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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Peter Courtney (b. June 18, 1943) is a Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate, representing District 11. Courtney was first elected to the chamber in 1998. Courtney currently serves as state Senate president. Courtney is running for re-election in the primary on May 15, 2018. The general election will take place on November 6, 2018.

Courtney served as Councilman for Salem City Council from 1974 to 1980. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1981 to 1983, and from 1989 to 1998. During this time he served as House Democratic Leader.

On February 12, 2015, Courtney, House President Tina Kotek (D) and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler (D) called on Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) to resign over concerns of ethics violations in his administration. Kitzhaber announced his resignation from office on February 13, 2015, effective on February 18. To learn more about this story, click here.

Courtney earned his B.A. from the University of Rhode Island in 1965, his M.P.A. from the University of Rhode Island in 1966 and his J.D. from Boston University in 1969. His professional experience includes working as a professor for Western Oregon University, and as a political commentator for KPTV-12 Portland/KSLM Radio Salem.

Education

  • JD, Boston University, 1969
  • MPA, University of Rhode Island, 1966
  • BA, University of Rhode Island, 1965

Professional Experience

  • JD, Boston University, 1969
  • MPA, University of Rhode Island, 1966
  • BA, University of Rhode Island, 1965
  • Political Commentator, KPTV-12 Portland/KSLM Radio Salem
  • Clerk, Oregon Court of Appeals
  • Professor, Western Oregon University

Political Experience

  • JD, Boston University, 1969
  • MPA, University of Rhode Island, 1966
  • BA, University of Rhode Island, 1965
  • Political Commentator, KPTV-12 Portland/KSLM Radio Salem
  • Clerk, Oregon Court of Appeals
  • Professor, Western Oregon University
  • President, Oregon State Senate, 2003-present
  • Senator, Oregon State Senate, 1998-present
  • Democratic Leader, Oregon State House of Representatives
  • Candidate, Oregon State Senate, District 11, 2018
  • Representative, Oregon State House of Representatives, 1981-1983, 1989-1998
  • Council Member, Salem City Council, 1974-1980

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Co-Chair, Oregon China Sister State Committee, Oregon State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Co-Chair, Joint Committee On Legislative Administration

Co-Chair, Joint Committee On Legislative Counsel

Co-Chair, Joint Committee On Legislative Policy and Research

Co-Chair, Joint Emergency Board

Member, Joint Subcommittee on Capital Construction

Member, Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, Boston University, 1969
  • MPA, University of Rhode Island, 1966
  • BA, University of Rhode Island, 1965
  • Political Commentator, KPTV-12 Portland/KSLM Radio Salem
  • Clerk, Oregon Court of Appeals
  • Professor, Western Oregon University
  • President, Oregon State Senate, 2003-present
  • Senator, Oregon State Senate, 1998-present
  • Democratic Leader, Oregon State House of Representatives
  • Candidate, Oregon State Senate, District 11, 2018
  • Representative, Oregon State House of Representatives, 1981-1983, 1989-1998
  • Council Member, Salem City Council, 1974-1980
  • Member, Board of Directors, Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)
  • Member, Oregon State Bar Association
  • Board Member, United Way
  • Member, Oregon Area Mass Transit Board, 1979-1980
Policy Positions

Oregon State Legislative Election 1998 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning abortion.

1. Abortions should always be legally available.
- X

2. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only when pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal only when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

6. Abortions should be limited by waiting periods and parental notification requirements.
- No Answer

7. Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- No Answer

8. Support "buffer zones" by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.
- No Answer

9. Other
- No Answer

10. Should Oregon government funding be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services?
- No Answer

Affirmative Action

Indicate the principles you support (if any) concerning affirmative action. State government agencies should take race and sex into account in the following sectors:

1. Public employment
- Yes

2. State contracting
- Yes

3. College and university admissions
- Yes

4. Other
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) to address crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- X

2. Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
- No Answer

3. End parole for repeat violent felons.
- X

4. Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
- No Answer

5. Support the death penalty for juveniles convicted of aggravated murder.
- No Answer

6. Oppose the death penalty.
- No Answer

7. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

8. Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- X

9. Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- X

10. Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

11. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- X

12. Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- X

13. Support mandatory minimum sentencing laws as created by the passage of Measure 11.
- X

14. Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- No Answer

15. Strengthen penalties for property crimes.
- X

16. Other
- No Answer

Economy and Employment

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning the economy and employment.

1. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- No Answer

3. Support limits on cash damages in lawsuits against businesses and professionals for product liability or malpractice.
- No Answer

4. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

5. Abolish Oregon's Department of Economic Development.
- No Answer

6. Eliminate the Oregon Lottery's video poker games.
- No Answer

7. Other
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
- X

2. Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
- X

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
- No Answer

4. Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- No Answer

5. Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
- X

6. Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
- No Answer

7. Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
- X

8. Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
- X

9. Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

10. Abolish bilingual education in public schools.
- No Answer

11. Support Oregon's 21st Century Schools Act and the new Certificate of Initial Mastery and Certificate of Advanced Mastery.
- X

12. Other
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Require the use of cleaner burning fuels in order to prevent pollution.
- X

2. Support "self-audit" legislation which creates incentives for industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution.
- X

3. Require a cost/benefit analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented.
- No Answer

4. Require the state to fully compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses on privately owned land.
- No Answer

5. Provide funding for recycling programs in Oregon.
- X

6. Request added flexibility from the federal government in enforcing and funding federal environmental regulations.
- X

7. Suspend participation in unfunded, federally mandated environmental protection legislation.
- No Answer

8. Restructure the electric utility industry to allow consumers to choose their power company.
- No Answer

9. Support current urban growth boundary laws.
- X

10. Support the "Three Sovereigns Plan" which establishes a state, federal, and tribal coalition to coordinate salmon recovery in the Northwest.
- X

11. Support state authority in deciding land-use matters.
- X

12. Support ban on clear-cut logging.
- No Answer

13. Other
- No Answer

14. State environmental regulations should not be stricter than federal law.
- No

Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding government reform.

Do you support the current law which limits the number of terms of the following Oregon officials?

1. State Senators and Representatives
- No Answer

2. Governor
- No Answer

3. Do you support easing the current term limits for State Senators and Representatives?
- No Answer

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. PAC
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

5. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Yes

6. Do you support partial funding from state taxes for state level political campaigns?
- Yes

7. Would you vote to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring an annual balanced federal budget?
- Yes

8. Do you support using vote-by-mail for all elections?
- Yes

9. Other
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) concerning gun issues.

1. Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
- No Answer

2. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer

3. Maintain state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- X

4. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
- No Answer

5. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
- No Answer

6. Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.
- X

7. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.
- X

8. Hold gun owner legally liable if a child obtains a gun for use in a crime.
- X

9. Other
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health issues.

1. Provide tax incentives to small businesses who provide health care to their employees.
- X

2. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care, through managed care, insurance reforms, or state funded care where necessary.
- X

3. Support the Oregon Health Plan which ensures state-funded basic health care to Oregon citizens.
- X

4. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

5. Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
- X

6. Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

7. Guaranteeing medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

8. Other
- No Answer

Social

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding social issues.

1. Increase state funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy.
- X

2. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for their employees.
- X

3. Increase state funds to provide child care to children in low-income working families.
- X

4. Deny or suspend state-issued permits and licenses to parents who are delinquent in paying court-ordered child support.
- X

5. Favor banning smoking in public places.
- X

6. Increase state funding for Head Start in order to serve additional children and/or increase services from a half to a full day.
- X

7. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

8. Support state funding of programs for at-risk youth such as guaranteed college loans and job training and placement.
- X

9. Support the current "Death With Dignity Act" which legalizes physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
- No Answer

10. Other
- No Answer

11. Do you believe that the Oregon government should include sexual orientation in Oregon's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

12. Do you believe that the Oregon government should recognize same-sex marriages?
- No

State Budget

Indicate the funding levels you will support for the following general categories. Select one level only.

1. Agriculture
- Slightly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Education (Higher)
- Greatly Increase

4. Environment
- Greatly Increase

5. Health care
- Greatly Increase

6. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase

7. Transportation infrastructure (highways, roads, bridges)
- Greatly Increase

8. Welfare
- Maintain Status

9. Other
- No Answer

State Taxes

Indicate the tax levels you will support. Select one level only.

1. Alcohol Taxes
- Slightly Increase

2. Capital gains taxes
- Slightly Increase

3. Cigarette taxes
- Slightly Increase

4. Corporate taxes
- Slightly Increase

5. Gas taxes
- Slightly Increase

6. Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)
- No Answer

7. Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)
- No Answer

8. Property taxes
- Slightly Decrease

9. Other
- No Answer

10. Do you support implementing a state sales tax?
- No

11. Do you support a flat tax structure for state income taxes?
- No Answer

12. Refund to state taxpayers
- X

13. Fund public education
- No Answer

14. Other
- X

Welfare

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare.

1. Maintain the 2-year limit on welfare benefits.
- X

2. Maintain the requirement that able-bodied recipients work in order to receive benefits.
- X

3. Increase employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

4. Provide tax incentives to businesses who hire welfare recipients.
- X

5. Provide child care for welfare recipients who work.
- X

6. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

7. Allow welfare recipients to remain eligible for benefits while saving money for education, starting a business, or buying a home.
- No Answer

8. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer

9. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

10. Require that unwed mothers under the age of 18 attend school and live with a parent or guardian (if possible) to receive benefits.
- No Answer

11. Other
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

Please explain what your two main legislative priorities will be if elected. Please explain how you would obtain any additional government funding needed to implement these priorities.
- Multi-purposing State Buildings and lands for the children's program and activities (i.e. ball fields, skating parks). Also make public property available (i.e. on weekends) for community activities (i.e. state parking lots for Saturday Market).Major emphasis on Early Intervention Programs for detection and rehabilitation of troubled youth. (General Fund and/or Lottery)....

Speeches