Gorsek earned his Associates Degree from Portland Community College, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts from the University of Oregon, followed by a PhD from Portland State University. As a nontraditional student Gorsek worked full time at local grocery retailer Fred Meyer as a cashier, it was in this capacity that he became a member of the UFCW. He is an educator teaching criminal justice and geography at Mt. Hood Community College, prior to going back to university he served as a Police officer for the Portland Police Bureau.[2] Gorsek has worked all of his adult like in careers with union representation under collective bargaining contracts, he cites growing up in a household where his father was able to support a family and make a living wage because of organized labor. Gorsek's father was a member of the AWPPW who worked at the Crown Zellerbach mill in West Linn.
State Legislature
Senator Chris Gorsek has spent his career advocating for East Multnomah County, public safety and civil rights. From joining with his colleagues in fighting for the region's only birthing center[3] to introducing innovative legislation that has led to an 80% drop in catalytic converter thefts[4] Sen. Chris Gorsek continues to have an enduring impact regarding quality of life in East Multnomah County.
In 2021 Senator Gorsek worked with the National Innocence Project and the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth to pass one of our nation's first laws that prohibit police from using deceptive interrogation tactics on minors. The law bans commonly used deceptive interrogation tactics, including false promises of leniency and false claims about the existence of incriminating evidence. Both of these tactics have long been identified as significantly increasing the risk of false confessions, which have played a role in about 30% of all wrongful convictions overturned by DNA. False confessions are also the most frequent contributing factor in wrongful conviction cases involving homicides. And recent studies suggest that children under 18 are between two and three times more likely to falsely confess than adults.[5]
In April of 2024 Senator Gorsek's legislation overhauling the framework of Oregon's debt collection rules, The Family Financial Protection Act (FFPA) was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek. The legislation changes the amounts collection agencies can garnish and sweep from a debtor's pay and savigings.
Designed to address multifaceted challenges, the FFPA offers comprehensive protections for families recovering from debt and shields consumers from unjust collection practices. Key provisions of the bill include:
Home Protection Expansion: The value of a home protected from seizure has been increased to $150,000 for individuals and $300,000 for couples, a significant rise from the previous $40,000 protection for individuals.
Gradual Wage Exemption Increase: By 2027, the amount of wages exempted from court seizure or garnishment will rise and be adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.
Bank Account Protection: The first $2,500 in a person’s bank account is now shielded from garnishment or seizure, preventing debt collectors from wiping out entire accounts.
Protection Against Unowed/Incorrect Debt: It is now a violation of the law to attempt to collect a debt when a collector knew or should have known that the debt did not exist or was inaccurately calculated.
Motor Vehicle Protection: Debtors will be entitled to exempt up to $10,000 for any motor vehicle, an increase from $3,000.
Fair Legal Fee Protection: Consumers no longer need to worry about covering the creditor or debt collectors’ attorney fees, making it financially viable to contest incorrect debts and leveling the playing field for consumers.[6]
Other legislation introduced and championed by Senator Gorsek in his tenure in office, that begun after being first elected to the Oregon House in 2012, includes legislation limiting the use of drugs on public transport, new tools for law enforcement to intervene in street racing and legislation outlawing the sale of fake car safety airbags.
Elections
2012 - Challenged incumbent Republican Representative Matt Wand for the District 49 seat, Gorsek was unopposed for the May 15, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 2,392 votes,[7] and won the November 6, 2012, General election with 11,459 votes (54.2%) against Representative Wand.[8]
2000 - Republican Senator John Lim was term limited (since repealed) and left the Senate District 11 seat open, Gorsek was unopposed for the May 16, 2000, Democratic Primary, winning with 7,838 votes,[9] but lost the November 7, 2000, General election to Republican nominee John Minnis.[10]
