Brian Boquist

Brian James Boquist (born October 20, 1958) is a Republican politician from the US state of Oregon. He currently serves in the Oregon Senate representing district 12. Previously, he was in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 23 in the mid-Willamette Valley from 2005 to 2009.

Early life and career
Boquist was born and raised on a dairy farm in Tillamook, Oregon. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and graduated from Tillamook High School before enlisting in the United States Army in 1975. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University) and an MBA from Oregon State University.

Boquist is a special forces lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve, and since 1991, is an executive with International Charter Incorporated, an international aviation company that specializes in a variety of support operations for private organizations and the United States government. His firm has worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. He served as Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Army special forces in Iraq in 2003–2004, receiving the Bronze Star Medal and recommendation for promotion for his service.

Political career
In 2000 and 2002, Boquist was the Republican nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Oregon's 5th congressional district, but lost both times to incumbent Darlene Hooley.

In 2004, Boquist decided against a run for Hooley's seat, but when Oregon state representative Lane Shetterly resigned to run the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development commission, Boquist chose instead to run for Shetterly's seat in Oregon House District 23. Though Jim Thompson was named by Oregon Republicans to complete Shetterly's term, Boquist defeated him in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election.

In the 2008 Republican primary, Boquist announced that he was leaving the Oregon House to seek election to the state Senate. He was unopposed for his party's nomination to represent Oregon Senate District 12 and faced Democrat Kevin Nortness in the general election. He won the general election 61% to 39% so will serve in the Oregon Senate. (Jim Thompson, whom Boquist defeated for the state House in 2004, won the election to succeed Boquist in the House.)

Personal
Boquist and his wife Peggy have six children and live near Dallas, Oregon. His three youngest children are Will, Byrnn, and Daria.