Allen Alley

Allen Alley
Personal details
Born August 3, 1954
Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Debbie Alley
Alma mater Purdue University, West
Lafayette
Religion Christianity

Allen Alley (born August 3, 1954) is an American businessman and Republican politician from the State of Oregon. He unsuccessfully ran for Oregon State Treasurer in 2008 and the Republican nomination for Governor of Oregon in 2010. He also served as Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party from January 2011 to February 2013.

Early life

Alley was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States, the son of Nafe and Behle Alley. His father, a mechanical engineer, began his career designing conveyor systems before joining the Boeing Company. The family lived in several different cities, including Seattle and Philadelphia where Allen attended Nether Providence High School.[1]

In 1976, Alley graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business.[1] He went to work for the Ford Motor Company and then Boeing in various product engineering and design roles. Alley joined Computervision as director of Product Marketing in Boston, Massachusetts. From there, he was recruited to join Battery Ventures, a $75 million investment company that specialized in high-technology ventures.[2] In 1992, Alley moved to Oregon to work for InFocus, a manufacturer of mobile business display hardware, where he served as Vice President of Corporate Development, Engineering, and Marketing. In 1997, Alley co-founded Pixelworks, a fabless semiconductor company.[2]

In 2000, Alley raised $66.1 million for Pixelworks, making it one of that year's top semiconductors.[3]

Public service career

Alley’s interest in politics began when he was appointed by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber in January 2002 to serve as the inaugural chair for the Oregon Council for Knowledge and Economic Development. Under his leadership, the fledgling council sought to stimulate economic development in Oregon by bringing leaders from wide-ranging fields of higher education, economic development and the private sector.

In February 2002, Alley accepted a Presidential appointment from President George W. Bush to sit on the U.S.-Japan Private Sector/Government Commission, which strove to promote sustainable economic growth in both countries. While in Japan, Alley met Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman and the two made a pact that they would at one point in their careers seek elected offices for their respective states. Both have fulfilled such promises.[4]

In 2006, Alley was named as the Chairman of the Oregon Business Plan. He was tasked with the responsibility to help to shape public policy in Oregon that would ensure economic growth.

After stepping down as CEO of Pixelworks Inc. in 2007, Alley was hired to serve as a deputy chief of staff for Democratic Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski. Included in Alley’s policy portfolio was economic development, technology, transportation, workforce training and energy.

Political campaigns

In May 2008, Alley won the Republican primary for Oregon State Treasurer. Alley lost to Democratic state Senator Ben Westlund by 51% to 45% in the general election.[5]

In 2009, Alley announced his candidacy for Governor of Oregon in 2010.[6] He lost in the May 2010 Republican primary to wealth strategist and former NBA player Chris Dudley.[7]

On January 3, 2011, Alley announced his candidacy for Oregon Republican Party Chairman. His announcement came only hours after incumbent Chairman Bob Tiernan announced he wouldn’t seek another term. Alley was first encouraged by Republican State Representative Greg Smith to run for the position[8] and soon after gained support from numerous other Republican politicians and party leaders[9] including U.S. Congressmen Greg Walden.[10] Alley ran unopposed and on January 22, 2011 he was unanimously elected to the position.[11]

On June 23, 2012, as Oregon GOP chairman, Alley shut down the Congressional District Convention after candidates on the Ron Paul slate won many of the delegate slots, preventing additional candidates from the slate from winning Alternate Delegate slots. This was after an Oregon GOP official representing Alley, Terri Moffett, had already left the building and taken the ballots with her.[12] Alley was associated with Ron Paul's opponent Mitt Romney and participated in a Romney's fundraiser in Oregon.[13]

In November 2012, he announced he would not seek another term as Chairman, citing business concerns.[14] He was succeeded in February 2013 by Suzanne Gallagher.[15]

Personal

Alley and his wife of 28 years, Debbie, have three children. They reside in Lake Oswego, Oregon.[16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "My Family". Allen Alley for Governor. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "My Career". Allen Alley for Governor. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ "Oregon Secretary of State: That Trail's Gone Cold!". Oregonvotes.org. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Alley Announces he's in race for Oregon governor; 2/18/09". Allenalley.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Oregon 2010 Primary Results: Governor". The Oregonian. May 18, 2010. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ "Allen Alley picks up strong backing for Oregon GOP chairmanship". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Allen Alley Official Announcement for Republican State Chair - The Oregon Catalyst". Oregoncatalyst.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Allen Alley glides into Oregon Republican chairmanship". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Video on YouTube
  13. ↑ "Portland, Oregon: Romney Raises Thousands, Receives Endorsement from Former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)". Mittromneycentral.com. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Allen Alley won't seek a second term as Oregon Republican chairman". The Oregonian. November 30, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Suzanne Gallagher wins Oregon Republican chairmanship on second ballot". The Oregonian. February 2, 2013.
  16. ↑

External links