About Marc…
Marc Delphine is a college & financial advisor based in Tigard, Oregon. As a native Oregonian, he’s worked in the field of investments and insurance for the past 10 years, opening up his own firm, “Futures: College & Financial Planning” in 2007.
“I help kids get into college and their parents retire,” boasts Delphine. “By showing clients how to save for their future, I’m doing my part to make the world a better place.” Marc helps people to become more independent claiming the following adage helped to inspire him:
“Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.”
Delphine practices what he preaches. “My business, my politics and my spirituality are in alignment.” He’s attended the Celebration Church in Wilsonville, Oregon for the past 4-5 years and before that, he attended the Living Enrichment Center, also in Wilsonville. As a longtime political activist, Marc has been a candidate three times and served on the Tigard Water Board “just to get my feet wet…get it? Water…wet? Ha!” Marc has a sense of humor, but his involvement in civic duty is no laughing matter.
I remember bicycling down the street when I was about 11 and screaming, “Vote for Bush, not Dukakis!” This was in 1988 and Marc still credits his father, who died on Christmas Eve, 2003, for inspiring him to get more involved in politics. “He was a hard-core Republican, but first a fiscal conservative who believed in abortion rights and ending the drug war. That was influential in my life because I questioned, along with being gay, myself, why the Republican Party was so contradictory when it came to ‘limited government.’”
More on Marc’s influence in a bit…
Taking a look at Marc’s Facebook profile, you’ll notice an affinity for tennis, working out and a deep love of art: music, movies and public speaking are his favorites. His passion for education is obvious when you consider his career, his volunteer efforts for the past 11 years as a SMART volunteer (reading to underprivileged youth), and his being elected to Position 1 on his local school committee. Marc is also a returning member as a Toastmaster. “It’s a significant skill to have, being able to speak in front of a crowd,” Delphine remarks. “The biggest fear in America is public speaking; the second is death. In other words, more people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy, ha!” Marc realizes that leading by example is an imperative trait in a leader. “I walk the walk. Unlike another, I live, work and serve in Oregon. If you are to represent this state, you should probably do that” (referring to the idea that the bulk of Ron Wyden’s time being spent in New York and Washington DC while spending the past 30 years in federal government).
Walking the Walk
Marc Delphine’s campaign mission is “bringing communities together.” As a people, he fears we are being “divided and conquered.” This is why he participates in local activism. “I’ve been in the Libertarian Party of Oregon (socially liberal, fiscally conservative) for over 7 years now and in that time I’ve run for State Representative twice (2004 & 2008) and State Senate (2006), I’ve served in local office, and unlike any visible Democrat, I was on the front lines of the ‘NO on 36 Campaign’ (which defined marriage in Oregon as between one man and one woman). I am the current Chair of Americans for Prosperity in Washington County and I have given a tremendous amount of my time and effort to helping the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Community in Portland.”
Marc is gay and has worked to improve business within the community. As a board member of the Portland Area Business Association (PABA), Portland’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce, he created “Biz Builders,” a networking group that meets weekly and is sponsored by PABA. “I felt it was important for people within our community to feel comfortable doing business in their own skin. We’re open to all sexualities, but being a part of PABA, it gives credence to those business owners who haven’t yet fully come out (of the closet).” Biz Builders has been claimed as the most successful sub-group within PABA and has spawned to four chapters in the area. Since its creation in 2003, it has been estimated that over $250,000 has been generated for local businesses from Biz Builders.
Marc was also the organizer of last year’s TEA Party movement in Beaverton and he’s leading the march this year in Tigard on April 15. “TEA Partiers have been given just as bad of a rap as the LGBT community. Most of us are hard working, open-minded peaceful people” (referring to both TEA and LGBT). The media will have you believe otherwise, but that is a major reason why I’m running…to bring communities together.”
It is obvious that Marc Delphine is ready to lead. He needs your help. “Get involved; run for office, volunteer and get on the front lines and see that our brothers and sisters are not ‘labels.’ We’re people who believe the idea that our system is broken and the only way to fix it is to unite.”
