Val Hoyle Explained

Val Hoyle
State:Oregon
Term Start:January 3, 2023
Predecessor:Peter DeFazio
Office1:Labor Commissioner of Oregon
Governor1:Kate Brown
Term Start1:January 7, 2019
Term End1:January 2, 2023
Predecessor1:Brad Avakian
Successor1:Christina Stephenson
Office2:Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
Term Start2:January 14, 2013
Term End2:July 10, 2015
Predecessor2:Tina Kotek (Democratic Leader)
Successor2:Jennifer Williamson
State House3:Oregon
District3:14th
Term Start3:January 12, 2009
Term End3:January 9, 2017
Predecessor3:Chris Edwards
Successor3:Julie Fahey
Birth Name:Valerie Anne Toomey
Birth Date:14 February 1964
Birth Place:Fairfield, California, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Stephen Hoyle
Education:Bunker Hill Community College
Emmanuel College (BA)

Valerie Anne Hoyle (née Toomey; born February 14, 1964)[1] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. Until 2023, she served as the commissioner of Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI)[2] (commonly called the "Labor Commissioner").

A Democrat, Hoyle formerly served in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 14, which includes West Eugene, Junction City, and Cheshire. She was appointed to the House in August 2009 and reelected to full terms in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

In December 2021, Hoyle announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. The seat was open after incumbent Peter DeFazio decided not to run for reelection.[3]

Early life and education

Hoyle was born on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, in 1964. She grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire, where her father Dan Toomey was a firefighter, union official, and later a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[4] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Emmanuel College in Boston.[5]

Early political career

In 1999, Hoyle and her family moved to Lane County, Oregon, where she joined the education advocacy group Stand for Children. Before serving in the Oregon legislature, she worked in sales and marketing for bicycle manufacturers Burley Design and Cane Creek, and served as legislative aide and policy analyst for State Senator Floyd Prozanski. She was also a director of the United Way of Lane County.[6]

Oregon House of Representatives

Hoyle was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in August 2009 to replace Chris Edwards, who was appointed to the Oregon State Senate.[7] In 2010, she was reelected to a full term, defeating Republican Dwight Coon and Independent Kevin Prociw.[8] On November 6, 2012, Hoyle again defeated Coon to win a second full term.[9]

Before the 2011 legislative session, Hoyle was elected assistant caucus leader of the Oregon House Democrats. During the 2011 legislative session, she was co-vice chair of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, and served on the House Committees on Health Care and Business & Labor.[10] She also served on the Governor's Health Care Transformation Team.

On November 15, 2012, after House Democrats selected Tina Kotek as speaker of the Oregon House, Hoyle was elected to lead the Oregon House Democrats as House majority leader for the 2013 Legislative Session.[11] During the 2013 legislative session, she co-chaired the House Task Force on O&C Counties and was vice chair of the House Committee on Rules.

Shortly before the 2014 legislative session, former State Representative Chris Garrett received an executive appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals[12] and Hoyle was named chair of the House Committee on Rules. Hoyle also served as a legislative co-chair of the Oregon Elder Abuse Prevention Workgroup.

After Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber resigned in February 2015, elevating Kate Brown to the governorship, The Oregonian named Hoyle as a possible successor to Brown as Oregon Secretary of State.[13] Hoyle stepped down as majority leader in 2015 to run for Oregon secretary of state. In the 2016 Democratic primary, she came in second place, receiving 33.81% of the vote to Democratic nominee Brad Avakian's 39.06%.[14]

Labor commissioner

In 2018, Hoyle ran to become Oregon's 10th labor commissioner, a nonpartisan elected position.[15] She won the race outright in May, receiving 52% of the vote and winning 17 of 36 counties.[15] Former Tualatin Mayor Lou Ogden received 36% and Jack Howard, a La Grande attorney and former Union County Commissioner, received 12%. The Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries serves a four-year term, has offices in Portland, Eugene, and Salem, oversees enforcement of wage and hour laws, including prevailing wage and civil rights enforcement, certifies apprenticeship programs, and provides employment law technical assistance for employers.[16]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

On December 1, 2021, Hoyle announced her candidacy for Oregon's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2022. The seat was held by fellow Democrat and New England native Peter DeFazio, who announced that he was not running for reelection after 18 terms.[3] Polling conducted by Public Policy Polling in March 2022 found Hoyle to be favored in the Democratic primary.[17] She benefited from more than $500,000 in spending by super PACs during the primary.[18] In November 2022 Hoyle was elected to the House.

Tenure

In the House, Hoyle generally voted with the majority of other Democratic members, but there were exceptions. On January 31, 2023, Hoyle was among seven Democrats to vote for H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.[19] [20]

In 2023, Hoyle was among 56 Democrats to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[21] [22]

Hoyle was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[23]

Caucus memberships

Committee assignments

Personal life

Hoyle lives outside Springfield, Oregon, and is married with two adult children.[26]

Hoyle is Roman Catholic.[27]

External links

|-|-|-|-

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Val Hoyle. October 18, 2019 . Oregon Labor Law Conference. February 11, 2022. February 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212061012/https://laborlawconference.com/val-hoyle/. live.
  2. Web site: Oregon reaches milestone as new labor commissioner, Val Hoyle, sworn in. January 7, 2019. March 5, 2018. August 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230806084455/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/07/oregon-reaches-milestone-commissioner-sworn-labor-val-hoyle/2510102002/. live.
  3. News: December 1, 2021. Val Hoyle to run for Congress as DeFazio opts not to seek re-election in 2022. KATU. Portland, OR. December 24, 2021. December 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202055552/https://katu.com/news/politics/val-hoyle-to-run-for-congress-as-defazio-opts-not-to-seek-re-election-in-2022. live.
  4. Web site: Nashua native Val Hoyle looks back on nearly 50 years in politics . . Dean Shalhoup . January 21, 2023 . October 24, 2023 . February 1, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201011052/https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2023/01/21/nashua-native-val-hoyle-looks-back-on-nearly-50-years-in-politics/ . live .
  5. Web site: Representative Val Hoyle. VoteSmart.org. June 3, 2011. October 31, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101031134143/http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=116336. live.
  6. News: Galbreath . David . Who Will Replace DeFazio? . August 31, 2022 . The Torch . April 8, 2022 . August 31, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831201256/https://lcctorch.com/who-will-replace-defazio/ . live .
  7. News: Commissioners appoint education advocate to House seat. The Register Guard. September 24, 2009. September 24, 2009. July 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727080725/http://special.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/20581921-55/story.csp. live.
  8. Web site: Lane County Elections. Lane County. June 2, 2011. June 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607033030/http://www.lanecounty.org/Departments/MS/CountyClerk/Elections/Pages/default.aspx. live.
  9. Web site: Eugene Register-Guard.
  10. Web site: Oregon State Legislature Committee Assignments. Oregon State Legislature. June 1, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524044359/http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/. May 24, 2011. dead.
  11. Web site: The Oregonian. November 16, 2012. November 26, 2012. November 20, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121120025726/http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/11/oregon_house_democrats_choose.html. live.
  12. Web site: Gaston. Christian. Oregon Rep. Chris Garrett gets judicial nod, triggering another appointment for the Oregon House. December 24, 2013. OregonLive.com. April 25, 2014. February 17, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140217223943/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/oregon_rep_chris_garrett_gets.html. live.
  13. News: Who will take Kate Brown's place as Oregon secretary of state?. The Oregonian. February 14, 2015. February 15, 2015. February 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150215124753/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/who_will_take_kate_browns_plac.html#incart_m-rpt-1. live.
  14. News: Val Hoyle - Ballotpedia. March 5, 2018. en-US. November 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181107204600/https://ballotpedia.org/Val_Hoyle. live.
  15. News: Oregon Voters Select Val Hoyle As New Labor Commissioner. May 14, 2018. Dirk. VanderHart. Conrad. Wilson. OPB. October 1, 2019. October 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191002012928/https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-primary-val-hoyle-lou-ogden-labor-commissioner-vote/. live.
  16. Web site: Commissioner of Labor and Industries Val Hoyle. Oregon Bluebook. Oregon Secretary of State. November 9, 2023. November 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221109230312/https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state/executive/labor-industries-bio.aspx. deviated.
  17. Web site: Lehman . Chris . March 31, 2022 . Val Hoyle holds big lead among 4th District Democratic candidates for Congress, poll shows . April 26, 2022 . Oregon Live . en . April 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426044640/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/03/val-hoyle-holds-big-lead-among-4th-district-democratic-candidates-for-congress-poll-shows.html . live .
  18. News: Lehman . Chris . Hoyle wins Democratic nomination in Oregon's 4th Congressional District . August 31, 2022 . Oregon Public Broadcasting . May 18, 2022 . en . August 31, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220831201728/https://www.opb.org/article/2022/05/18/val-hoyle-democratic-nomination-oregon-4th-district/ . live .
  19. Web site: Seven Democrats join Republicans in vote to lift vaccine mandate for healthcare workers . January 31, 2023 . February 21, 2023 . March 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319035011/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/seven-democrats-join-house-gop-lift-vaccine-mandate-healthcare-work . live .
  20. Web site: On Passage - H.R.497: To eliminate the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on . August 12, 2015 . February 21, 2023 . February 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230221174446/https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/118/house/1/98 . live .
  21. Web site: H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023 . March 10, 2023 . March 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310180559/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h136 . live .
  22. News: House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria . March 8, 2023 . Associated Press . March 10, 2023 . April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404204512/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-03-08/house-votes-down-bill-directing-removal-of-troops-from-syria . live .
  23. Web site: Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no. Jared. Gans. May 31, 2023. June 6, 2023. The Hill. June 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230606032518/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/. live.
  24. Web site: Endorsed Candidates . December 23, 2022 . NewDem Action Fund . en-US . December 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221203172034/http://newdemactionfund.com/candidates . live .
  25. Web site: Progressive Caucus . December 23, 2022 . Progressive Caucus . en-US . December 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221203174730/https://weareprogressives.org/ . live .
  26. Web site: BOLI: Meet the Commissioner : About : State of Oregon . www.oregon.gov . August 31, 2022 . May 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220520212618/https://www.oregon.gov/boli/about/pages/about-the-commissioner.aspx . deviated .
  27. Web site: Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230316090407/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2022/12/PF_2023.01.03_congress_LIST.pdf . March 16, 2023 . live.