Bill Kennemer

Bill Kennemer (born 1946) is an American clinical psychologist and Republican politician who represented the 20th district in the Oregon State Senate from 2021 to 2023. Kennemer previously represented Oregon's 39th House district in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019, and Oregon's 12th Senate district from 1987 to 1997.[1]

Bill Kennemer
Member of the Oregon Senate
from the 20th district
In office
February 1, 2021 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byAlan Olsen
Succeeded byMark Meek
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 39th district
In office
January 12, 2009 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byWayne Scott
Succeeded byChristine Drazan
Member of the Oregon Senate
from the 12th district
In office
January 12, 1987 – January 13, 1997
Preceded byWalt Brown
Succeeded byVerne Duncan
Personal details
Born1946 (age 76–77)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCherie
EducationWarner Pacific University (BA)
Fuller Theological Seminary (MS, PhD)

Early life and education

Kennemer was born in Sacramento, California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Warner Pacific College in 1968 and a PhD from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in 1975.[1][2]

Career

Kennemer was a clinical psychologist in private practice for nearly 25 years as well as a professor of psychology.[2] He has also worked as a truck driver and farm hand.[2]

Political career

Kennemer cites his commitment to public service as stemming from an incident in 1952 when, after his family home was destroyed by a fire, the community came together to rebuild it.[1] He was an Oregon State Senator from 1987 to 1996,[2] where he served as Assistant Senate Minority Leader,[2] and Chair of the Senate Business, Housing and Finance Committee.[2] He was in the BiPartisan Tourism Caucus, and the Fish and Wildlife Caucus, and was a member of the Association of Oregon Counties Legislative Committee.[1][2] He was also a member of the Education Commission of the States and the Clackamas County Economic Development Commission.[2]

Upon leaving the Senate, he served as a Clackamas County Commissioner from 1997 to 2008, five times as chair.[1][2]

In 2008, he narrowly won the closest legislative race in Oregon against first-time candidate Democrat Toby Forsberg for the Oregon House of Representatives seat held by former Minority Leader Wayne Scott. He won four more two-year terms before opting not to seek re-election in 2018.

In 2021, Kennemer was appointed to complete the Senate term of Alan Olsen, who resigned with two years remaining in his term.[3]

Awards

As Clackamas County Commissioner in, he received the Association of Oregon Counties Board of Directors' Outstanding Service Award for 1998.[2] Later, while a state representative, his support and advocacy in animal-related measures saw him labeled as a 2011 "Top Dog" by the Oregon Humane Society.[4]

Memberships and committees
  • Oregon Trail Foundation, Founding Member[2]
  • Providence Milwaukie Hospital Foundation Board[2]
  • North Clackamas Chamber Board of Directors[2]
  • Warner Pacific College Board of Trustees[2]

Personal life

Having lost his previous wife to cancer, Kennemer is now married to Cherie McGinnis. They share four children and nine grandchildren.[1]

Electoral history

2022
2022 Oregon Senate 20th district election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Meek 31,317 50.33
Republican Bill Kennemer (incumbent) 30,814 49.52
Write-in 94 0.15
Total votes 62,225 100.0
2022 Oregon Senate 20th district Republican primary [6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Kennemer (incumbent) 8,069 85.06
Republican Christopher J. Morrisette 847 8.93
Republican Tim M. Large 502 5.29
Republican Write-in 68 0.72
Total votes 9,486 100.0

References
  1. "Representative Bill Kennemer biography". Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  2. "Vice Chair Bill Kennemer". Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  3. Lindstrand, Emily (February 1, 2021). "Commissioners appoint Bill Kennemer to Senate District 20". Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  4. 2011 Oregon Humane Society Legislative Scorecard Archived June 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine at the Oregon Humane Society
  5. "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. "May 17, 2022, Primary Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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