Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson Receives Hatfield Award

The League of Oregon Cities’ (LOC) prestigious Mark O. Hatfield Statesmanship Award was presented to Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) during the League’s 88th Annual Conference, held September 26-28 at the Red Lion on the River. 

In a statement, The LOC praised her career in public service, saying  Senator Johnson has cast many courageous votes that have prioritized the delivery of vital public services.  She has been a long-time champion and advocate for the Oregon Solutions program, leading the effort to secure the initial funding from the governor’s office to address repeated flooding in Tillamook County.  In 2007, when the city of Vernonia suffered major flooding, Senator Johnson was responsible for raising millions of dollars to replace destroyed school buildings, senior center and other facilities.  She also worked with the city of Astoria and the Northwest Area Commission on Transportation to secure a $3.8 million grant to rebuild the failing 17th Street Pier, next to the Columbia Maritime Museum and home to the Coast Guard ships.

Senator Johnson’s current service on boards and commission in Oregon includes: the Board of Visitors for the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College; the Columbia River Maritime Museum; the Institute for Metropolitan Studies at Portland State University; and as president of the Samuel S. Johnson Foundation, founded in 1949, which has been a benefactor to many organizations in Oregon, including those impacting local communities.

This year, the Hatfield award was presented for just the sixth time since its creation in 1996.  Previous winners include: Congressman Greg Walden (2011); Ray Naff, Intergovernmental Relations Director for former Governor Ted Kulongoski (2010); former Oregon Senator Brady Adams (2007); former Oregon Senator Cliff Trow (2001), former Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt (1997) and former Oregon and U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield (1996).

About the Mark O. Hatfield Award
The Hatfield Award is presented to a deserving “statesman” who has provided lasting benefits to the quality of life for Oregon citizens.  Applicants must be held in high esteem by the public due to their unselfish devotion to the call of public service.  Hatfield began his political career in 1950 as a member of the Oregon Legislature, and in 1956 became the state’s youngest Secretary of State at age 34.  He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1966, and became the longest-serving Senator from Oregon in 1993. 


About the League of Oregon Cities
Founded in 1925, the League of Oregon Cities is a voluntary association representing 242 Oregon cities.  The League helps city governments provide service to citizens through legislative services, policy setting, intergovernmental relations, conferences and training, technical assistance and publications.

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