Peter Courtney

Infobox_State_Senator
name=Peter Courtney


width=
state_senate=Oregon
state=Oregon
district=11th
term_start=1998
term_end=
preceded=Gene Derfler
succeeded= Incumbent
constituency= Marion County
party=Democratic
date of birth= Birth date and age|1943|6|18|
place of birth=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
date of death=
place of death=
alma_mater=University of Rhode Island, Boston University
profession=university professor
spouse=Margie Courtney
residence=Salem, Oregon
religion=Roman Catholic

Peter Courtney (born June 18, 1943) is a Democratic member of the Oregon Senate, representing the 11th District (in Marion County and including parts of Salem, Keizer, and Gervais) 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.

Early life

Peter C. Courtney was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 18 1943. [http://www.leg.state.or.us/courtney/bio.htm Senate President Peter Courtney.] Oregon State Legislature, accessed October 10 2007.] He grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Virginia, the son of a life insurance agent.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.] Both his parents earned college degrees, with his mother’s degree in Latin. In high school he played on the school’s football team. 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. [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2985 Senator Peter C. Courtney (OR)] . Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on April 17 2008.] 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. Courtney arrived in Salem and stayed at the YMCA for two years.

Political career

Courtney's first political office was as a member of the Salem City Council where he served from 1974 until 1980. 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.cite web
title = Oregon Legislative Assembly (61st) 1981 Regular Session
work = Oregon State Archives
publisher = Oregon Secretary of State
url = http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/1981reg.htm
accessdate = 2007-10-09 ] In the House he served as Democratic leader for eight years, longer than anyone else had before him. 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.

He avoided term limits by moving from the House to the Senate in 1999, representing only Marion County.cite web
title = Oregon Legislative Assembly (70th) 1999 Regular Session
work = Oregon State Archives
publisher = Oregon Secretary of State
url = http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/1999reg.htm
accessdate = 2007-10-09 ] 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.

In 2003, Courtney was selected as the President of the Oregon State Senate. The Senate was evenly divided between the state's major parties at the time, with 15 Democrats and 15 Republicans. Republican Lenn Hannon was chosen as President Pro-tem; [cite news
title= Noah's Ark governance in North Carolina: Two House Speakers
first=Patrik
last=Jonsson
work=The Christian Science Monitor
date=March 27, 2003
url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0327/p04s01-uspo.html] the two were recognized as having forged a strong bipartisan working relationship during the previous legislature's five emergency sessions. [cite news
title=Oregon's Deadlocked State Senate Nears Leadership Deal
date=January 14, 2003
first=David
last=Steves
work=The Register-Guard
url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7946241_ITM] Courtney continued to serve as President for the 73rd and 74th Oregon legislatures. Courtney is the most tenured Oregon legislator. [cite web
title = Oregon Legislative Assembly (72nd) 2003 Regular Session
work = Oregon State Archives
publisher = Oregon Secretary of State
url = http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/2003reg.htm
accessdate = 2007-10-09 ] Some lobbyists consider him liberal and anti-business, but with a reputation as a respected strategist.

Courtney serves as co-chair of the Legislative Counsel Committee. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ginny_Burdick&diff=221707366&oldid=221697457]

Career and family

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

References

External links

* [http://www.leg.state.or.us/courtney/home.htm Oregon State Senate - Senate President Peter Courtney]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2985 Project Vote Smart - Senator Peter C. Courtney (OR)] profile
* [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=97828 Follow the Money 2008]
* [http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/nov72006/guide/cand/court_p.html Voters' Guide for November 7, 2006 General Election] from the Oregon Secretary of State
* [http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3335/9217/ Peter Courtney and the No-Bid Capitol Makeover] "Willamette Week", July 11, 2007