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David Gomberg
David Gomberg
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives; from the 10th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 14, 2013
Personal details
Born	June 9, 1953 (age 71)
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Susan
Residence(s)	Neotsu, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater	Oregon State University (BS); Oregon State University (MAIS); Willamette University (MBA)
Occupation	Businessman, politician
Signature
Website	electgomberg.com; www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg

David William Gomberg (born June 9, 1953) is a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 10 on the state's central coast since January 14, 2013. He served in political staff and lobbying positions in Oregon prior to his election to the legislature. He's the retired head of his own kite design and construction business.

Education

Gomberg earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Oregon State University in 1976 when he also served as student body president. In 1977, he earned a master's degree from Oregon State University in Political Science, Economics, and History. In 1981, Gomberg earned an MBA from Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management.

Early life

David Gomberg was born in 1953, in London, England, the son of a US Air Force officer and his British wife. He graduated from Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento California in 1971.

Gomberg moved to Oregon and enrolled at Oregon State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science, with Honors, in 1976, served as student body president, and earned an Interdisciplinary master's degree in Political Science, History, and Economics in 1977.

In 1978, Gomberg worked for US Congressman Les AuCoin in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon. He then attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, earning an MBA in 1981.

In 1981 and 1983, Gomberg worked in the Oregon Legislative Assembly as a Chief-of-Staff to freshman legislator Barbara Roberts and then as administrator of the House Education Committee. He then spent three years as an Administrative Hearings Referee for the Department of Motor Vehicles, a position he lost when he declined to cross a public employee picket line.^{[citation needed]}

David Gomberg married Susan Elizabeth Oswald in 1986.

In 1988, the Gombergs moved to the Oregon Coast where David worked as executive director of the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce. He left that position two years later to focus on his growing kite business.

Kites

Gomberg Kite Productions International (GKPI) was a design and manufacturing, wholesale, and retail business. They operated three web pages and three Northwest Winds retail stores. Their company produced large inflatable kites and custom line decor for retail customers and select wholesale accounts. GKPI also produced a quality series of introductory kites and accessories under the G-Kites brand.

Gomberg has authored four books on kite flying. He served ten terms as president of the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) and four terms as president of the Kite Trade Association International (KTAI). Both organizations recognized Gomberg with their lifetime achievement awards and in 2005, Gomberg was inducted in the World Kiting Hall of Fame.

In 2012, GKPI was named Business of the Year in Lincoln City, Oregon. They have also been finalists twice for the Austin Excellence in Family Business awards.

GKPI also specialized in performances with larger show kites. David and Susan have flown in more than 40 countries and done shows for Walt Disney, motion pictures, and the Super Bowl. David has been named an honorary citizen of Weifang, China and Berck, France, and is a patron of the Cape Mental Health Kite Festival in South Africa.

In 2005, GKPI acquired a 10,970 sq ft (1,019 m²) kite, one of the largest kites in the world.

During 2018–2019, David ramped down and closed GKPI in order to focus on his political career and other personal interests. Some of the smaller Gomberg designs were taken over by other kite manufacturers and are still available today.

Political life

In 2012, David was elected to represent House District 10 in the Oregon Legislature. The district includes portions of Lincoln, Tillamook, Yamhill, and Polk counties, stretching over 100 miles of the central coast and inland 50 miles through the Coast Range. His legislative efforts have focused on small business support, reviving our public education system, collecting delinquent state taxes and debt, environmental sustainability and conservation, and ensuring independence and dignity for seniors and the disabled.

When Democratic Representative Jean Cowan retired and left the District 10 seat open, Gomberg was unopposed for the May 15, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 5,006 votes,^[2] and won the November 6, 2012, General election with 15,978 votes (59.1%) against Republican nominee Jerome Grant.^[3]

David Gomberg was unopposed in his 2014 re-election bid, having earned nominations of the Democrat, Independent, Working Families, and Republican parties. In 2015, Gomberg was elected to House Leadership as Assistant Majority Leader. In 2016, he was elected to a third term, defeating Republican Thomas Donohue by 56 to 43 percent.

David currently serves on the Joint Ways & Means Committee, serves as co-chair for the Ways & Means Transportation & Economic Development subcommittee, sits on the Ways & Means General Government subcommittee, and serves on the House Economic Development and Trade committee. He is a member of the Governor's Commission on Senior Services and the Ocean Science Trust.

In 2016, David was asked to co-chair the House Special Committee on Small Business Growth and was appointed to the Governor's Cabinet on Small Business.

Committee assignments

2017–18 Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Co-chair: Ways and Means sub-Committee on Transportation and Economic Development
Ways and Means sub-Committee on General Government
House Committee on Economic Development and Trade
Governor's Commission on Senior Services
Ocean Science Trust

2015–16 Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Co-chair: Ways and Means sub-Committee on Transportation and Economic Development
Ways and Means sub-Committee on Natural Resources
House Committee on Rural Communities, Land Use, and Water
Co-chair: House Special Committee on Small Business Growth
Governor's Commission on Senior Services
Governor's Small Business Cabinet
Ocean Science Trust

2013–14 Session

Vice Chair: House Committee on Human Service and Housing
House Committee on Education
Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government
House Small Business Task Force
Governor's Commission on Senior Services

Electoral history

2012 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	15,978	59.1
	Republican	Jerome Grant	11,028	40.8
	Write-in		46	0.2
Total votes			27,052	100%

2014 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	16,881	96.9
	Write-in		545	3.1
Total votes			17,426	100%

2016 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	17,499	56.2
	Republican	Thomas M Donohue	13,524	43.5
	Write-in		91	0.3
Total votes			31,114	100%

2018 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	17,713	57.2
	Republican	Thomas M Donohue	13,232	42.7
	Write-in		44	0.1
Total votes			30,989	100%

2020 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	20,294	52.4
	Republican	Max Sherman	18,383	47.5
	Write-in		55	0.1
Total votes			38,732	100%

2022 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	21,158	56.7
	Republican	Celeste McEntee	16,115	43.2
	Write-in		50	0.1
Total votes			37,323	100%

2024 Oregon State Representative, 10th district^[10]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Gomberg	28,672	97.4
	Write-in		775	2.6
Total votes			29,447	100%

References

^ "Representative David Gomberg". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^ "May 15, 2012, Primary Election Abstracts of Votes". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^ "November 6, 2012, General Election Abstract of Votes". Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. p. 12. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
^ "Official Results | November 6, 2012". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "November 4, 2014, General Election, Official Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "November 8, 2016, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes". Oregon Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "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.
^ "November 5, 2024, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.