# Rod Monroe > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rod_Monroe > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rod_Monroe.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Monroe > Source revision: 1346373008 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1942–2026)}} {{for|the American football player|Rod Monroe (American football)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rod Monroe | image = Rod Monroe.jpg | image_size = 150px | caption = Monroe in 2016 | state_senate = Oregon | district = [24th](/source/Oregon's_24th_Senate_district) | term_start = 2007 | term_end = 2019 | preceded = [Frank Shields](/source/Frank_Shields_(Oregon_politician)) | succeeded = [Shemia Fagan](/source/Shemia_Fagan) | office2 = [Metro Councilor](/source/Metro_(Oregon_regional_government)) | term2 = 1993–1996, 1998–2004{{cite web |title=Metro Council Roster 1979 – 2018 |url=https://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/2018/03/22/Metro-council-roster-03222018.pdf |pages=4–6 |publisher=[Metro](/source/Metro_(Oregon_regional_government)) |access-date=August 26, 2023 |date=March 2018 |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827043217/https://www.oregonmetro.gov/sites/default/files/2018/03/22/Metro-council-roster-03222018.pdf |url-status=live }} | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | state_senate3 = Oregon | district3 = 7th | term3 = 1981–1989 | preceded3 = [Stephen Kafoury](/source/Stephen_Kafoury) | succeeded3 = [Shirley Gold](/source/Shirley_Gold) | state_house4 = Oregon | district4 = 12th | term4 = 1977–1981 | preceded4 = [Grace Olivier Peck](/source/Grace_Olivier_Peck) | succeeded4 = [Shirley Gold](/source/Shirley_Gold) | birth_name = Wayne Roderick Monroe | birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|08|20}} | birth_place = [McBride, British Columbia](/source/McBride%2C_British_Columbia), Canada | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|02|20|1942|08|20}} | death_place = [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon), U.S. | party = [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) | spouse = {{marriage|Billie Ballrot|1961}} | profession = Teacher | module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rod Monroe voice.ogg|title=Rod Monroe's voice|type=speech|description=Monroe being interviewed by [Bruce Broussard](/source/Bruce_Broussard_(politician))
Recorded August 30, 2011}} | alma_mater = [Portland State College](/source/Portland_State_College) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts), [MA](/source/Master_of_Arts)) }} '''Wayne Roderick Monroe''' (August 20, 1942 – February 20, 2026) was an American politician who served in the [Oregon Senate](/source/Oregon_Senate), representing District 24 in the middle part of [Multnomah County](/source/Multnomah_County%2C_Oregon), which includes most of eastern [Portland](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon) and the city of [Happy Valley](/source/Happy_Valley%2C_Oregon). == Early life and education == Born in [McBride, British Columbia](/source/McBride%2C_British_Columbia),{{cite web|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state/legislative/senate-district.aspx|title=Oregon Blue Book: State Senators by District|publisher=[Oregon Secretary of State](/source/Oregon_Secretary_of_State)|accessdate=April 8, 2010|archive-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108030025/https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state/legislative/senate-district.aspx|url-status=live}} Monroe was raised in Oregon and graduated from [Portland](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon)'s [Franklin High School](/source/Franklin_High_School_(Oregon)) in 1960. He attended college at [Warner Pacific University](/source/Warner_Pacific_University) and received bachelor's and master's degrees from Portland State College (now [Portland State University](/source/Portland_State_University)) in 1965 and 1969 respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe/bio.htm|title=Senator Rod Monroe|publisher=Oregon State Legislature|accessdate=October 9, 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829005617/http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe/bio.htm|archivedate=August 29, 2010|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|title=Rod Monroe|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=56601|publisher=Project VoteSmart|accessdate=October 9, 2008|archive-date=May 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521065716/http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=56601|url-status=live}} == Career == Monroe became a teacher at [Tigard High School](/source/Tigard_High_School) in [Tigard, Oregon](/source/Tigard%2C_Oregon), in 1965, teaching history and government and later served on the [David Douglas school board](/source/David_Douglas_School_District). In 1976, Monroe was elected to the [Oregon House of Representatives](/source/Oregon_House_of_Representatives), representing District 12 in Portland. He served two terms and then was elected to the [Oregon Senate](/source/Oregon_Senate) in 1980, representing the 7th district in Portland. He was re-elected to a second Senate term in 1984.{{cite web|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/legislators_guide.aspx|title=State Government Legislators and Staff|publisher=[Oregon Secretary of State](/source/Oregon_Secretary_of_State)|accessdate=November 10, 2011|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518034357/https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/legislators_guide.aspx|url-status=live}} During this legislative tenure, Monroe was known for sponsoring safety-oriented legislation, such as mandatory seat belt laws, tougher drunk driving legislation, and bans on indoor smoking.{{cite news|title=House's Gold seeks Monroe's Senate seat|last=Mapes|first=Jeff|date=December 3, 1987|work=[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)}} Monroe ran for the Democratic nomination in the [1986 U.S. Senate election in Oregon](/source/United_States_Senate_election_in_Oregon%2C_1986), but came in second behind [Jim Weaver](/source/Jim_Weaver_(Oregon_politician)).{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=253141|title=Oregon US Senate Democratic Primary Race, May 20, 1986|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=March 23, 2010|archive-date=June 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614074819/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=253141|url-status=live}} In 1988, he lost a close election in the Democratic primary to Oregon House Majority Leader [Shirley Gold](/source/Shirley_Gold), who had been elected to Monroe's seat when he was elected to the Senate.{{cite news|title=New lawmakers predict more active, progressive Oregon Senate for 1989|last=Ota|first=Alan K.|date=May 19, 1988|work=[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)}} In the 1990 Democratic primary, Monroe sought to upset incumbent Judy Bauman for a seat in the Oregon House, but he was narrowly defeated.{{cite news|title=Unopposed Bauman top fundraiser|last=Bella|first=Rick|date=October 9, 1990|work=[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)}} In 1992, Monroe was elected to the council of [Metro](/source/Metro_(Oregon_regional_government)),{{cite news|title=Metro voters to decide races, greenspaces issues, home rule|last=Mayer|first=James|date=October 2, 1992|work=[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)}} the regional government for greater Portland. He served three terms, where he advocated for federal funding of [light rail](/source/light_rail) projects and the [Portland Streetcar](/source/Portland_Streetcar), as well as for biking and pedestrian trails such as the [Springwater Corridor](/source/Springwater_Corridor). In 2004, he was defeated for a fourth term by environmentalist Robert Liberty.{{cite news|title=Liberty takes over Monroe's Metro seat|last=Oppenheimer|first=Laura|date=November 3, 2004|work=[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)}} In [Oregon's 2006 legislative elections](/source/Oregon's_statewide_elections%2C_2006), Monroe was again elected to the Oregon Senate in the District 24 seat vacated by the retiring [Frank Shields](/source/Frank_Shields_(Oregon_politician)).{{cite news|title=How Oregon voted – election results|date=November 9, 2006|work=[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)}} In 2018, Monroe ran for reelection but was defeated in the Democratic primary by former state Representative [Shemia Fagan](/source/Shemia_Fagan). Fagan ran unopposed in the general election later that year and won the election to become Monroe's successor in the state Senate.{{cite news|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/17/portland-democrat-rod-monroe-primary-loss-set-shift-oregon-senate-balance/621329002/|title=Portland Democrat's primary loss set to shift Oregon Senate balance|last=James|first=Tom|date=May 17, 2018|work=Statesman Journal|accessdate=May 10, 2019|archive-date=November 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101220740/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2018/05/17/portland-democrat-rod-monroe-primary-loss-set-shift-oregon-senate-balance/621329002/|url-status=live}} == Personal life and death == Monroe lived in [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon), with his wife Billie, whom he married in 1961.{{cite web|title=Former Local Resident Will Marry Sept. 1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sand-springs-leader-marriage-of-ballrot/193222217/|newspaper=Sand Springs Leader|page=2|date=July 20, 1961|access-date=March 12, 2026|via=Newspapers.com}} He died at his home in Portland on February 20, 2026, at the age of 83.[https://www.sweethomenews.com/longtime-state-sen-rod-monroe-dies-at-age-83/ Longtime state Sen. Rod Monroe dies at age 83][https://obits.oregonlive.com/us/obituaries/oregon/name/rod-monroe-obituary?id=60896423#:~:text=Rod%20Monroe%20passed%20away%20peacefully,and%20his%20cherished%20grandson%2C%20Miles. Rod Monroe] obituary == Electoral history == {{Election box begin no change | title = 2006 Oregon State Senator, [24th district](/source/Oregon's_24th_Senate_district){{cite web | title = Official Results | November 7, 2006 | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873552 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = September 10, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230910004315/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873552 | url-status = live }}}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Rod Monroe | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 17,304 | percentage = 48.7}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = T.J. Reilly | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 15,483 | percentage = 43.6}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Ron McCarty | party = Independent (United States) | votes = 2,653 | percentage = 7.5}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 85 | percentage = 0.2}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 35,525 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = [2010 Oregon State Senator](/source/2010_Oregon_legislative_election), [24th district](/source/Oregon's_24th_Senate_district){{cite web | title = Official Results November 2, 2010 | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873642 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = August 31, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230831080329/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873642 | url-status = live }}}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Rod Monroe | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 18,337 | percentage = 51.9}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Rob Wheeler | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 16,905 | percentage = 47.8}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 103 | percentage = 0.3}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 35,345 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = [2014 Oregon State Senator](/source/2014_Oregon_legislative_election), [24th district](/source/Oregon's_24th_Senate_district){{cite web | title = November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes | url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873735 | website = Oregon Secretary of State | access-date = October 30, 2023 | archive-date = April 6, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406223359/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873735 | url-status = live }}}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Rod Monroe | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 22,491 | percentage = 95.1}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 1,155 | percentage = 4.9}} {{Election box total no change | votes = 23,646 | percentage = 100%}} {{Election box end}} == References == {{reflist|30em}} == External links == * [http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe/ Legislative website] * [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=56601 Project VoteSmart biography] {{DEFAULTSORT:Monroe, Rod}} Category:1942 births Category:2026 deaths Category:Democratic Party Oregon state senators Category:Members of the Oregon House of Representatives Category:Politicians from Portland, Oregon Category:Portland State University alumni Category:Warner Pacific University alumni Category:People from the Regional District of Fraser–Fort George Category:School board members in Oregon Category:Franklin High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni Category:Schoolteachers from Oregon Category:Metro councilors (Oregon regional government) Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rod Monroe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Monroe) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Monroe?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.