Lynn Peterson (American politician)

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Lynn Peterson
President of Metro
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Secretary of Transportation of Washington
In office
2013–2016
Personal details
Born (1968-10-22) October 22, 1968 (age 56)
Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMark Peterson
Residence(s)Lake Oswego, Oregon, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin

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.

Career

Peterson'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

Peterson 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

  1. ^ a b "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson". Metro. 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "What is Metro?". Metro. March 24, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Gragg, Randy (January 2019). "This Rising Political Star Could Redefine the Portland Region". Portland Monthly. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. ^ Schiendelman, Ben (February 19, 2013). "Inslee Names Lynn Peterson to Head WSDOT". Seattle Transit Blog. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Zheng, Yuxing (February 22, 2011). "Lynn Peterson named Kitzhaber transportation adviser, will resign as Clackamas County chairwoman". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Damewood, Andrea (February 19, 2013). "Lynn Peterson to Become Washington's New Transportation Secretary". Willamette Week. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson". Metro. May 2, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Njus, Elliot (May 16, 2018). "Lynn Peterson to lead Metro Council". Oregon Live. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Lynn Peterson Poised To Lead Portland Area's Regional Government". opb. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson Announces Campaign for Re-Election". Elect Lynn Peterson. September 7, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Redden, Jim (May 29, 2022). "Metro President Lynn Peterson wins second term". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Oregon Secretary of State. "Unofficial Primary Election results for May 17, 2022".
  16. ^ "Head of Portland's Metro council announces bid for Congress". kgw.com. June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Home". Elect Lynn Peterson. June 8, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  18. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (February 19, 2024). "Metro Council President Lynn Peterson Withdraws From Democratic Primary in 5th Congressional District". Willamette Week. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "Roadways for People: Rethinking Transportation Planning and Engineering". Island Press.
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