Rich Vial

Rich Vial
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 26th district
In office January 9, 2017 – January 14, 2019
Preceded by	John Davis
Succeeded by	Courtney Neron
Oregon Deputy Secretary of State
In office April 2019 – January 2020
Personal details
Born	(1954-09-28) September 28, 1954 (age 70) Lynwood, California, U.S.
Political party	Nonpartisan
Other political affiliations	Non-affiliated
Residence(s)	Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater	Brigham Young University Willamette University College of Law
Occupation	Small business owner, farmer, attorney

Armand Richard Vial (born September 28, 1954) is an American lawyer, farmer, small business owner, and Nonpartisan candidate for Oregon's State Senate District 18, which covers parts of Washington County, in the November 2022 midterm election. He previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives in 2016 representing the 26th district. He has served in the state legislature as a Republican.

Biography

Vial was born in Lynwood, California. He attended Brigham Young University, from where he graduated in 1978, and the Willamette University College of Law. He has served on the Washington County Land Use Advisory Committee, and the Clean Water Services Advisory Committee.[1]

He ran for the state House as a Republican in 2016. During his campaign, a complaint filed by Kathleen Stuart, the director of a state Democratic Party organization, alleged that Vial did not reside in the district he was campaigning to represent.[2] The case was resolved in Vial's favor.[3] He defeated Democratic candidate Ray Lister in the general election.[4]

Vial is the former Chair of the Washington County Planning Commission and has previously served as Chair of the Groner School District Board and the Washington County Fair Board.[5]

Vial was defeated in 2018 by Courtney Neron, a Democrat. After leaving the state legislature, Vial served as the Oregon Deputy Secretary of State under Bev Clarno from April 2019 to January 2020.[6]

In 2020, Vial changed his political affiliation to Nonpartisan.[7] In 2020, he announced his candidacy for Secretary of State, organizing a nominating convention to be held on July 25, but did not receive the signatures necessary to qualify.

In August of 2022, Vial qualified to run as the non-affiliated candidate for the Oregon State Senate District 18 in the November 8, 2022 General Election.

Personal life

Vial and his wife, Paula, who have been married since 1975, have 13 children, including 7 Vietnamese refugee children, and 46 grandchildren.[1]

Vial and his family are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Vial has previously served as a Mormon Bishop.[8]

Electoral history

2016 Oregon State Representative, 26th district[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Vial	18,704	54.8
	Democratic	Ray M Lister	15,365	45.0
	Write-in		47	0.1
Total votes			34,116	100%

2018 Oregon State Representative, 26th district[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Courtney Neron	17,211	50.8
	Republican	Rich Vial	15,928	47.0
	Libertarian	Tim E Nelson	683	2.0
	Write-in		46	0.1
Total votes			33,868	100%

2022 Oregon State Senator, 18th district (2 year term)[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Wlnsvey Campos	30,534	56.5
	Republican	Kimberly Rice	17,848	33.0
	Independent	Rich Vial	5,599	10.4
	Write-in		59	0.1
Total votes			54,040	100%

References

1. "Richard Vial's Biography". Project VoteSmart. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
2. Townsley, Nancy (September 13, 2016). "Complaint alleges GOP candidate Rich Vial lives outside HD 26". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
3. "ENDORSEMENT: Vial should get voters' nod in House District 26". Hillsboro Tribune. October 13, 2016. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
4. "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
5. "Representative Rich Vial". Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2017-02-17.
6. Hammond, Betsy; Davis, Rob (January 9, 2020). "Rich Vial resigns as deputy Oregon secretary of state". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
7. "Secretary of state candidate Rich Vial leaves GOP to run nonpartisan". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
8. Colvin, Gina (2017-07-21). "204: Civil Dialogue in Difficult Times: Rich Vial". A Thoughtful Faith Podcast. Archived from the original on 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
9. "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
10. "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
11. "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

External links

• Campaign website