# Gary Leif

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**Gary Leif** (November 27, 1956 – July 22, 2021) was an American politician and businessman serving as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) member of the [Oregon House of Representatives](/source/Oregon_House_of_Representatives). He represented the 2nd district.

## Early life and education

Leif was raised in [Douglas County, Oregon](/source/Douglas_County,_Oregon). He attended [Umpqua Community College](/source/Umpqua_Community_College); the [Brooks Institute for Photography](/source/Brooks_Institute); and the [University of California, Santa Barbara](/source/University_of_California,_Santa_Barbara), but did not earn a degree.[1]

## Career

For over four decades, Leif owned a photography studio in [Roseburg](/source/Roseburg,_Oregon). He was elected to the [Douglas County](/source/Douglas_County,_Oregon) Commission in 2016.[2][3]

Following the resignation of Representative [Dallas Heard](/source/Dallas_Heard) who was appointed to take a seat in the [Oregon Senate](/source/Oregon_Senate), Leif was appointed to the state House of Representatives on April 30, 2018, and sworn in on May 9, 2018.[4][5][6] He had previously announced his bid for the seat in March 2018.[7]

On December 11, 2020, Leif and 11 other state Republican officials signed a letter requesting [Oregon Attorney General](/source/Oregon_Attorney_General) [Ellen Rosenblum](/source/Ellen_Rosenblum) join Texas and other states contesting the results of the [2020 presidential election](/source/2020_United_States_presidential_election) in *[Texas v. Pennsylvania](/source/Texas_v._Pennsylvania)*. Rosenblum announced she had filed on behalf of the defense, and against Texas, the day prior.[8]

### Political positions

Leif was [anti-abortion](/source/Anti-abortion_movements).[9] He opposed [sanctuary cities](/source/Sanctuary_cities) and favored sending [Oregon National Guard](/source/Oregon_National_Guard) troops to the [Mexico–United States border](/source/Mexico%E2%80%93United_States_border).[10][11] Leif advocated for [Eastern Oregon](/source/Eastern_Oregon) to be incorporated as a part of [Idaho](/source/Idaho).[12] Leif joined other Douglas County politicians in opposition to the local group, *Citizens Against Tyranny,* although his predecessor, Heard, had co-founded the group. Heard said the group's posting of a list of names of whistleblowers who had complained about the failure of local businesses to abide by restrictions that had been imposed by Oregon Governor [Kate Brown](/source/Kate_Brown) to help control the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic) in 2010, should not have been publicized.[13]

## Death

Leif formerly resided in [Winston, Oregon](/source/Winston,_Oregon). He died of cancer on July 22, 2021.[14][15][16]

## References

1. ["Representative Gary Leif Biography"](https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/leif/Pages/biography.aspx). *www.oregonlegislature.gov*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210722195639/https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/leif/Pages/biography.aspx) July 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 22, 2021.

1. ["Leif wins County Commissioner race, won't face November run-off election"](http://kpic.com/news/local/leif-wins-county-commissioner-race-wont-face-november-run-off-election). [KPIC](/source/KPIC). May 18, 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081703/http://kpic.com/news/local/leif-wins-county-commissioner-race-wont-face-november-run-off-election) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. ["Commissioner-elect Gary Leif takes oath of office, begins term on Tuesday"](http://kpic.com/news/local/commissioner-elect-gary-leif-takes-oath-of-office-begins-term-on-tuesday). [KPIC](/source/KPIC). December 29, 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081340/http://kpic.com/news/local/commissioner-elect-gary-leif-takes-oath-of-office-begins-term-on-tuesday) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. Cegavske, Carisa (April 30, 2018). ["Commissioners appoint Leif interim state representative"](https://www.nrtoday.com/news/elections/commissioners-appoint-leif-interim-state-representative/article_71c60a23-3f90-5cee-8936-a479c12518e8.html). *[The News-Review](/source/The_News-Review)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513152028/https://www.nrtoday.com/news/elections/commissioners-appoint-leif-interim-state-representative/article_71c60a23-3f90-5cee-8936-a479c12518e8.html) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. Bailey, Kyle (May 7, 2018). ["Tuesday Leif's Final Day as Commissioner"](http://kqennewsradio.com/2018/05/07/tuesday-leifs-final-day-as-commissioner/). [KQEN](/source/KQEN). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081835/http://kqennewsradio.com/2018/05/07/tuesday-leifs-final-day-as-commissioner/) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. Jones, Tyler (April 30, 2018). ["Gary Leif selected to fill vacant District 2 seat in Oregon House"](http://www.kezi.com/content/news/Gary-Leif-selected-to-fill-vacant-District-2-seat-in-Oregon-House-481312021.html). [KEZI](/source/KEZI). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081231/http://www.kezi.com/content/news/Gary-Leif-selected-to-fill-vacant-District-2-seat-in-Oregon-House-481312021.html) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. Case, Shelby (March 3, 2018). ["Leif announces run for state legislator position"](http://theworldlink.com/news/local/leif-announces-run-for-state-legislator-position/article_a6a99783-f00d-59eb-bcb0-2ff9d81986d6.html). *[The Umpqua Post](/source/The_Umpqua_Post)*. [The World](/source/The_World_(Coos_Bay)). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081356/http://theworldlink.com/news/local/leif-announces-run-for-state-legislator-position/article_a6a99783-f00d-59eb-bcb0-2ff9d81986d6.html) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. Tess Riski (December 13, 2020). ["A Dozen Oregon Republican Lawmakers Urged the Attorney General to Support Texas Lawsuit Undermining U.S. Election Results"](https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2020/12/13/a-dozen-oregon-republican-lawmakers-urged-the-attorney-general-to-support-texas-lawsuit-undermining-u-s-election-results/). *Willamette Week*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201214022229/https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2020/12/13/a-dozen-oregon-republican-lawmakers-urged-the-attorney-general-to-support-texas-lawsuit-undermining-u-s-election-results/) December 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2020.

1. ["About"](http://garyleif.com/about/). Leif State Representative. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180818104432/http://garyleif.com/about/) August 18, 2018 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["2018 Midterm Election Slate > Josephine County Democrats"](https://josephinedemocrats.org/2018-midterm-election-slate/). *Josephine County Democrats*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200729005157/https://josephinedemocrats.org/2018-midterm-election-slate/) July 29, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 28, 2020.

1. ["About"](https://garyleif.com/about/). *Leif for State Representative*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231217/https://garyleif.com/about/) July 28, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 28, 2020.

1. Mena, Kelly. ["Greater Idaho: Rural conservatives in Oregon look to join Idaho"](https://www.kptv.com/news/greater-idaho-rural-conservatives-in-oregon-look-to-join-idaho/article_2546257c-52c8-11ea-8826-bbe23a528b22.html). *KPTV.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231213/https://www.kptv.com/news/greater-idaho-rural-conservatives-in-oregon-look-to-join-idaho/article_2546257c-52c8-11ea-8826-bbe23a528b22.html) July 28, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 28, 2020.

1. [ROSEBURG SENATOR SHARES SUPPORT FOR CITIZENS AGAINST TYRANNY, DENOUNCES 'FILTHY TRAITOR' LIST](https://www.kezi.com/content/news/Sen-Dallas-Heard-speaks-out-about-Citizens-Against-Tyranny--573632381.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210624032204/https://www.kezi.com/content/news/Sen-Dallas-Heard-speaks-out-about-Citizens-Against-Tyranny--573632381.html) June 24, 2021 at the Wayback Machine, *[KEZI](/source/KEZI)*, January 20, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.

1. Cegavske, Carisa (May 3, 2018). ["Heard endorses Leif in Republican House District 2 primary, while Salter runs alone on Democratic ticket"](https://www.nrtoday.com/news/elections/heard-endorses-leif-in-republican-house-district-primary-while-salter/article_e19ff999-7df7-5b3d-a779-da116951bc6e.html). *[The News-Review](/source/The_News-Review)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513080940/https://www.nrtoday.com/news/elections/heard-endorses-leif-in-republican-house-district-primary-while-salter/article_e19ff999-7df7-5b3d-a779-da116951bc6e.html) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 12, 2018.

1. Hunt, Chelsea. ["OREGON STATE REPRESENTATIVE GARY LEIF DIES IN ROSEBURG"](https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Oregon-state-representative-Gary-Leif-dies-in-Roseburg-574895251.html). *KDRV*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210722181213/https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Oregon-state-representative-Gary-Leif-dies-in-Roseburg-574895251.html) July 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 22, 2021.

1. ["Gary Leif"](https://www.nrtoday.com/obits/gary-leif/article_7027e37a-a919-5ac5-bb1a-f0ccea132459.html). *The News-Review*. August 20, 2021. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220111220719/https://www.nrtoday.com/obits/gary-leif/article_7027e37a-a919-5ac5-bb1a-f0ccea132459.html) January 11, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 11, 2022.

## External links

- [Campaign website](http://garyleif.com)
- [Legislative website](https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/leif) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081227/https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/leif) May 13, 2018 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gary Leif](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Leif) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Leif?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.