Loren Parks

From Ballotpedia

Loren Parks is said to be the top donor to political causes in Oregon history, including sizable donations to ballot measure campaigns.^[1]

Parks, the owner of an Aloha-based medical equipment company, moved to Nevada in 2002 but remains active as a donor to Oregon causes. In 2006, Parks spent $600,000 on Oregon ballot measures. For 2008 ballot measures, Parks as of September 2007 has contributed approximately $800,000 to signature-gathering efforts of campaigns whose chief petitioners are Bill Sizemore and Kevin Mannix.^[2]

The four ballot-certified 2008 Sizemore ballot measures proposals to which Parks has donated are:

• Oregon Ballot Measure 58--require English immersion for non-English-speaking students. Parks has given $123,000.
• Oregon Ballot Measure 59--make federal income taxes deductible on Oregon tax returns. Parks has given $122,500.^[3]
• Oregon Ballot Measure 60--base teacher raises on classroom performance. $121,000 from Parks.
• Oregon Ballot Measure 64--prohibit use of taxpayer resources in collecting union political funds. $125,000 from Parks.

The two 2008 Mannix proposals to which Parks has donated are:

• Oregon Ballot Measure 61--mandatory prison sentences for some criminals. $128,000 from Parks.
• Oregon Ballot Measure 62--dedicate 15% of lottery profits for crime-fighting. $170,000 from Parks.

Additionally, The Oregonian is reporting that Parks donated $250,000 for ultimately unsuccesful ballot access efforts to limit attorney contingency fees and to sanction attorneys for filing frivolous lawsuits:^[4]

• Oregon Ballot Measure 51 $134,000 from Parks.
• Oregon Ballot Measure 53 $134,000 from Parks.

See also

• Kevin Mannix

External links

• Loren Parks entry on Wikipedia
• Form to use to search Oregon campaign finance disclosure website
• Oregon needs more eccentric millionaires.
• The Man Behind Mannix
• Signature-gathering fueled by handful of donors
• Democracy Indirect
• Small group of donors contribute big to Oregon ballot measures

Notes

1. ↑ Nevada activist bets on Oregon voters
2. ↑ http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/09/loren_parks_funds_more_initiat.html
3. ↑ http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/STATE/709110314/1042
4. ↑ http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-21/118950175336690.xml&storylist=orlocal