|title=Lawmaker feels void after mother's death|date=2004-11-19|work=The Oregonian|last=Mortenson|first=Eric]

References

External links

* [http://www.leg.state.or.us/monnesanderson/ Legislative website]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=23811 Project VoteSmart biography]