Laurie Monnes Anderson

Laurie Monnes Anderson
Monnes Anderson in 2010
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 25th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 2005
Preceded by	John Minnis
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 50th district
In office 2001–2005
Preceded by	Ron Sunseri
Succeeded by	John Lim
Personal details
Born	(1945-12-31) December 31, 1945 (age 71) Coronado, California
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Nurse (retired)
Religion	Methodist

Laurie Monnes Anderson (born December 31, 1945) is an Oregon Democratic politician who currently serves in the Oregon Senate, representing District 25 in eastern Multnomah County, Oregon, including parts of the cities of Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale, and Wood Village. She was reelected in the 2008 Oregon legislative elections.

Born Laurie Monnes in Coronado, California, she grew up in Gresham, Oregon, one of four children of Bud and Ellene Groening Monnes, who were both teachers. She graduated from Gresham High School and received a bachelor's degree in biology from Willamette University in 1968, and a master's in biology from the University of Colorado in 1972. In 1981, she earned a degree in nursing from Radford University. She married and raised two children, divorcing in 1985.

Following a career as a public health nurse, Monnes Anderson began serving on the Gresham-Barlow School District board in 1991. In 1998, she ran for the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 22, but lost to incumbent Ron Sunseri by 250 votes. In 2000, Sunseri did not seek re-election, and Monnes Anderson defeated Republican nominee Ed Golobay for the seat in a close election. She was re-elected to the seat (renumbered to District 50) by a wide margin in 2002 over Ernest Hodgin.

In 2004, she sought election to the Oregon Senate in District 25. In this race, she again faced Ron Sunseri, who had defeated her in her first House race in 1998. However, this time, Monnes Anderson prevailed by 9 percentage points in an expensive race.