Rick Metsger grew up in Sandy and has lived most of his life near the slopes of Mt. Hood, which he currently represents in the Oregon State Senate. Rick attended Sandy Grade School, graduated from Centennial High School, and he earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Lewis & Clark College.

Rick started his professional career as a teacher at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham and later served as an assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, Lewis & Clark. He also served on the Board of Directors as Vice-Chairman of the Portland Teachers Credit Union, one of the largest credit unions in the nation.

Rick is perhaps best known for his 16 years as a television anchorman at KOIN-TV where he learned that journalistic integrity means being fair and accurate, with accountability to the public. Rick’s commitment to these principles won him an Associated Press award for best investigative news report for the northwest region when he uncovered tanks leaking nuclear waste at the Hanford Nuclear Waste Depository.

Rick was first elected to the Oregon Senate in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002 and 2006. He has been a legislative leader in the areas of transportation, early childhood development, career training, and consumer protection.

Rick and his wife, Kay, an open heart surgery nurse, make their home in Welches.