Kevin Mannix - official biography

Kevin Mannix is a highly talented and accomplished business attorney, former Oregon State Legislator, former Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party, and one of Oregon's most dedicated community leaders.

He received his J.D. Degree from the University of Virginia Law School in May 1974, and his B.A. with distinction from the University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences in June 1971, in Liberal Arts.

Kevin began his legal career as a Law Clerk in the Oregon Court of Appeals in 1974. From there he has served as Assistant Attorney General for the Oregon Department of Justice, Assistant Attorney General in Guam, Legal Counsel for the Department of Education in Guam, and an Administrative Law Judge for Oregon's Workers' Compensation Board. In 1986, Kevin began his own law practice which he has successfully run for over 22 years.

Kevin was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1988. He served from 1989 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2001 on the following committees: Ways and Means (2 sessions), Judiciary (2 sessions), Special Committee on Workers' Compensation (1990), Labor (2 sessions), Emergency Board (2 interims), and chaired the Public Safety Subcommittee of House Appropriations (1993) and the House Judiciary Committee on Criminal Law (1999). Kevin also served in the Oregon State Senate from 1998 to 1999.

He is Oregon's most productive and successful lawmaker - having passed more bills and fixed more laws than any other state legislator. His focus: remove bad laws, fix broken laws, and enact useful laws rooted in common sense that make a difference in Oregonians' everyday lives.

Some of his major achievements include authoring:

Measure 11, which imposed mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes. For the next 10 years, Oregon led the nation with an overall 44% decrease in violent crime.

Oregon's landmark anti-stalking law, which made stalking a crime and allowed stalking protective orders, granting immediate relief for stalking victims.

The Crime Victims' Rights Amendments to the Oregon Constitution, which ensure that victims in Oregon now have the right to be present at trial, to be heard at the time of sentencing, and to be consulted in the plea bargain process.

Workers' Compensation reforms which bring faster resolution to claims, fairer standards of compensability, limitation of frivolous claims, and better benefits for injured workers.

Adoption reforms which reduce bureaucracy, expedite the process, provide fairer standards for adoption, and reduce the cost of adoptions.

Establishment of the Oregon Tax Court Magistrates Division, which allows taxpayers to represent themselves without attorneys if they wish, provides swift and simple procedures for resolving disputes, and still allows the opportunity for a full trial if requested.

Enactment of Murder by Abuse law which makes it clear that a person committed murder if he intentionally abuses a child and the child dies as a result of the abuse. Previously, such persons were only convicted of assault or abuse, even though the child had died.

Author of the strengthening and expansion of the Family Abuse Protection Act, which better protects people, especially women and children, from domestic violence.

Author of Measure 17 requiring state prisoners to work full time in useful work, with provisions for basic education and job training.

Author of senior judges (or "Plan B") retirement plan which allows retired judges to continue on the bench, part time, in exchange for better retirement benefits.

Facilitator, in Ways and Means Committee, of legislation which gave OHSU public corporation status, a key element in OHSU's successful growth and development.

Authored Oregon Law establishing specific crime of mail theft and helped Senator Roger Beyer push through law creating crime of identity theft to better protect Oregonians. Before enactment of these laws prosecutors had to use general theft statutes, which in some instances were very weak and in other instances were very hard to apply, to prosecute mail thieves and identity thieves. Thanks to Mannix, mail theft is a Class A Misdemeanor, regardless of the value of the items stolen from the mail. Thanks to Representative (now Senator) Roger Beyer, the chief sponsor of House Bill 3057, the Legislature established identity theft as a Class C Felony; Mannix helped shepherd this bill through the committee Mannix chaired, the House Judiciary Committee on Criminal Law, during the 1999 Legislative session.

Party Political Activity

Kevin was Vice-Chair of the Oregon Republican Party from 1999 to 2001, and he served as Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party from 2003 until 2005. He chaired the Oregon delegation to the Republican National Convention in New York City in 2004, and served on the Republican National Committee's Resolutions Committee, and on the Republican National Committee Catholic Outreach Committee.

Kevin's major community activities include:

Blanchet Catholic School, Salem, OR, 1995 - Present. Co-founder of the school, and Chairman of the Board of Directors since its creation.
East Salem Rotary, Salem, OR, 1982 - Present. President, 1987 - 1988
St. Joseph Church, Salem, OR, 1974 - Present.
Salem Catholic Schools Foundation, Salem, OR, 1984 - Present. President, 1988 - 1989, 1991 - 1993, 1999 - Present.
Salem-Area Chamber of Commerce, since 1986. Board of Directors member since July 1, 2007.
Life Directions, Marion County, 2006 to Present - Board of Directors

Awards:

Life Directions Volunteer Recognition Award, 2007
Special Recognition for significant contributions to kids, families and communities in Oregon through support of fairs, Oregon Fairs Association, 2000
Oregon State Senate plaque "In Recognition of Your Dedication and Service," 1999
Award for Excellent Service to Farm Bureau members, 1999
"All-Star" Award for Top Legislative Service, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, 1999
Legislative Leadership Award from the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities for Outstanding Leadership and Support to Oregon's Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, 1999
Founder's plaque, Blanchet School, 1999
Certificate of Appreciation for service on President's Advisory Board, Blanchet School, 1999
Imogene T. Johnson Friend of Children Award for Defending the Rights of Children to Equal Protection Under Law, 1999
Award plaque, Oregon Pilots Association, in Appreciation of Efforts to Advance Aviation and Air Transportation in Oregon, 1999
Award plaque by the Oregon State Marine Board" In Appreciation for Charting a Safe Course for the Future of Boating in Oregon" through passage of HB 2977, Oregon's Boater Education Bill, 1999
Bronze statue for Defender of Justice Award "for enacting tough laws to protect Oregon citizens from violent criminals" from NRA CrimeStrike, 1996
Outstanding Achievement Award from Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association for Dedication to the Preservation of Oregon Cemeteries and Creation of the Oregon Pioneer Cemetery Commission, 1996
Certificate of Appreciation from Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association for Sponsorship of HB 2314 to create the Pioneer Cemetery Commission, 1995
Veterans of Foreign Wars Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding Legislative Service to Oregon Military Veterans in support of the Oregon Veterans Home, 1995
United Veterans Groups of Oregon Certificate of Commendation for Exemplary Service, Loyalty and Dedication to Oregon's Military Veterans, and their Families, and their Survivors, 1995
Appreciation Award for Sponsorship of HB 2325, establishing Magistrates' Division in Tax Court, 1995
Oregon Tax Research "Tax Freedom Day" Award for Outstanding Leadership in Improving the Tax Appeal System to create equity for all taxpayers, 1995
Recognition plaque in Appreciation for Contribution to Oregon's Law Enforcement Community, 1995
Award plaque from Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, in Appreciation for Support and Service, 1994
Award from Oregon Council for the Blind and Guide Dog Users of Oregon for Outstanding Effort in passing HB 2380 into law, that will protect assistance animals, 1993
Outstanding Support for the Oregon State Police, 1993
Recognition plaque in Appreciation of Successful Work to Save the OSU School of Veterinary Medicine, from Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1993
Special Recognition from Shangri-La, a program for the developmentally disabled, for consistent, strong advocacy for Oregonians needing assistance, and for leadership to large and diverse groups of people, 1993
Plaque in Appreciation for Support to Secondary Wood Products Manufacturers, 1993
Unswerving Legislative Support to Oregon Rehabilitation Associations, Honor Roll for 1993
Recognition of Service from the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley for "Extending the Circle of Compassion" on behalf of animals, 1991
Legislator of the Year Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contributions to the Boating Community, Oregon Federation of Boaters, 1990
Paul Harris Fellow awarded by East Salem Rotary Club for service to Salem, to the Club and to Rotary International, 1988
State Street Renewal Project Certificate of Appreciation, September 13, 1988
Special Award plaque for service as President of Rotary Club of East Salem, 1988
Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to the Greater Salem Area Economy as one of "Salem's Quiet Giants" from Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, 1987
Douglas McKay High School Certificate of Appreciation for Participation in Cooperative Work Experience Program, 1986-1988
Oregon Association of Administrative Law Judges, Distinguished Service Award, December 4, 1986