Mary Nolan (politician)

Mary Nolan was born in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2] She is married to Mark Gardiner; they have one daughter.[3]

Nolan was in the first class of women admitted into Dartmouth College,[4] from which she graduated magna cum laude in mathematics.[4]

Following her departure from elected politics, Nolan was a finalist for a position with Planned Parenthood, and was then hired in 2013 as a vice president at FamilyCare, a Medicare and Medicaid managed-care provider in Portland.[5]

Nolan was first elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2000. Upon winning her second term in 2002, she was named the assistant Democratic leadership.[6] Before the 2009 legislative session, Dave Hunt, the then-majority leader, was elected speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.[7] The Democratic Caucus then elected Nolan as the new majority leader.[7] She was the House Majority Leader in the Oregon House of Representatives from November 2008 until November 2010. In November 2010, the House Democratic Caucus did not re-elect Nolan to any leadership position.

According to The Oregonian, as of 2010 Nolan voted with Democrats 96.77% of the time, and had a 1.08% absence record.[8] After Nolan voted "no" on House Bill 2001, which would have increased transportation taxes by $300 million a year in 2009, The Oregonian reported that the move could mean that she may be planning to run for another public office like Mayor of Portland or City Council because of what it meant for environmentalists who had opposed the transportation bill.[9]

Nolan ran for a seat on the Portland City Council in the May 2012, challenging incumbent commissioner Amanda Fritz.[10] Fritz won the runoff election in November 2012.[11]

In 2020, Mary Nolan ran and won the election for Portland, OR Metro Council, District 5.[12] She advanced from the primary on May 19, 2020, and faced Chris Smith in the general election. She won with 61% of the vote to Smith’s 37%. District 5 covers much of North Portland, Oregon.

Oregon House of Representatives, 11th district, 2000[14]

• Mary Nolan (D) – 18,008
• Joan Gardner (R) – 7,752

Oregon House of Representatives, 36th district, 2002[15]

• Mary Nolan (D) – 16,092

Oregon House of Representatives, 36th district, 2004[16]

• Mary Nolan (D) – 25,876
• Joe H. Tabor (L) – 3,684

Oregon House of Representatives, 36th district, 2006[17]

• Mary Nolan (D) – 20,344
• Frank Dane (L) – 3,520

Oregon House of Representatives, 36th district, 2008

• Endorsed by Willamette Week[18]

Nolan is the chair of the NASA industry advisory council.[19] In the 2010 election for governor of Oregon, Nolan endorsed John Kitzhaber, the Democratic former Governor of Oregon.[20] The Kitzhaber campaign released this statement:

John Kitzhaber is a tested leader. No one else comes close to matching the depth of his experience as a doctor, legislator and Governor. He brings exactly the perspective and problem-solving skills that Oregon needs during this challenging time. Just as important as his experience are John's values and integrity. He will always do what's in the best interest of Oregon, and will show us how we can make Oregon so much stronger when we look beyond selfish concerns.

— Mary Nolan on her endorsement for John Kitzhaber, February 3, 2010: John Kitzhaber for Governor 2010[20]

• Oregon State House – Mary Nolan official government website
• Project Vote Smart – Representative Mary Nolan (OR) profile
• Portland Community College interview with Mary Nolan
• Follow the Money – Mary Nolan
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions