Peter Courtney

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For other persons named Peter Courtney, see Peter Courtney (disambiguation).
Peter Courtney
Member of the Oregon State Senate
from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
1998
Preceded by Gene Derfler
Constituency Marion County
Born June 18, 1943 (1943-06-18) (age 64)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party Democratic
Spouse Margie Courtney
Residence Salem, Oregon
Alma mater University of Rhode Island, Boston University
Profession university professor
Religion Roman Catholic

Peter Courtney (born June 18, 1943) is a Democratic member of the Oregon Senate, representing the 11th District since 1998. He is currently President of the Senate, serving since 2003. He was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives in 1981, 1983, and from 1989 through 1998.

An American attorney, he teaches at Western Oregon University.

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[edit] Early life

Peter C. Courtney was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 18, 1943.[1] He grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Virginia, the son of a life insurance agent.[2][1] Both his parents earned college degrees, with his mother’s degree in Latin.[2] In high school he played on the school’s football team.[2] Courtney attended college at the University of Rhode Island where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1965 followed by a master’s in public administration the following year.[1][3] He graduated from Boston University’s law school, and then moved to Oregon in 1969 to become the law clerk of William S. Fort of the Oregon Court of Appeals.[2] Courtney arrived in Salem and stayed at the YMCA for two years.[2]

[edit] Political career

Courtney's first political office was as a member of the Salem City Council where he served from 1974 until 1980.[3] He was first elected to the Oregon Legislative Assembly in 1980 as a Democrat representing Marion and Polk counties in the Oregon House of Representatives.[4] In the House he served as Democratic leader for eight years, longer than anyone else had before him.[2] After repairs to the Oregon State Capitol were finished in 1995 after damage from the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake, he gave a small piece of marble with an engraved image of the building to each Democrat in the House.[2]

He avoided term limits by moving from the House to the Senate in 1999, representing only Marion County.[2][5] In 2002, he had surgery to remove a burst appendix and even received last rites prior to the surgery when survival was unknown. After 13 days at the hospital he recovered and returned to the legislature.[2] In 2003, he was selected as the President of the Oregon Senate, and is the most tenured Oregon legislator.[2][6] Some lobbyists consider him liberal and anti-business, but with a reputation as a respected strategist.[2]

[edit] Career and family

Courtney teaches speech at Western Oregon University, and serves as an administrator at the Monmouth school.[2] He is married to Margie Courtney, and they have three sons.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Senate President Peter Courtney. Oregon State Legislature, accessed October 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Esteve, Harry. Converging paths to leadership two adept veterans who mix personal values and political skills will direct the 2005 legislature Peter Courtney political everyman relies on dramatic, affable style. The Oregonian, November 30, 2004.
  3. ^ a b Senator Peter C. Courtney (OR). Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on April 17, 2008.
  4. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (61st) 1981 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
  5. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (70th) 1999 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.
  6. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (72nd) 2003 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.

[edit] External links