Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)i

Suzanne Bonamici Congressman Oregon District 1

Campaign links: Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)i

Update March 2012

Biography of Suzanne Bonamici from House.gov

Suzanne first moved to Oregon from Michigan in the mid-1970s. She worked her way through college in Eugene, first at Lane Community College, where she earned an Associate Degree from the Legal Assistant program, and then at the University of Oregon, where she earned a Bachelor of Science from the School of Journalism. In 1983, she received her J.D. from the University of Oregon School Of Law. During college and law school, Suzanne worked at Lane County Legal Aid Service.

After law school, Suzanne was an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C., where she was in the Credit Practices Division of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. She met her husband, Michael H. Simon, in Washington, and in 1986 they settled in Portland. Suzanne joined a law firm and worked there until her children were born. In 2001, Suzanne was legislative assistant in the Oregon House of Representatives. During her career break from law to raise her children, Suzanne was an active volunteer in the community, particularly in education. Some of her accomplishments include:

• Serving on the board of directors for the Beaverton Education Foundation, where she helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for innovative classroom projects and after-school programs.

• Teaching thousands of students about law and the judicial branch of government as a volunteer court tour guide with the Classroom Law Project.

• Helping to pass crucial bond measures to build new schools as a volunteer with Citizens for Beaverton Schools/Citizens for School Support.

In 2007, Suzanne was elected to her first term in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing House District 34 in Washington County. She served as a member of the House Health Care and Judiciary Committees and as Vice-Chair of the House Consumer Protection Committee. In 2008, Suzanne was appointed to the Oregon Senate to represent District 17. In 2009, she served as chair of the Senate Consumer Protection & Public Affairs Committee and as a member of the Senate Judiciary and Education & General Government Committees. Suzanne sponsored and passed legislation protecting consumers and tenants in foreclosure, strengthening Oregon’s Lemon Law, and reducing pesticide use in schools. In 2010 she sponsored and passed the Access to Business Capital Act, which helped small businesses and entrepreneurs access loans.

In 2011, Suzanne was elected to the position of Assistant Majority Leader. In the 2011 legislative session, in addition to her leadership role, she served as Chair of the Redistricting Committee and as a member of the Education and Workforce Development, Judiciary, and Consumer and Small Business Protection Committees.

Suzanne was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on January 31, 2012. She represents the First Congressional District of Oregon, which comprises the Northwest portion of the state. Suzanne serves on the Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Suzanne and Michael have two grown children and a cocker spaniel named Charley.

Pre-March 2012 biography

Suzanne Bonamici Congressional Candidate, Oregon District 1 Special Election (Primary Candidate)

Suzanne Bonamici Biography from Oregon SOS

Update 09 November 2011: ***Unofficial results for primary 48,404 votes — 65.27 percent. Click here for Results***

Suzanne Bonamici

Democrat (DEM)

Occupation: State Senator

Occupational Background: Consumer Protection Attorney

Educational Background: JD, BA, University of Oregon; AS Lane Community College

Prior Governmental Experience: State Representative; Attorney, Federal Trade Commission

Family: Married 26 years, two adult children
“Suzanne Bonamici is hardworking, ethical, and has a record of standing up for families,
small businesses, and consumers.She will bring strong new leadership to Congress,
and she has my enthusiastic support.”
Governor Barbara Roberts

Suzanne Bonamici has worked for consumers, small businesses, and Oregon families her entire career.

• At the Federal Trade Commission Suzanne held the financial industry accountable for predatory lending practices.

• As an attorney, she fought for small businesspeople whose life savings were endangered by dishonest practices.

• As a volunteer, she worked with the Beaverton Education Foundation to improve local schools.

“As a legislator, Suzanne is a champion for consumers, stands up for Oregon’s middle class families,
and has a remarkable record of getting things done. She is exactly who we need in Congress.”
Oregon Attorney General John Kroger

Suzanne’s effective, principled leadership in Salem shows what she can and will do in Congress.

• Suzanne fought to protect homeowners from mortgage and foreclosure abuse and she’ll stand up to those who use the system to gain unfair advantage.

• Suzanne helped provide health coverage for 80,000 Oregon children and she’ll protect Medicare and Social Security.

• Suzanne increased access to capital for small businesses; she’ll invest in infrastructure and clean energy jobs, not tax breaks for big oil companies.

• Suzanne strengthened public schools, community colleges, and universities; she’ll continue to promote education that emphasizes problem solving, not more standardized tests.

“Suzanne has been a real partner in building a foundation to create good jobs for our community’s
future. Her intelligent, effective, and inclusive leadership is exactly what our economy needs.”
David Vernier, CEO, Vernier Software &Technology

Community, business, and elected leaders across Northwest Oregon support Suzanne
See BonamiciForCongress.com

Links to Special Election Candidate websites and bios:

Special Election, OR 01: January 31, 2012
*** Suzanne Bonamici was nominated by both the Democrat and Independent Parties and will appear under each on the January Ballot. ***

D-Democratic Party of Oregon
R-Oregon Republican Party
Lib-Libertarian Party of Oregon
Ind-Independent Party of Oregon
Prog-Oregon Progressive Party

OR District: 1

Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)