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.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.Lowry, Bryan (''Eagle'' Topeka bureau)
"Virgil Peck will challenge Ray Merrick for speaker of Kansas House"
November 15, 2014, ''

The Wichita Eagle ''The Wichita Eagle'' is a daily newspaper published in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is owned by The McClatchy Company and is the largest newspaper in Wichita and the surrounding area. History Origins In 1870, ''The Vidette'' was the fi ...

''. Retrieved November 21, 2014.

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. After redistricting for the 2012 elections, Merrick filed for House district 27, with the expressed intent of being elected House speaker.Andy Marso
House elects Ray Merrick new Speaker
'' The Topeka Capital-Journal'' December 3, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013. 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. He is married to Phyllis Merrick, lives in Stilwell and holds a business administration degree from Washburn University of Topeka.

Issue positions

Merrick has been described by the state's largest newspaper, ''

'', as being from the "conservative faction of the Republican Party." 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." As Kansas House Speaker in 2013, he focused House attention on tax and budget matters, cutting both, to the exclusion of most other issues.

Controversy

In a November 2014 interview with the state's largest newspaper, ''

'', 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.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.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.Abouhlkahthe, Yael T.

November 17, 2014, ''Kansas City Star'', opinion essay by ''KC Star'' columnist, referencing Speaker's published remarks. Retrieved November 21, 2014.

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).

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 Charlotte O'Hara (January 7, 1951) was a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing District 27 from 2011 to 2013. She previously served as a member of the Kansas City and the Olathe Home Builders Associations and serv ...

, 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 Patton M. Apple, known as Pat, (born August 31, 1957) was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 37th district from 2013 to 2014. He succeeded Robert Tyson to represent the 12th district from 2005 to 2013. After redistrict ...

, the district 12 incumbent, was unopposed in the November 6, 2012, general election.

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 National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

Major donors

The top five business donors to Merrick's 2010 campaign were all professional organizations and corporations:– 2010 Campaign Contributions
Retrieved June 29, 2009. *Sprint Nextel: $1,000 *Kansas Medical Society: $1,000 *Kansas Bankers Association: $1,000 *Glaxosmithkline: $1,000 * Koch Industries: $1,000

References

External links

Official websiteSenator Ray Merrick on the Kansas Legislature SiteProject Vote Smart profileKansas Votes profileState Surge – Legislative and voting track recordProfile
at

Ballotpedia Ballotpedia is a nonprofit and nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that covers federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy in the United States. The website was founded in 2007. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the Lucy Bur ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merrick, Raymond 1939 births Republican Party Kansas state senators Living people Speakers of the Kansas House of Representatives Republican Party members of the Kansas House of Representatives Washburn University alumni 21st-century American politicians People from Stilwell, Kansas