Raymond Merrick

Ray Merrick
Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 14, 2013
Preceded by Michael O'Neal
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 27th district
Assumed office
January 14, 2013
Preceded by Charlotte O'Hara
In office
January 10, 2000 – January 10, 2011
Preceded by Phyllis Gilmore
Succeeded by Charlotte O'Hara
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2013
Preceded by Jeff Colyer
Succeeded by Pat Apple
Personal details
Born (1939-10-18) October 18, 1939
Smith, Alberta, Canada
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Phyllis Merrick
Alma mater Washburn University
Religion Lutheranism

Raymond F. "Ray" Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 27 since 2013. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.[1][2]

Political career

Merrick served in Kansas Senate District 37 from 2011 to 2013. Shortly after the 2010 general election, when District 37 Sen. Jeff Colyer was elected lieutenant governor, Merrick was elected by Republican precinct committee members to fill the remainder of Colyer's term.[3][4][5] After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for House District 27, with the expressed intent of being elected House speaker.[6]

Merrick previously served in the Kansas House from January 6, 2000 to January 2011. Merrick served as House majority leader from 2007-2010, as speaker pro tempore from 2004-2006, and as assistant majority leader from 2002-2004.

Background

After college, Merrick was in the United States Marine Corps for several years and then began a career in sales for Folger's Coffee. He founded and owns MJM Management Company, a property management company for shopping centers in the growing southern suburban Kansas City region. Johnson County, Kansas. He previously served as senior vice president/general manager for both the Myron Green Cafeterias Company and Treat America.[7][1]

He is married to Phyllis Merrick, lives in Stilwell and holds a business administration degree from Washburn University of Topeka. [8]

Issue positions

Merrick has been described by the state's largest newspaper, the Wichita Eagle, as being from the "conservative faction of the Republican Party."[2]

Merrick's website lists some of his major goals as "tougher restrictions on sexual predators," "protecting Blue Valley and Olathe school districts," and "advocating responsible government and protecting our tax dollars."[9]

As Kansas House Speaker in 2013, he focused House attention on tax and budget matters, cutting both, to the exclusion of most other issues.[1]

Controversy

In a November 2014 interview with the state's largest newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, Merrick stated 'Government workers produce nothing,' following it up with further comments to underscore their burden upon society. The remarks stimulated an intense backlash, particularly from government workers representatives and the Kansas Democratic Party (who circulated a petition calling for Merrick's departure from the Speaker's seat). Merrick subsequently mollified the remark with positive comments about public service employees.[10][11][12]

Committee assignments

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Merrick served on these House committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Merrick served on these Senate committees:

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Merrick served on these House committees:

2015

Speaker Merrick currently serves on the following House committees:

Elections

2008

On November 4, 2008, Merrick was re-elected to the 27th District Seat in the Kansas House of Representatives, defeating Becky Ansley (D). [13]

2010

Merrick won re-election to the 27th District seat in the November 2, 2010 general election, with no opposition. He was also unopposed in the GOP primary.

2012

After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for the House 27 seat held Charlotte O'Hara, R-Overland Park. Merrick ran unopposed in the August 7 Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election, on November 6, 2012. He was elected speaker of the House in a three-way race on Dec. 2, 2012.

O'Hara filed for the Kansas Senate District 37 seat being vacated in 2012 by Merrick. She placed second in a three-way Republican primary. Republican District 37 nominee Pat Apple, the District 12 incumbent, was unopposed in the November 6, 2012 general election.[14][15][16][6]

Memberships

Sponsored legislation

Major donors

The top five business donors to Merrick's 2010 campaign were all professional organizations and corporations:[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cooper, Brad, "Ray Merrick: Speaking for the outsiders", May 21, 2013, The Kansas City Star, detailed profile of Kansas House Speaker Merrick. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Lowry, Bryan (Eagle Topeka bureau), "Virgil Peck will challenge Ray Merrick for speaker of Kansas House", November 15, 2014, The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2012 Primary (unofficial)," Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Kansas - Summary Vote Results". C-SPAN. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  5. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 Kansas General Election Results". Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  6. 1 2 Andy Marso, House elects Ray Merrick new Speaker The Topeka Capital-Journal December 3, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  7. ↑ Rep. Raymond Merrick Biography Vote Smart. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  8. ↑ http://www.raymerrick.org/meetray.html
  9. ↑ Ray Merrick Official Website - Homepage Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  10. ↑ Shorman, Jonathan, "Kansas lawmakers divide into two camps on how to plug $1 billion budget hole," November 15, 2014, Wichita Eagle. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ Shorman, Jonathan, "House speaker seeks to clarify comments about state workers: Speaker Ray Merrick issues statement following comments that drew outrage," November 18, 2014, Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ Abouhlkahthe, Yael T., "Government employees produce nothing, says ignorant Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick of Johnson County", November 17, 2014, Kansas City Star, opinion essay by KC Star columnist, referencing Speaker's published remarks. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  13. ↑ 2008 Kansas Election Results (PDF) Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  14. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the August 7, 2012 Primary (official)," Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  15. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, Official 2012 Primary Results (PDF) Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  16. ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 Kansas General Election Results Retrieved April 3, 2013. Archived February 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ - 2010 Campaign Contributions Retrieved June 29, 2009.

External links

Preceded by
Michael O'Neal		 Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
January 14, 2013 - present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent


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