Jim Bunn | |
|---|---|
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Michael J. Kopetski |
| Succeeded by | Darlene Hooley |
| Member of theOregon Senate from the15th district | |
| In office 1987–1995 | |
| Preceded by | Tony Meeker |
| Succeeded by | Marylin Shannon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1956-12-12)December 12, 1956 (age 68) McMinnville, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sonja Skurdal |
| Relatives | Stan Bunn (brother) Tom Bunn (brother) |
| Education | Chemeketa Community College Northwest Nazarene University (BA) |
James Lee Bunn (born December 12, 1956) is an American politician fromOregon. A native ofYamhill County, he served in theOregon State Senate before election to theUnited States House of Representatives, where he served for one term before losing re-election. ARepublican, he now works as a correctional officer for the county.
James Lee Bunn[1] was born inMcMinnville and graduated fromDayton High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree fromNorthwestern Nazarene College in 1979, and remains a member of theChurch of the Nazarene.
Bunn worked inagribusiness, and from 1987 until his election to Congress, served in theOregon National Guard. ARepublican, he was a member of theOregon State Senate from 1987 to 1995, where he served as Republicanwhip from 1990 to 1995.
In1994, he was elected to theUnited States House of Representatives, representingOregon's 5th congressional district. During his one term in the House from 1995 to 1997, Bunn divorced his wife of 17 years, with whom he had five children, and married Sonja Skurdal, an aide in his congressional office whom he made hischief of staff. Bunn then paid Skurdal more than any other congressional aide in Oregon at that time.[2] In the1996 election, this scandal contributed to his loss to DemocratDarlene Hooley.[3]
After leaving Congress, Bunn became asheriff's deputy at theYamhill County jail.[2][4] In 2008, he was a candidate for theOregon House of Representatives in the state's 24th district which includesMcMinnville, but was defeated in the primary byJim Weidner.[5]
Bunn ran again for congress in2022 but came in 5th in the primary out of 7 candidates.[6][7]
Bunn's family includes other notable public figures, such as his brotherStan Bunn, a formerOregon superintendent of public instruction and member of both houses of the state legislature.[8] Another brother,Tom Bunn, is a former Yamhill County commissioner and was briefly a state senator.[9] All three brothers served in the legislature for a short time in from July 1992 to January 1993.[8]
{{cite web}}:|last= has generic name (help)| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's 5th congressional district 1995–1997 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
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