Officials present and past pay tribute to Peter Courtney

Published 4:29 pm Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Here are tributes from Oregon officeholders, present and past, to Peter Courtney. Courtney, the longest serving member of the Oregon Legislature at 38 years and the longest-ever president of the Oregon Senate at 20 years, died Tuesday, July 16, at age 81.

Gov. Tina Kotek, who was speaker of the Oregon House from 2013 to 2022 before she was elected governor:

“It is with incredible sadness that I share the news today of the passing of Peter Michael Coleman Courtney, the former president of the Oregon State Senate and longest-serving state legislator in Oregon history. The First Lady and I ask that Oregonians hold Peter’s family — his wife Margie, their children, and grandchildren — in their hearts and prayers.

“President Courtney was a friend and ally in supporting an Oregon where everyone can find success and community. 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.

“He led through times of prosperity and times of struggle — including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic — with a steadfast commitment to protecting people and making their lives better. His tenure in the Legislature is marked by incredible triumphs, earned through his genuine statesmanship and enormous heart.

“I want to recognize President Courtney for being one of the most important architects of our state in recent memory. At his core, Peter believed that we need to take care of each other, live with compassion for our neighbors, and get big things done, together. These Oregon values will live on in his name.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat who was elected to the U.S. House in 1980, the same year Courtney was elected to the Oregon House for the first time:

“Peter Courtney worked long and hard in the Legislature he loved so dearly to achieve good for his district in the Willamette Valley and all of Oregon. He was a human juggernaut for his constituents, and will be tremendously missed.”

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat who was speaker of the Oregon House in 2007 and 2008, when he was elected to the Senate:

“I join the many Oregonians who are grieving this loss of Peter Courtney — a true force of nature whose larger-than-life personality was only matched by his work ethic.

“Throughout his remarkable, record-setting over 40-year service to our state, Peter was unwavering in his passion for supporting animal rights, mental health services, education, veterans, and many more issues central to the success of working families.

“When I was Oregon House speaker, I had a front row seat to seeing Peter in action. We worked closely together to pass several major bills in the state Legislature that have become central to Oregon. This includes creating the state’s first-ever rainy day fund to support schools, strengthening the Oregon Bottle Bill, and championing LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

“All those of us who worked with Peter are better legislators and better people for having done so, regardless of party. He was scrappy, he was honest, and his love for Oregon and its people shown through everything he did. This is the lasting legacy Peter leaves behind in Oregon politics and in the lives of everyday Oregon families that will carry on for generations.

“My heart is with Peter’s wife Margie and all his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Larry Campbell, a Republican from Eugene who was speaker of the Oregon House from 1991 to 1995 while Courtney was the Democratic leader:

“I was so sorry to hear that we lost a true and successful legislative leader. I had a special relationship with the Senate president. He was fun. He was serious. He was a man who was always true to his word. We disagreed on numerous policies, but always approached issues from a principled perspective. Oregon’s loss is also a personal loss to the Campbell family.”

U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Springfield, who was Oregon House majority leader from 2013 to 2015:

“Today, Oregon lost a true legend and a leader. Senator Peter Courtney was a mentor and a friend who had a heart as big as his personality.

“Peter Michael Coleman Courtney cared deeply for this state and those who were most vulnerable. He was a product of Irish Catholic roots from New England via West-by-God Virginia as he would tell anyone who entered his orbit. His faith was centered in the Catholic social justice tradition, which motivated his life in public service.

“He was theatrical, kind, mercurial, loyal, cunning, politically astute and could be the most frustrating, captivating, entertaining and loyalty inspiring leader all at the same time.

“I benefited greatly from his mentorship and am a better legislator because he took me under his wing as a first term legislator, as we worked to ensure that Oregonians who suffered from severe and persistent mental health issues got access to health care parity.

“I will miss him, and like all Oregonians, I am better off because of his legacy of service. Rest in peace.”

Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, who succeeded Courtney in that job in 2023:

“Today, I share the heartbreak of countless Oregonians as we all mourn the loss of the most influential lawmaker in the history of Oregon.

“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.

“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.

“Bringing his talent for public speaking from “West by God Virginia,” Peter’s true home will always be here in “Oregon, My Oregon,” the Oregon Capitol, and especially the Oregon Senate.

“Peter loved stories of the Oregon Trail — and the sun will never set on his legacy. My thoughts are with his wife Margie and his sons and everyone who knew and loved Peter.”

Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend, who was the Republican leader during Courtney’s final two years as Senate president in 2021 and 2022:

“Having received the news that Oregon has lost one of its finest today hits hard. He is irreplaceable and will be missed. When I attended the renaming ceremony recognizing his impressive impact on just one Oregon institution, it was a reminder of just how much Peter Courtney has done to improve the lives of Oregonians.

“It was an honor to serve with Peter Courtney in the Oregon Senate. He was one of the most impactful elected officials Oregon has ever had. He dedicated four decades of his life serving Oregonians and the institution he loved, respected, and protected. Most importantly, Peter had a heart for and cared about people. He was notorious for calling his colleagues to check on them when significant things happened in our lives.

“He was the most formidable leader I have had the privilege to work with. He was fair, kind, and brought people together. He tried to make sure all Oregonians’ voices were heard.

“He loved Margie, his sons, and their families as he talked about them often. Any conversation of length with Peter would include how proud he was of them. Farewell to my friend, Oregon political legend, Peter Courtney.”

Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham of The Dalles:

“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of former Senate President Peter Courtney. Peter dedicated his life to public service and the people of Oregon, leaving a lasting mark on our state’s history. His legislative achievements have made an impact that will be felt for generations to come.

“Beyond his legislative achievements, Peter was a mentor, a friend, and a true statesman. His wisdom, compassion, and sense of humor were cherished by those who had the privilege to work with him. Our heartfelt condolences are extended to Peter’s family, friends, and loved ones. We honor his legacy and will strive to continue his work with the same spirit of civility he exemplified throughout his career.”

Bonham quoted from Courtney’s final speech in the Senate chamber on Dec. 9, 2022, calling for civility in political discourse.

House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, who was House majority leader in Courtney’s final year as Senate president:

“Peter Courtney set the standard for what it means to be a true champion for the state of Oregon and its people. His passion for our state was clear no matter where he was or what office he served in — as a Salem city councilor, as a member of the Oregon House, or as Senate president.

“In the Legislature, we came to know Peter as someone who worked to do the most good for as many people as possible. Among his accomplishments include passing the Student Success Act that increased funding for K-12 education in Oregon, modernizing the Legislature to meet more regularly, and beginning the Legislature’s needed investments in mental health.

“Peter cared deeply for the state of Oregon and for the city of Salem that he represented. He also cared deeply for the Legislature as an institution and as a cornerstone of our democracy. In a time when we’re seeing an erosion of trust in government and in institutions more broadly, my hope is that Peter’s legacy can remind us all of the importance and significance of our work and of coming together to best serve the interests of our constituents.”

House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard:

“Peter Courtney was a giant in Oregon politics. His legacy on behavioral health, public education, animal welfare, and more will outlive him and be felt by Oregonians for generations.

“My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich of Hood River:

“For nearly half a century, Senate President Peter Courtney served with distinction. He was a true statesman. It is an understatement to say that without his leadership, Oregon would be a profoundly different state. Today we lost a giant of the Legislature, my thoughts are with his friends and family.”