Loren Parks
Loren Parks (born 1926) is a businessman from the U.S. state of Nevada. He previously lived in Oregon (from 1957–2002),[1] and is the biggest political contributor in the history of that state.[2] He has financed numerous ballot measure initiative petitions and campaigns since the mid-1990s. He has also contributed heavily to races for prominent offices by his attorney, Kevin Mannix, a frequent chief petitioner of ballot campaigns.
Loren Parks | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1926 |
| Education | B.A Psych |
| Occupation | businessman |
Early life
Parks was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1926.[2] He served in the military from 1944–1946.[2] He has a BA in psychology,[3] having studied at five different universities. He speaks several languages.[2]
Parks later started a business while living in Aloha, Oregon. He founded Parks Medical Electronics in 1961. The business sells a number of instruments, including a plethysmograph, which measures the blood flow to sexual organs and is used in treating sexual dysfunction and assessing the arousal of sex offenders.[2]
Influential in Oregon politics
From 1996 to 2006, Parks contributed over $6 million to various political campaigns – far more than any other individual, and more than most organized lobbies.[2] His entry into backing political concerns followed the passage of Ballot Measure 5 in 1990.[2] His support was instrumental in launching Oregon Taxpayers United, according to executive director Bill Sizemore.[2]
Parks' dominance of the ballot measure system has been said to undermine the grassroots intent of the system.[4]
In 2001, a former employee filed a sexual harassment complaint and lawsuit against Parks.[5]
Parks moved from Oregon to Henderson, Nevada in 2002.[2]
Parks made contributions to uphold the Oregon Death with Dignity Act in 1997.[2]
Parks has been a strong supporter of former state legislator and gubernatorial candidate Kevin Mannix. Mannix has served as Parks' attorney.[5] Parks' staff once said: "Mr. Parks thinks Kevin is one of the few leaders who keeps his word and gets things done."[2]
Parks has not indiscriminately backed Mannix's proposed measures. In 2008, for instance, he declined to fund a proposed initiative that would have allowed for expanded local regulation of strip clubs. As a result, Mannix stopped pursuing ballot qualification.[6]
In 2008, Parks was the source of over half the money used to qualify ballot measures for the statewide ballot.[7] None of the measures he supported in that year was successful.[8]
Parks is also a major contributor to charitable organizations, including health care and environmental concerns.[2]
Parks is not religious, but is a believer in faith healing.[2]
In March 2014, Parks gave a $30,000 donation to Greg Barreto (R) of Cove, OR towards his campaign for Oregon State Assembly.[9] That donation was returned in April.[10]
References
- "Loren Parks responds". The Oregonian. October 13, 2008.
- Smith, Carlton (April 19, 2006). "The Man Behind Mannix: Reclusive Republican moneyman Loren Parks finally talks". Willamette Week.
- "Loren Parks Oregon's $13 Million Man" (PDF). Common Cause Oregon. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
- Cain, Brad (December 13, 2008). "Ore. ballot measure system under scrutiny". Associated Press. OregonLive.com.
- Budnick, Nick (May 15, 2002). "Dirty old [money] man: GOP bankroller Loren Parks hit with sexual-harassment charges". Willamette Week.
- Law, Steve (January 15, 2008). "Mannix drops strip-club regulation initiative". Portland Tribune.
- Lehman, Chris (July 7, 2008). "Signature Gathering Fueled By Handful of Donors". Oregon Public Broadcasting.
- Budnick, Nick (November 6, 2008). "Voters slap down Sizemore, Mannix ballot measures: Legislative version of tough-on-crime measure and double-majority law repeal both are passing". Portland Tribune.
- Nesbitt, Katy (2014-03-26). "Barreto rakes in $30K donation". The Observer. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- Ducote, Kelly (April 30, 2014). "Barreto: I've returned Parks donation". The Observer.