Raymond Merrick

Political career

Merrick served in Kansas Senate District 37 from 2011 to 2013. Shortly after the 2010 general election, when District 37 Sen. Jeff Colyer was elected lieutenant governor, Merrick was elected by Republican precinct committee members to fill the remainder of Colyer's term. After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for House District 27, with the expressed intent of being elected House speaker.

Merrick previously served in the Kansas House from January 6, 2000 to January 2011. Merrick served as House majority leader from 2007-2010, as speaker pro tempore from 2004-2006, and as assistant majority leader from 2002-2004.

Background

After college, Merrick was in the United States Marine Corps for several years and then began a career in sales for Folger's Coffee. He founded and owns MJM Management Company, a property management company for shopping centers in the growing southern suburban Kansas City region. Johnson County, Kansas. He previously served as senior vice president/general manager for both the Myron Green Cafeterias Company and Treat America.

He is married to Phyllis Merrick, lives in Stilwell and holds a business administration degree from Washburn University of Topeka.

Issue positions

Merrick has been described by the state's largest newspaper, the Wichita Eagle, as being from the "conservative faction of the Republican Party."

Merrick's website lists some of his major goals as "tougher restrictions on sexual predators," "protecting Blue Valley and Olathe school districts," and "advocating responsible government and protecting our tax dollars."

As Kansas House Speaker in 2013, he focused House attention on tax and budget matters, cutting both, to the exclusion of most other issues.

Controversy

In a November 2014 interview with the state's largest newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, Merrick stated 'Government workers produce nothing,' following it up with further comments to underscore their burden upon society. The remarks stimulated an intense backlash, particularly from government workers representatives and the Kansas Democratic Party (who circulated a petition calling for Merrick's departure from the Speaker's seat). Merrick subsequently mollified the remark with positive comments about public service employees.

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Merrick served on these House committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Merrick served on these Senate committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Merrick served on these House committees:

2015

Speaker Merrick currently serves on the following House committees:

2008

On November 4, 2008, Merrick was re-elected to the 27th District Seat in the Kansas House of Representatives, defeating Becky Ansley (D).

2010

Merrick won re-election to the 27th District seat in the November 2, 2010 general election, with no opposition. He was also unopposed in the GOP primary.

2012

After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for the House 27 seat held Charlotte O'Hara, R-Overland Park. Merrick ran unopposed in the August 7 Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election, on November 6, 2012. He was elected speaker of the House in a three-way race on Dec. 2, 2012.

O'Hara filed for the Kansas Senate District 37 seat being vacated in 2012 by Merrick. She placed second in a three-way Republican primary. Republican District 37 nominee Pat Apple, the District 12 incumbent, was unopposed in the November 6, 2012 general election.

Memberships

Sponsored legislation

Major donors

The top five business donors to Merrick's 2010 campaign were all professional organizations and corporations: