Ted Ferrioli

Ted Ferrioli (born February 15, 1951) is an American politician, currently serving as an Oregon state senator. He represents Senate District 30, which encompasses Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Malheur, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler, and portions of Clackamas, Deschutes, and Marion counties. He is the Republican senate minority leader.

Ferrioli was born in Spokane, Washington on February 15, 1951. In 1959, Ferrioli moved with his family to Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Grant High School with honors in 1969. From 1969 to 1973, Ferrioli attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English. During his tenure at the University of Oregon, Ferrioli served as the editor of Northwest Review magazine, as well as working various jobs for the Springfield News.

After graduating from college, Ferrioli was hired by the United States Department of Veteran's Affairs. In 1986, Ferrioli founded Community Relation Associates, Inc. to advocate for natural resource producers in the state of Oregon. He is also the co-founder of Oregon Lands Coalition.

Ferrioli's first elected position was on the Creswell, Oregon City Council, where he served as the chairman of the budget and police committees. Soon after, he was elected President of the Lane County Chamber of Commerce. Ferrioli also served on the Economic Improvement Commission and the Community Substance Abuse Consortium Board of Directors.

Legislative career

In 1997, Ferrioli was elected to the Oregon State Senate to represent Senate District 30.

In 2008, Ferrioli ran unopposed during the May 2008 primary election, and won reelection general election in November.

In February 2011, he apologized after making a controversial statement that Greece is a "haven for morons", in response to a letter from a singer from South Africa living in Greece, asking him to oppose a bill that would remove wolves from Oregon's endangered species list.