Raymond Merrick

Raymond F. Merrick (born October 18, 1939) is a Republican former member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing district 27 from 2013 to 2017. He was elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives in December 2012.[1][2]

Ray Merrick
Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017
Preceded byMichael O'Neal
Succeeded byRon Ryckman Jr.
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 27th district
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017
Preceded byCharlotte O'Hara
Succeeded bySean Tarwater
In office
January 10, 2000 – January 10, 2011
Preceded byPhyllis Gilmore
Succeeded byCharlotte O'Hara
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 37th district
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2013
Preceded byJeff Colyer
Succeeded byPat Apple
Personal details
Born (1939-10-18) October 18, 1939
Smith, Alberta, Canada
Political partyRepublican
SpousePhyllis Merrick
Alma materWashburn University

Political career

Merrick represented district 37 in the Kansas Senate from 2011 to 2013. Shortly after the 2010 general election, when district 37 Senator Jeff Colyer was elected lieutenant governor, Merrick was elected by Republican precinct committee members to fill the remainder of Colyer's term.[3][4][5] After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for House district 27, with the expressed intent of being elected House speaker.[6]

Merrick previously served in the Kansas House from January 6, 2000, to January 2011. He served as House majority leader from 2007 to 2010, as speaker pro tempore from 2004 to 2006, and as assistant majority leader from 2002 to 2004.

Background

After college, Merrick was in the United States Marine Corps for several years and then began a career in sales for Folger's Coffee. He founded and owns MJM Management Company, a property management company for shopping centers in the growing southern suburban Kansas City region. Johnson County, Kansas. He previously served as senior vice president/general manager for both the Myron Green Cafeterias Company and Treat America.[1][7]

He is married to Phyllis Merrick, lives in Stilwell and holds a business administration degree from Washburn University of Topeka.[8]

Issue positions

Merrick has been described by the state's largest newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, as being from the "conservative faction of the Republican Party."[2]

Merrick's website lists some of his major goals as "tougher restrictions on sexual predators," "protecting Blue Valley and Olathe school districts," and "advocating responsible government and protecting our tax dollars."[9]

As Kansas House Speaker in 2013, he focused House attention on tax and budget matters, cutting both, to the exclusion of most other issues.[1]

Controversy

In a November 2014 interview with the state's largest newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, Merrick stated, "Government workers produce nothing," following it up with further comments to underscore their burden upon society. The remarks stimulated an intense backlash, particularly from government workers representatives and the Kansas Democratic Party (who circulated a petition calling for Merrick's departure from the Speaker's seat). Merrick subsequently mollified the remark with positive comments about public service employees.[10][11][12]

Committee assignments

2009–2010

In the 2009–2010 legislative session, Merrick served on these House committees:

  • Calendar and Printing, chair
  • Interstate Cooperation, vice-chair
  • Legislative Budget, vice-chair

2011–2012

In the 2011–2012 legislative session, Merrick served on these Senate committees:

  • Commerce
  • Financial Institutions and Insurance
  • Utilities

2013–2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Merrick served on these House committees:

  • Interstate Cooperation, chair
  • Calendar and Printing, vice-chair
  • Legislative Budget

2015

Speaker Merrick currently serves on the following House committees:

  • Interstate Cooperation, chair
  • Calendar and Printing, vice-chair
  • Legislative Coordinating Council, vice-chair
  • Legislative Budget

Elections

2008

On November 4, 2008, Merrick was re-elected to the 27th district seat in the Kansas House of Representatives, defeating Becky Ansley (D).[13]

2010

Merrick won re-election to the 27th district seat in the November 2, 2010, general election, with no opposition. He was also unopposed in the GOP primary.

2012

After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for the House 27 seat held Charlotte O'Hara, R-Overland Park. Merrick ran unopposed in the August 7 Republican primary and ran unopposed in the general election, on November 6, 2012. He was elected speaker of the House in a three-way race on December 2, 2012.

O'Hara filed for the Kansas Senate district 37 seat being vacated in 2012 by Merrick. She placed second in a three-way Republican primary. Republican district 37 nominee Pat Apple, the district 12 incumbent, was unopposed in the November 6, 2012, general election.[6][14][15][16]

Memberships
  • American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), serving as both the Kansas co-chair and on the national board
  • Co-founder of Kansas Chapter of the National Association of Sportsman's Caucuses
  • SCR 1602 Congratulating Kansas' Sesquicentennial. January 28, 2011 .
  • SCR 1604 Constitutional amendment to preserve right to choose health care services and participate in health insurance plans. February 9, 2011 .
  • SR 1847 Recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child. April 27, 2011 .
  • SR 1851 Supporting the development of 4-H projects in south Johnson County. April 2, 2011.

Major donors

The top five business donors to Merrick's 2010 campaign were all professional organizations and corporations:[17]

  • Sprint Nextel: $1,000
  • Kansas Medical Society: $1,000
  • Kansas Bankers Association: $1,000
  • Glaxosmithkline: $1,000
  • Koch Industries: $1,000

References
  1. Cooper, Brad, "Ray Merrick: Speaking for the outsiders", May 21, 2013, The Kansas City Star, detailed profile of Kansas House Speaker Merrick. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  2. Lowry, Bryan (Eagle Topeka bureau), "Virgil Peck will challenge Ray Merrick for speaker of Kansas House", November 15, 2014, The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the 2012 Primary (unofficial)," Retrieved June 19, 2012. Archived May 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Kansas – Summary Vote Results". C-SPAN. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  5. Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 Kansas General Election Results" Archived 2013-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  6. Andy Marso, House elects Ray Merrick new Speaker Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine The Topeka Capital-Journal December 3, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  7. Rep. Raymond Merrick Biography Vote Smart. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2013-04-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Ray Merrick official website, retrieved June 29, 2009.
  10. Shorman, Jonathan, "Kansas lawmakers divide into two camps on how to plug $1 billion budget hole," November 15, 2014, Wichita Eagle. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  11. Shorman, Jonathan, "House speaker seeks to clarify comments about state workers: Speaker Ray Merrick issues statement following comments that drew outrage," November 18, 2014, Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  12. Abouhlkahthe, Yael T., "Government employees produce nothing, says ignorant Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick of Johnson County", November 17, 2014, Kansas City Star, opinion essay by KC Star columnist, referencing Speaker's published remarks. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  13. 2008 Kansas Election Results (PDF) Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  14. Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidates for the August 7, 2012 Primary (official)," Retrieved April 3, 2013. Archived May 3, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
  15. Kansas Secretary of State, Official 2012 Primary Results (PDF) Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  16. Kansas Secretary of State, "2012 Kansas General Election Results Retrieved April 3, 2013. Archived February 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  17. – 2010 Campaign Contributions Retrieved June 29, 2009.
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