Former Senate President Peter Courtney, ‘legend’ of Oregon Legislature, dies at 81
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon’s longest-serving Senate President Peter Courtney, considered “the most influential lawmaker in the history of Oregon,” has died. He was 81.
Former Sen. Courtney—known for his political savvy and his compassion, even when he knew he had to be tough—served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly for a total of 38 years. He served for nearly 20 years as Senate President after first serving as House Democratic leader.
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Born in Philadelphia, Courtney was a graduate of Boston University Law School. He moved to Oregon in 1969 to be a law clerk at the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Courtney’s first political office was Salem City Council, where he served until 1980. After being elected to the Oregon House in 1980, he unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1984 and 1986. He then returned to the Oregon Legislature by winning the Senate Presidency in 2003, where he stayed until he retired in January 2023.
Courtney announced he would not run for the position again in 2022 via a text to his colleagues: “I will serve out the remainder of my term. It has been an honor and a privilege to have been allowed to serve locally on the Salem City Council and for all these years in the Oregon State Legislature. I hope I’ve helped.”
Even Courtney’s political opponents respected him, as he had firm control over the workings of the Senate. He championed improving Oregon’s mental health system, began annual legislative sessions, guided the state through several budget crises, housing shortages, the COVID Pandemic, and a senate sexual harassment scandal in 2019.
Current Sen. President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) shared the following statement on Wednesday:
Peter Michael Coleman Courtney was a legend — larger than life, with a passion for helping Oregonians all across the state, and especially in his beloved city of Salem. The sounds of the Capitol were never complete without Peter’s voice reverberating through the halls. He was bold and hard-charging, but also tender and caring, always looking for private moments to help a young lawmaker find their way.
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His legacy is typified by his dedication to the humane care of animals and for the well-being of children and those who struggle with mental health. But his legacy is more than policy — it is a spirit of governing that he brought to Oregon.
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