Ben Unger

Unger was born on March 4, 1976, in Cornelius, Oregon, and was raised on a farm south of the city.{{cite web|title=Ben Unger's Biography|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135197/ben-unger#.UrKJYuJHK1Q|work=Candidates|publisher=Project Vote Smart|access-date=19 December 2013|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219072533/http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135197/ben-unger#.UrKJYuJHK1Q|url-status=live}} After graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1994,{{cite news|title=Voter Guide: State Representative -- 29th District|url=http://thevoterguide.oregonlive.com/race-detail.do?id=11173317|access-date=19 December 2013|newspaper=The Oregonian|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219181448/http://thevoterguide.oregonlive.com/race-detail.do?id=11173317|archive-date=19 December 2013}}{{cite news|title=Hilhi Students Meet Oregon House Representative Ben Unger|url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-hillsboro/2013/12/hilhi_students_meet_oregon_hou.html|access-date=19 December 2013|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=December 5, 2013|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219180433/http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-hillsboro/2013/12/hilhi_students_meet_oregon_hou.html|url-status=live}} Unger earned his BA degree in English from the University of Oregon. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a special assistant to the Oregon Attorney General.

In 2012, Unger won the District 29 Democratic Primary with 65.2% of the vote against Katie Riley.{{cite web |url= http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873711 |title= May 15, 2012, Primary Election Abstracts of Votes |publisher= Oregon Secretary of State |location= Salem, Oregon |page= 13 |access-date= December 18, 2013 |archive-date= October 9, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201009112705/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873711 |url-status= live }} He won the November 6 General election with 11,312 votes (53.5%) against Republican nominee Katie Eyre.{{cite web |url= http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873690 |title= November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes |publisher= Oregon Secretary of State |location= Salem, Oregon |page= 16 |access-date= December 18, 2013 |archive-date= October 11, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201011031342/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/RecordView/6873690 |url-status= live }} Unger was endorsed by a local newspaper, the Forest Grove News Times, and many other groups such as the Oregon Council of Police Associations, the Oregon State Council of Retired Citizens, and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.{{cite web |url=http://benunger.com/supporters |title=Supporters | Ben Unger for Oregon House District 29 |access-date=2013-12-24 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103235557/http://benunger.com/supporters |archive-date=2014-01-03 }} During his run against Eyre, he was portrayed as a carpetbagger for moving back to the district from Portland to run for the seat.{{cite news|last=Jaquiss|first=Nigel|title=Hot House|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-19813-hot_house.html|access-date=19 December 2013|newspaper=Willamette Week|date=October 24, 2012|archive-date=19 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219181113/http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-19813-hot_house.html|url-status=live}} The Forest Grove News Times ran an article pointing out inaccuracies in those attacks, and referenced them as one of the reasons they chose to endorse Unger.{{Cite web|url=http://portlandtribune.com/fgnt/36-news/115417-mailers-fudge-facts-on-unger|title=Mailers fudge facts on Unger|access-date=2013-12-24|archive-date=2013-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227054556/http://portlandtribune.com/fgnt/36-news/115417-mailers-fudge-facts-on-unger|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://portlandtribune.com/fgnt/37-opinion/116211-unger-best-choice-for-hd29-race|title=Unger best choice for HD29 race|access-date=2013-12-24|archive-date=2013-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227064612/http://portlandtribune.com/fgnt/37-opinion/116211-unger-best-choice-for-hd29-race|url-status=dead}} Unger, who grew up on his families' Century Farm, emphasized supporting local schools in his campaign.{{cite web|url=http://benunger.com/blog?page%3D1 |title=| Ben Unger for Oregon House District 29 |access-date=2013-12-24 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224104301/http://benunger.com/blog?page=1 |archive-date=2013-12-24 }}{{Cite web|url = http://www.oregonlive.com/argus/index.ssf/2012/09/ben_unger_economic_vitality_de.html|title = Ben Unger: Economic vitality depends on strong schools today|date = 18 September 2012|access-date = 24 December 2013|archive-date = 24 December 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115654/http://www.oregonlive.com/argus/index.ssf/2012/09/ben_unger_economic_vitality_de.html|url-status = live}}

In 2014, he announced he would not run for re-election, and in June 2014 became the executive director of lobby group Our Oregon,{{cite news|last1=Mapes|first1=Jeff|title=Hillsboro Rep. Ben Unger takes the reins of Our Oregon, one of state's key liberal groups|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2014/06/hillsboro_rep_ben_unger_takes.html#incart_m-rpt-1|access-date=21 June 2014|work=The Oregonian|date=June 20, 2014|archive-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621024543/http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2014/06/hillsboro_rep_ben_unger_takes.html#incart_m-rpt-1|url-status=live}} where he served until 2018.“Our Oregon.” Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, Form 990. 2016. Part Seven, Section A. ^ Unger was succeeded by former Metro councilor Susan McLain, also a Democrat.{{cite news|url=http://www.golocalpdx.com/politics/oregons-post-election-ten-power-players|agency=GoLocalPDX|title=SLIDES: Oregon's 7 New Political Power Players|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=February 2, 2015|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203095558/http://www.golocalpdx.com/politics/oregons-post-election-ten-power-players|url-status=live}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2012 Oregon State Representative, 29th district{{cite web

| title = Official Results | November 6, 2012

| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873690

| website = Oregon Secretary of State

| access-date = October 30, 2023

| archive-date = April 6, 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406223358/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873690

| url-status = live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Ben Unger

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 11,312

| percentage = 53.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Katie Eyre

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 9,788

| percentage = 46.3}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 60

| percentage = 0.3}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 21,160

| percentage = 100%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131219002723/http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/unger Official page] at the Oregon Legislative Assembly
• {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20130508185652/http://benunger.com/|2013 archived copy of his website}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=135197 | fec= | congress= }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unger, Ben}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly

Category:Politicians from Hillsboro, Oregon

Category:University of Oregon alumni

Category:Hillsboro High School (Oregon) alumni

Category:People from Cornelius, Oregon

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