Lynn Ann Peterson (born October 22, 1968) is an American politician in the U.S. state of Oregon serving as the council president of Metro.[1] Metro is the only directly-elected regional government in the United States, and spans 24 cities in the Portland, Oregon three-county area,[2][1] along with many unincorporated suburbs in the Portland metropolitan area.
Lynn Peterson | |
|---|---|
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| President of Metro | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 | |
| Secretary of Transportation of Washington | |
| In office 2013–2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 22, 1968 Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mark Peterson |
| Residence(s) | Lake Oswego, Oregon, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin |
Career
editPeterson's career began in 1988 as an engineer for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.[3] Peterson has worked as a travel forecaster for Metro, a transportation advocate for 1000 Friends of Oregon, a strategic planner for TriMet, and as an independent consultant.[4]
Peterson began her political career as a city councilor in Lake Oswego, Oregon from 2003 to 2006.[5] She served as the chair of Clackamas County Commission from 2007 to 2011.[5]
She resigned from the Clackamas County Commission when she was appointed to be a transportation adviser to Oregon governor John Kitzhaber.[6]
In 2013, she was appointed by Washington governor Jay Inslee as Secretary of Transportation, the chief of the Washington State Department of Transportation,[7] where she guided Washington's largest transportation funding package in its history: $16 billion.[3] In 2016, she was not confirmed by the Republican-controlled state senate, resulting in a controversial end to her WSDOT tenure.[8] Governor Inslee responded critically to the Republicans' action.[9]
Peterson was sworn in as Metro President on January 7, 2019.[10] She received 78 percent of the vote, defeating one opponent to replace Tom Hughes, who had served the limit of two consecutive terms.[11] She had been endorsed by many Oregon elected officials, and her campaign included a 24-city bike tour.[12]
On September 7, 2021, Peterson announced she will run for reelection.[13] She won a second term in the primary by receiving more than 50% of the vote.[14][15]
On June 8, 2023, Peterson announced that she would be seeking the Democratic nomination for Oregon's 5th congressional district, currently held by Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer.[16][17] She withdrew from the race on February 19, 2024.[18]
Personal life
editPeterson lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with her husband and three Alaskan malamute dogs.[5] In 2022, she wrote a book, Roadways for People: Rethinking Transportation Planning and Engineering, along with Elizabeth Doerr.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson". Metro. 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "What is Metro?". Metro. March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Gragg, Randy (January 2019). "This Rising Political Star Could Redefine the Portland Region". Portland Monthly. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Schiendelman, Ben (February 19, 2013). "Inslee Names Lynn Peterson to Head WSDOT". Seattle Transit Blog. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c Griffin, Anna (January 7, 2019). "Meet Metro's New Boss, And Prepare For Major Portland Area Changes". OPB. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Zheng, Yuxing (February 22, 2011). "Lynn Peterson named Kitzhaber transportation adviser, will resign as Clackamas County chairwoman". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Damewood, Andrea (February 19, 2013). "Lynn Peterson to Become Washington's New Transportation Secretary". Willamette Week. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Lindblom, Mike; O'Sullivan, Joseph (February 5, 2016). "WSDOT chief ousted by Senate Republicans after 3 years on job". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ caprecord (February 2016). "Gov. Inslee responds to Senate firing of WSDOT Secretary Lynn Peterson – TVW, Washington States' Public Affairs Network". TVW. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson". Metro. May 2, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ Njus, Elliot (May 16, 2018). "Lynn Peterson to lead Metro Council". Oregon Live. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ "Lynn Peterson Poised To Lead Portland Area's Regional Government". opb. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson Announces Campaign for Re-Election". Elect Lynn Peterson. September 7, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ Redden, Jim (May 29, 2022). "Metro President Lynn Peterson wins second term". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022.
- ^ Oregon Secretary of State. "Unofficial Primary Election results for May 17, 2022".
- ^ "Head of Portland's Metro council announces bid for Congress". kgw.com. June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ "Home". Elect Lynn Peterson. June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (February 19, 2024). "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson Withdraws From Democratic Primary in 5th Congressional District". Willamette Week. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Roadways for People: Rethinking Transportation Planning and Engineering". Island Press.