Raymond Merrick
| Ray Merrick | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives |
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In office January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Michael O'Neal |
| Succeeded by | Ron Ryckman Jr. |
| Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 27th district |
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In office January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Charlotte O'Hara |
| Succeeded by | Sean Tarwater |
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In office January 10, 2000 – January 10, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Phyllis Gilmore |
| Succeeded by | Charlotte O'Hara |
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 37th district |
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In office January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Jeff Colyer |
| Succeeded by | Pat Apple |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 18, 1939 Smith, Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Phyllis Merrick |
| Alma mater | Washburn University |
Raymond F. "Ray" 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.
Merrick served in Kansas Senate District 37 from 2011 to 2013. Shortly after the 2010 general election, when District 37 Sen. 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.
Merrick previously served in the Kansas House from January 6, 2000 to January 2011. Merrick served as House majority leader from 2007–2010, as speaker pro tempore from 2004–2006, and as assistant majority leader from 2002–2004.
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.
Merrick has been described by the state's largest newspaper, the Wichita Eagle, 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.
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.
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Wikipedia