Dennis Richardson, the Oregon secretary of state and first Republican elected to the position in three decades, died of brain cancer Tuesday night at age 69.
Richardson was at times a divisive figure in Oregon politics, but rose through the ranks to be his party's most successful standard-bearer in more than a generation with his election as secretary of state in 2016, bucking a Democratic wave that swept other Oregon electoral races.
He died at his home in the southern Oregon city of Central Point while with family and friends, Leslie Cummings, the deputy secretary of state, said in a statement.
"Dennis leaves a legacy of always aiming high, expecting excellence, moving fast, and doing what is right for the people," the statement said. "It has been an honor and a privilege to work with such an incredible leader and wonderful friend. He will be greatly missed."
Gov. Kate Brown ordered flags lowered to half-staff in recognition of Richardson's death.
"Regardless of what side of the aisle his colleagues sat on, we all knew Dennis' kind heart guided his career of service to the people of Oregon," Brown said in a statement.
Richardson was a devout Mormon, father of nine and grandfather of 31, a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War and attorney by trade.
He was first elected to the Oregon House of Representatives and served six terms, where he earned a reputation as a politician fiercely committed to his conservative beliefs, but who nonetheless focused on the details of policy, and budgets in particular.
He rose through the ranks of committee assignments to appointment as co-chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in 2011, an important post with control over the state budget. The promotion came during a crucial year when the House membership was tied 30-30 between Democrats and Republicans, an unusual situation that brought an extra dose of politicking to setting the state budget.
The assignment helped Richardson develop his negotiating skills, and earned him even greater respect from Republicans in the Legislature.
"On the Republican side, we really looked to Dennis," said Julie Parrish, a former state representative who joined the House Republican Caucus that year and who later was manager of Richardson's secretary of state campaign.
"His death will be deeply mourned by all his former colleagues in the Oregon House of Representatives," said House Republican Leader Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass.
Richardson ran for governor in 2014 and easily secured his party's nomination, and lost the general election to incumbent Gov. John Kitzhaber.
For a time, Richardson was hesitant to re-enter politics, Parrish said. But she showed him polling that indicated he could have a chance at election as secretary of state, and he declared his candidacy. Richardson was elected in 2016, after a bruising campaign against then-Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian.
Richardson hit the ground running once in office. Auditors working for him investigated wasteful health care spending, poorly run child welfare programs, and even Portland Public Schools, among other programs. He also established new policies to reinstate thousands of inactive voters.
(c)2019 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)
