Ron Saxton

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Ronald L. Saxton (born 1954, Albany, Oregon) is a lawyer^[1] and Republican politician in Oregon. He graduated from Albany High School in 1972, earned a bachelors degree from Willamette University in 1976^{[citation needed]} and a juris doctor at from University of Virginia School of Law in 1979.^{[citation needed]}

Saxton helped to co-found the Ater Wynne law firm in 1990. From 1990 to 2000 he served as the chairman of the firm.^[2] In 1997 he was elected to the Portland Public Schools Board in 1997 and served as its Chair from 1998-2000.^{[citation needed]} Saxton also has served as a commentator for ABC affiliate KATU in Portland, as well as for the Medford Mail Tribune.^{[citation needed]} He is currently a board member of Associated Oregon Industries and has served on numerous Oregon business boards.^{[citation needed]}

Saxton was also the founding president of the Portland Schools Foundation,^{[citation needed]} a community-based organization that has raised over $30 million in private contributions,^{[citation needed]} claims to have improved student achievement and school performance in Oregon's largest school district.^{[citation needed]} He has also chaired the Strategic Planning committee of the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts, co-chaired the Oregon Higher Education Roundtable, and served on the board of the Saturday Academy, a science and math mentoring program for Oregon's youth.^{[citation needed]}

Saxton is married to Lynne Hume Saxton, also a fourth generation Oregonian, and together they have one son, Andy. The Saxton family are adherents to the Presbyterian faith.

1 Political aspirations
- 1.1 2002 run for Governor
- 1.2 2006 Gubernatorial nomination
2 References
3 External links
4 See also

[edit] Political aspirations

[edit] 2002 run for Governor

In 2002, Saxton unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Governor of Oregon. He placed third in the primary behind Kevin Mannix and Jack Roberts.^[3]

[edit] 2006 Gubernatorial nomination

Main article: Oregon gubernatorial election, 2006

On March 23, 2005, Saxton announced that he would again seek the Republican nomination for Governor in 2006. Kevin Mannix also ran again, and State Senator Jason Atkinson ran a strong campaign as well. Toward the end of the primary, Saxton and Mannix launched a series of negative ads toward each other.^[4]

Saxton won the Republican Primary for Governor of Oregon on May 16, 2006 with 43% of the vote, versus Mannix's 30% and Atkinson's 22%.^[5]

On November 7, 2006, Saxton was defeated by Democratic incumbent Ted Kulongoski.

Following the election, Saxton announced he was unlikely to run for political office again.^[6]