Richard Devlin (politician)

Richard Devlin (born September 9, 1952) is an American politician who served in the Oregon State Senate from 2003 to 2018, representing the 19th Senate district.

Richard Devlin
Devlin in 2009
Member of the Oregon State Senate
from the 19th district
In office
January 2003 – January 16, 2018
Preceded byRandy Miller
Succeeded byRob Wagner
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 38th district
In office
January 1997 – January 2003
Preceded byBob Tiernan
Succeeded byGreg Macpherson
Personal details
Born (1952-09-09) September 9, 1952 (age 71)
Eugene, Oregon
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseEliza Devlin
Children2
Alma materPortland State University (BS)
Pepperdine University (MA)

Early life and education

Devlin was born in Eugene. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Portland State University in 1976 and a Master of Arts in Management from Pepperdine University in 1980.[1][2]

Career

He has worked in adult and juvenile corrections and as a civil and criminal investigator.[2]

From 1985 to 1988, Devlin was a member of the Tualatin City Council. In 1988, he was elected to the Metro Council, serving on it until 1995.[1] In 1994, Devlin won the Democratic nomination to the Oregon House of Representatives representing the 24th district, but lost in the general election to Republican Bob Tiernan.[3] In 1996, Devlin again faced Tiernan, but this time, defeated him.[4] Devlin was re-elected to the Oregon House in 1998 and 2000.

In 2002, Devlin ran for the Oregon State Senate to represent the 19th senate district; again, he faced Tiernan in the general election, and narrowly defeated him by a margin of 50% to 47%.[5] He was re-elected to another 4-year term in 2006.

In the Senate, Devlin has served on the Joint Ways and Means Committee and has chaired the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education and the Subcommittee on Natural Resources.[2] He served as Senate Majority Leader from 2007 to 2010, succeeding Kate Brown, who successfully ran for Oregon Secretary of State.[2][6]

Devlin was elected for a third term in 2010, defeating Republican Mary Kremer.[7] In 2014, he was unopposed for re-election.[8]

On October 23, 2017, Devlin was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, which he accepted and began serving on January 16, 2018.[9]

Personal life

Devlin and his wife Eliza live in Tualatin, Oregon. They have two children.[2]

Electoral history

2006 Oregon State Senator, 19th district[10]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRichard Devlin 30,963 61.3
RepublicanDavid Newell18,29936.2
LibertarianMarc Delphine1,2182.4
Write-in650.1
Total votes50,545 100%
2010 Oregon State Senator, 19th district[11]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRichard Devlin 30,179 54.5
RepublicanMary Kremer25,03845.3
Write-in1120.2
Total votes55,329 100%
2014 Oregon State Senator, 19th district[12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRichard Devlin 39,529 96.0
Write-in1,6264.0
Total votes41,155 100%

References