Chris Gorsek
Christopher S. Gorsek is an American politician, educator, and former police officer currently serving as a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing District 25 since January 11, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he formerly served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021.
Early life and education
Christopher S. Gorsek was born on January 28, 1958 in Portland, Oregon. His father worked at the Crown Zellerbach mill in West Linn and was a member of the AWPPW. Gorsek cites his father's union membership and ability to support a family and make a living wage because of organized labor as the reason he decided to work union jobs throughout his life. He grew up in Southeast Portland and graduated from Franklin High School in 1976. He attended Portland Community College, where he received an associates degree. He later received a bachelor of science and master of arts from the University of Oregon in 1989 and 1992, respectively, followed by a Ph.D. from Portland State University in 2004.Career
From 1977 to 1980, he served as a cadet, and later reserve officer, with the Portland Police Bureau, and from 1980 to 1987 served as a full-time sworn police officer. While in college, he worked full time at local grocery retailer Fred Meyer as a cashier, where he was a member of the UFCW.Since 1996, he has been a professor at Mt. Hood Community College teaching criminal justice and geography.
Troutdale City Council
Gorsek was elected to the Troutdale City Council in the November 2002 election. He defeated incumbent Pat Smith and Gail P. Thurber. He served one term.State legislator
Senator Chris Gorsek has spent his career advocating for East Multnomah County, public safety and civil rights. From joining with his colleagues in fighting for the region's only birthing center to introducing innovative legislation that has led to an 80% drop in catalytic converter thefts Sen. Chris Gorsek continues to have an enduring impact regarding quality of life in East Multnomah County.In 2021 Senator Gorsek worked with the National Innocence Project and the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth to pass one of our nation's first laws that prohibit police from using deceptive interrogation tactics on minors. The law bans commonly used deceptive interrogation tactics, including false promises of leniency and false claims about the existence of incriminating evidence. Both of these tactics have long been identified as significantly increasing the risk of false confessions, which have played a role in about 30% of all wrongful convictions overturned by DNA. False confessions are also the most frequent contributing factor in wrongful conviction cases involving homicides. And recent studies suggest that children under 18 are between two and three times more likely to falsely confess than adults.
In April of 2024 Senator Gorsek's legislation overhauling the framework of Oregon's debt collection rules, The Family Financial Protection Act was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek. The legislation changes the amounts collection agencies can garnish and sweep from a debtor's pay and savigings.
Designed to address multifaceted challenges, the FFPA offers comprehensive protections for families recovering from debt and shields consumers from unjust collection practices. Key provisions of the bill include:Home Protection Expansion: The value of a home protected from seizure has been increased to $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for couples, a significant rise from the previous $40,000 protection for individuals.Gradual Wage Exemption Increase: By 2027, the amount of wages exempted from court seizure or garnishment will rise and be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.Bank Account Protection: The first $2,500 in a person’s bank account is now shielded from garnishment or seizure, preventing debt collectors from wiping out entire accounts.Protection Against Unowed/Incorrect Debt: It is now a violation of the law to attempt to collect a debt when a collector knew or should have known that the debt did not exist or was inaccurately calculated.Motor Vehicle Protection: Debtors will be entitled to exempt up to $10,000 for any motor vehicle, an increase from $3,000.Fair Legal Fee Protection: Consumers no longer need to worry about covering the creditor or debt collectors’ attorney fees, making it financially viable to contest incorrect debts and leveling the playing field for consumers.
Other legislation introduced and championed by Senator Gorsek in his tenure in office, that begun after being first elected to the Oregon House in 2012, includes legislation limiting the use of drugs on public transport, new tools for law enforcement to intervene in street racing and legislation outlawing the sale of fake car safety airbags.
Personal life
Gorsek resides in Troutdale with his wife Jackie. They have two children, Annie and Christopher. He is an Episcopal and attends Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Gresham. From 1991 to 1995 he served on the Ministry in Higher Education Board for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Oregon and twice served on the University of Oregon Episcopal Campus Ministry Board.Elections
- 2012 - Challenged incumbent Republican Representative Matt Wand for the District 49 seat, Gorsek was unopposed for the May 15, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 2,392 votes, and won the November 6, 2012, General election with 11,459 votes against Representative Wand.
- 2000 - Republican Senator John Lim was term limited and left the Senate District 11 seat open, Gorsek was unopposed for the May 16, 2000, Democratic Primary, winning with 7,838 votes, but lost the November 7, 2000, General election to Republican nominee John Minnis.