Dave Hunt (Oregon politician)

Early years

Dave Hunt was born in Port Angeles, Washington to Karin and Harley Hunt on November 10, 1967. He attended Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon and New York City's Columbia University where he majored in political science.

Following college he worked as a staff member for three members of Congress: Louise Slaughter, Brian Baird, and Darlene Hooley.

By profession, Hunt served from 2001-13 as Executive Director of the Columbia River Channel Coalition and the Association of Pacific Ports. In 2013, he was named President and CEO of the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, an association of over 200 defense and security businesses across the Northwest.

Hunt married Tonia in 1992 and they have two children: Andrew (born in 1995) and Emily (born in 1999).

Start of political career

In 1999, Hunt was elected to the Oregon City School Board, and served there until 2003. He also served a two-year term (2002–03) as the youngest-ever National President of American Baptist Churches USA, an organization with over 5,000 churches and 1.3 million members. He also previously served on the Clackamas County Committee for Citizen Involvement.

Hunt represented the people of northern Clackamas County, which includes the communities of Gladstone, Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge, Johnson City, and North Clackamas.

In November 2008, Hunt was re-elected to a fourth term in the Oregon House and was subsequently elected to the position of Speaker of the Oregon House for the 2009–2011 legislative session. In November 2010, Hunt was re-elected to a fifth term in the Oregon House and was subsequently elected as House Democratic Leader.

He chaired the House Transportation and Economic Development Committee as well as the House Rules Committee and served on the House Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Trade and Economic Development, Head Start, Campaign Finance Reform, and Elections, Ethics and Rules committees. His support and advocacy in animal-related measures saw him labeled as a 2011 "Top Dog" by the Oregon Humane Society.

Jobs

He increased loans and grants for small businesses needing capital, invested in emerging industries, broadened research and development tax credits, streamlined regulations, expanded industrial lands, increased sustainable timber harvesting in state forests, and authored the law creating “Oregon Business Xpress” (a one-stop shop for businesses).

Education

Passed major expansion of Head Start and Relief Nurseries, reinvigorated career/technical education programs and facilities in high schools and community colleges, reformed the "double majority" election requirement to improve school facilities, amended the Oregon Constitution to allow state K-12 capital funding, authorized construction excise fees so new housing developments help fund school facilities, passed record investments in community college facilities on all 17 Oregon campuses, increased college financial aid by 72%, and allowed greater flexibility for Oregon universities.

Transportation

Passed the historic 2009 Jobs and Transportation Act (the largest jobs bill in Oregon history), funded the long-awaited Sunrise Highway Corridor in Clackamas County and the Highway 213 Jughandle project in Oregon City, created ConnectOregon to improve air, rail, and marine infrastructure, required the removal of unsafe school buses, and re-opened the Government Camp Rest Area on Highway 26.

Health Care

Enacted Healthy Kids Act in 2009 to provide health insurance to 90,000 uninsured children and 30,000 low-income adults, a prescription drug bulk purchasing pool for seniors, the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange to reduce costs for small businesses and consumers, mental health parity to ensure mental health care is covered by insurance companies, and a law strengthening organ donor rights.

Public Safety

Restored 24/7 Oregon State Police highway coverage after 15 years of drastic cuts, successfully cracked down on methamphetamines and metal theft, authored two new laws to prevent drunk driving by requiring offenders to install ignition interlock devices, protected child abuse funding, changed the domestic violence funding formula so local services get a fairer share, eliminated spiritual beliefs as a defense for refusing health treatment for children, and began to shift greater resources to crime prevention.

Environment

Helped businesses and homes become energy efficient, passed Ballot Measure 49 to bring greater balance to land use laws, modernized Oregon’s Bottle Bill, enacted new renewable energy and low carbon fuel standards to improve air quality, invested in wave energy, and increased protections for Oregon fish and sportfishermen by cracking down on California sea lions.

Veteran affairs

Served on the first Oregon Veterans Committee in 50 years, funded new Veterans Service Officers across Oregon to double local services, passed a renter’s tax credit for low-income veterans and returning soldiers and a property tax exemption for disabled vets, expanded educational opportunities for vets, created a second Veterans Home, increased transportation services, created an emergency fund for military families, and enabled service members to more easily vote in elections even when stationed in a war zone.

Human Services

Expanded farmer’s market vouchers for low-income families and seniors, provided more school breakfasts and lunches, more summer meals for hungry kids, and Oregon Project Independence for seniors at home.

Civil Rights

Passed anti-discrimination law to protect LGBT Oregonians and domestic partnerships. Authored the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act to allow greater religious freedom in Oregon workplaces and repealed a 1923 KKK-inspired law that disallowed teachers from wearing religious garb in the classroom.

Fiscal responsibility

Created Oregon’s first Rainy Day Fund to protect services during recessions as well as a pro-active review of tax breaks each biennium. Reformed campaign finance laws to increase transparency, ethics laws, and the “double majority” election requirement to enable local voters to fairly pass local measures.

Legislative Reform

Reduced the size of the legislative budget and the length of legislative sessions, while increasing productivity and public access. Created regular legislative committee days to streamline committee operations during legislative interim periods. Oversaw implementation of the first permanent annual legislative session.

Hunt chose to not run for re-election to the House in 2012 and was replaced by fellow Democrat Brent Barton.

Post-legislative career

In 2015, Hunt was elected to the board of Clackamas Community College.