Senator James I. Manning, Jr. represents the communities of Elmira, Eugene, and Veneta in the Oregon State Senate. He serves as Senate President Pro Tempore; Chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal & World Affairs; and member of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary and Senate Interim Committee on Rules.

The Senator is a recent graduate of the Council of State Government’s Henry Toll Fellowship Program and he is an active board member of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF).

Senator Manning’s service began as a state corrections officer, later a police officer, before enlisting into the United States Army, 1 April 1983. In the Army he served as Battalion Training Officer/Detachment Sergeant Major, military postal supervisor, and U.S. Army Senior Drill Sergeant. He retired honorably from the U.S. Army after 24 years of active service.

Prior to serving in the Oregon State Senate, James Manning served as EWEB Commissioner, member of the Eugene Police Commission, and he was twice appointed by Governors Kitzhaber and Brown to the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs.

A staunch education and opportunity advocate, Sen. Manning is co-founder of the Oregon Black Education Foundation, a nonprofit foundation providing scholarships to underserved and low-income students.