Brian Boquist
Brian Boquist | |
---|---|
Oregon Senate from the 12th district | |
Assumed office 2009 | |
Preceded by | Gary George |
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 23rd district | |
In office 2005–2009 | |
Preceded by | Lane Shetterly |
Succeeded by | Jim Thompson |
Personal details | |
Born | Brian James Boquist October 20, 1958 Tillamook, Oregon, U.S. |
Political party | Independent Party (2021–present) |
Other political affiliations | Republican (before 2021) |
Spouse | Peggy |
Profession | Small business owner |
Signature | |
Brian James Boquist (born October 20, 1958) is an Independent,[1][2] formerly Republican, politician from Oregon. He currently serves in the Oregon Senate representing District 12. He was in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 23 in the mid-Willamette Valley, from 2005 to 2009.
Early life and career
Boquist was born and raised on a dairy farm in
Boquist is a former career special forces
Political career
Boquist ran for the
In 2004, Boquist decided against a run for Hooley's seat, but when state Representative Lane Shetterly resigned to run the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development commission, Boquist chose instead to run for Shetterly's seat in Oregon House District 23.[4][7] Though Jim Thompson was named by Oregon Republicans to complete Shetterly's term, Boquist defeated him in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election with 61% (17,390) of the vote.[8][9] Boquist was re-elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2006 with 58% (13,422) of the vote.
In the
2019 Republican walkout
In June 2019, as part of a
The previous day, Oregon governor
On June 19, 2019, in a floor speech immediately before Republicans left the state, Boquist told Peter Courtney, the Senate's Democratic president, "If you send the State Police to get me, hell is coming to visit you personally."[13][14] The next day, Boquist a local television news crew that he had told the state police superintendent, "Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon."[15] Although several Republican state senators returned to the Senate chamber on June 29, 2019, leading to the cap and trade bill being sent back to committee, while other bills were passed, Boquist was absent, as he was asked not to return due to other state senators feeling unsafe from his previous comments.[16][17] He returned to the Capitol after a nine-day walkout.[18]
The threat of violence prompted the state Senate's Special Committee on Conduct to hold a hearing on Boquist's comment.[13] Boquist subsequently apologized to Courtney for his remark, but did not retract his statements.[14] The legislature's outside attorney responsible for handling workplace issues within the legislature determined that Boquist's statements violated the legislature's rule banning workplace harassment, and constituted "credible threats of violence directed at the senate president and Oregon state police."[14] In July 2019, the four-member committee (which is equally split between Democrats and Republicans), chaired by Floyd Prozanski, opted against temporarily barring Boquist from the Capitol, but unanimously voted to require him to give 12 hours' advance notice to the secretary of the senate before coming to the Capitol, giving officials more time to arrange for additional state troopers to provide security.[14][19]
Boquist sued Courtney, Prozanski, and others over the "12-hour rule" imposed on him, alleging that the discipline violated his First Amendment rights and retaliated against him for constitutionally protected speech.
2023 unexcused absences
In May 2023, Boquist and two Senate Republicans (Dennis Linthicum and Daniel Bonham) orchestrated rolling walkouts to deprive the Senate of a two-thirds quorum, blocking the body from passing legislation. Boquist and other frequent absentees were disqualified from reelection for accumulating 10 unexcused absences during the legislative session. The disqualification was automatic under Ballot Measure 113, which passed the year before.[21] After a challenge from five Republican Senators the measure was unanimously upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court on February 1, 2024, confirming Boquist's disqualification after his current term ends in January 2025.[22]
Personal life
Boquist and his wife Peggy have six adult children and live near Dallas, Oregon. Their son Sethan Charles Sprague committed suicide in 2016 at age 31.[23]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Boquist | 17,390 | 61.0 | |
Democratic | Dick Reynolds | 9,946 | 34.9 | |
Libertarian | Paul Delaney | 1,087 | 3.8 | |
Write-in | 73 | 0.3 | ||
Total votes | 28,496 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian Boquist | 13,422 | 58.0 | |
Democratic | Jason Brown | 8,760 | 37.8 | |
Libertarian | Paul Delaney | 942 | 4.1 | |
Write-in | 27 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 23,151 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian J Boquist | 33,264 | 60.6 | |
Democratic | Kevin C Nortness | 21,480 | 39.1 | |
Write-in | 130 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 54,874 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian J Boquist | 34,038 | 60.0 | |
Democratic | Annette Frank | 22,535 | 39.8 | |
Write-in | 117 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 56,690 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian J Boquist | 39,908 | 62.9 | |
Democratic | Ross Swartzendruber | 23,441 | 36.9 | |
Write-in | 137 | 0.2 | ||
Total votes | 63,486 | 100% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brian J Boquist | 45,391 | 58.3 | |
Democratic | Bernadette Hansen | 32,389 | 41.6 | |
Write-in | 115 | 0.1 | ||
Total votes | 77,895 | 100% |
See also
- 74th Oregon Legislative Assembly
- 75th Oregon Legislative Assembly
- 76th Oregon Legislative Assembly
- 77th Oregon Legislative Assembly
- 78th Oregon Legislative Assembly
References
- ^ "Senate senatorsIndependents". www.oregonlegislature.gov. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Senator Brian Boquist has left GOP, is now a member of the Independent Party of Oregon". The Oregon Catalyst. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Representative Brian Boquist". Oregon State Legislature. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
- ^ a b Hortsch, Dan (February 28, 2008). "5th district primary a fight to stand out". The Oregonian.
- ^ "November 7, 2000 General Election: U.S. Representative". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- ^ "November 5, 2002 General Election: U.S. Representative". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- Yamhill Valley News-Register. Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Official Results May 18, 2004 Primary Election: State Representative". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- ^ "Official Results November 2, 2004 General Election: State Representative". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2008.
- ^ Bulletin, Gary A. Warner. "GOP senators appear to end carbon-cap walkout". The Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ Cagle, Susie (June 20, 2019). "Oregon's Republican senators flee capitol to delay vote on emissions reduction plan". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- The Associated Press. Archivedfrom the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- ^ a b Dobuzinskis, Alex (July 5, 2019). "Oregon state senator faces hearing on 'heavily armed' comment". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Borrud, Hillary (July 8, 2023). "Oregon senator who threatened state police must give notice before returning to the Capitol". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Hillary Borrud (June 20, 2019). "Oregon Republican senator threatens state troopers, warns them to 'come heavily armed'". Oregonian/OregonLive. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ Selsky, Andrew; Zimmerman, Sarah. "Oregon Republican senators end walkout over carbon bill". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- Salem Statesman Journal. Archivedfrom the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Senate sees highs, lows and a lot of bills as it comes down the homestretch". Malheur Enterprise. Salem, Oregon. June 30, 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Shumway, Julia (November 28, 2022). "Oregon Senate lifts safety restrictions on senator who threatened state police in 2019". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "Boquist v. Courtney, 32 F. 4th 764 - Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit 2022". scholar.google.com. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. April 21, 2022. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Selsky, Andrew (May 15, 2023). "Extended boycott disqualifies 2 GOP senators, 1 independent in Oregon Senate from being reelected". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Shumway, Julia (February 1, 2024). "Oregon Supreme Court bars Republican senators who participated in walkout from reelection". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Theriault, Denis C. (February 16, 2016). "Oregon Senate meets in silence to mourn death of lawmaker's son". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ^ "Official Results | November 2, 2004". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 7, 2006". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 4, 2008". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results | November 6, 2012". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.