Jackie Winters (April 15, 1937 – May 29, 2019)[1] was an American Republican politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. She served as a state senator, representing the 10th district in Salem. She was Senate Minority Leader. She died of lung cancer on May 29, 2019.[2]
Jackie Winters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minority Leader of the Oregon State Senate | |
| In office November 15, 2017 – January 22, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Ferrioli |
| Succeeded by | Herman Baertschiger Jr. |
| Member of the Oregon State Senate from the 10th district | |
| In office January 13, 2003 – May 29, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Avel Gordly |
| Succeeded by | Denyc Boles |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 31st district | |
| In office January 13, 1999 – January 13, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Bryan Johnston |
| Succeeded by | Betsy Johnson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 15, 1937 Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | May 29, 2019 (aged 82) Salem, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Portland Community College Oregon State University |
Early life
editJackie Winters began her lifelong interest in citizen involvement in public policy as she listened to her parents’ discussions around the table, first in Topeka, Kansas where she was born, and later in Portland, Oregon where her family moved in 1943. She attended Portland Public Schools and continued her education through the Oregon State University System’s Continuing Education coursework, with an emphasis on Intergovernmental Relations.
She began her governmental service in 1959 at University of Oregon Medical School in the medical records unit and later joined the staff of the Portland Model Cities Program. In 1969 she was recruited to be supervisor of the Office of Economic Opportunity’s New Resources Program at the request of Governor Tom McCall. In 1979 she was appointed Ombudsman by Governor Victor Atiyeh. During this service, she helped create the Oregon Food Share Program, the first statewide non-profit food sharing network, which continues today serving most of Oregon’s neediest families.
In 1985, Winters opened her first Jackie’s Ribs restaurant, in Salem. Over time, she and her family expanded operations to include three restaurants, two franchises, catering services, private parties and numerous appearances in national Bar-B-Q Cook-offs.
Political career
editWinters was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1998, and became the first African-American Republican ever to serve in the Oregon Legislative Assembly.[3] She was re-elected to this office in 2000. Jackie Winters was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 2002. She won reelection in 2006, 2010, 2014 and again in 2018.
She ran for the U.S. Congress in 2004, losing in the Republican primary to Jim Zupancic, who went on to lose in the general election to incumbent Darlene Hooley.[4]
On November 15, 2017, Winters was elected as Senate Minority Leader to replace Ted Ferrioli. She became the first black legislative leader in the state.[5][6]
Legal dispute
editIn 2018, Winters and the Home Owners Association she serves on was sued for violating the Fair Housing Act and Oregon's own fair housing laws. The HOA board Winters serves on allegedly contacted the Salem-Keizer School District and ordered the bus for a disabled girl to pick her up from a road outside the HOA subdivision instead of her home. When challenged by the girl's mother, the HOA banned buses from entering HOA subdivision entirely. Another family in the subdivision with a disabled child reportedly also had their child's bus service banned from the subdivision.[7][8]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Winters | 24,641 | 53.6 | |
| Democratic | Paul Evans | 21,232 | 46.2 | |
| Write-in | 99 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 45,972 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Winters | 32,956 | 68.3 | |
| Democratic | Jackie Pierce | 15,088 | 31.3 | |
| Write-in | 191 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 48,235 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Winters | 38,129 | 86.6 | |
| Libertarian | Glen E Ewert | 5,315 | 12.1 | |
| Write-in | 597 | 1.4 | ||
| Total votes | 44,041 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie F Winters | 33,145 | 53.9 | |
| Democratic | Deb Patterson | 28,210 | 45.9 | |
| Write-in | 135 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 61,490 | 100% | ||
References
edit- ^ "Oregon Right to Life - Sen. Jackie Winters (R-Oregon) biography". ortl.capwiz.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ Friedman, Gordon; Lehman, Chris (2019-05-29). "Jackie Winters, first African-American Republican elected to Oregon legislature, dies at 82". oregonlive.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
- ^ Kenning, Chris (1999-01-11). "She is the first African-American Republican to serve". Statesman-Journal. Salem, Oregon: Gannett. pp. 1A. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
- ^ Sirocchi, Andrew (October 30, 2003). "Verger will make run for Senate". The World. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
- ^ Friedman, Gordon R. (November 15, 2017). "Jackie Winters named Minority Leader of Oregon Senate, first black person to hold position". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (November 15, 2017). "State Sen. Jackie Winters Replaces Ted Ferrioli as Senate Republican Leader". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Lawsuit: Oregon Sen. Jackie Winters, HOA denied bus service to child with disabilities". The Oregonian. August 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "Lawsuit: Salem subdivision denied bus service to child". Associated Press. 15 August 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "Official Results | November 7, 2006". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Results November 2, 2010". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
External links
edit- Official State Senate biography Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
- Official campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN