Peter Courtney, Oregon’s longest-serving lawmaker known for his bipartisan approach and legislative achievements, has passed away at 81 due to cancer complications.
Bollywood Fever: Peter Courtney, Oregon’s longest-serving lawmaker and a respected figure known for his bipartisanship and dealmaking skills, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 81. Governor Tina Kotek confirmed that Courtney died of complications from cancer at his home in Salem.
Courtney’s distinguished political career spanned 38 years in the Legislature, serving in both the House and Senate. He held the influential position of Senate president for 20 years, beginning in 2003, and remained in control until his retirement in January 2023.
Courtney was a captivating, animated, and sometimes mercurial figure in Oregon politics. He was celebrated for his oratory skills, his ability to broker deals, and his commitment to bipartisan support for legislation.
“President Courtney was a friend and ally in supporting an Oregon where everyone can find success and community,” Governor Kotek said in her statement. “His life story, the way he embraced Oregon and public service, and his love for the institution of the Oregon Legislature leaves a legacy that will live on for decades.”
Throughout his career, Courtney made significant contributions, including moving the Legislature to annual sessions, increasing K-12 school funding, replacing Oregon’s defunct state hospital, and advocating for animal welfare. His impact is commemorated with a bridge, housing complex, and state hospital campus named in his honor in Salem.
Despite these accolades, Courtney often downplayed his achievements. Betsy Imholt, the director of the Oregon Department of Revenue and a former chief of staff to Courtney, shared that he saw himself as a “plow horse, not a show horse,” emphasizing his dedication to hard work over seeking recognition.
Senator Tim Knopp, a Bend Republican who frequently disagreed with Courtney, nonetheless called him a friend and “one of the most important elected officials and political figures in Oregon history.”
Born in Philadelphia, Courtney spent his youth caring for his mother, who had Parkinson’s disease. He grew up in Rhode Island and West Virginia, raised in part by his grandmother. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Rhode Island, followed by a law degree from Boston University. Courtney moved to Salem in 1969 for a judicial clerkship at the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Courtney is survived by his wife, Margie, three sons, and seven grandchildren. His legacy of dedication and service to Oregon will be remembered for many years to come.
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