Avel Gordly
| Avel Gordly | |
|---|---|
 Avel Gordly in 2011 | |
| Member of the Oregon Senate from the 23rd district | |
|
In office 1997–2009 | |
| Succeeded by | Jackie Dingfelder |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 19th district | |
|
In office 1991–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Ron Cease |
| Succeeded by | Jo Ann Bowman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 13, 1947 Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | widowed |
| Residence | Portland, Oregon |
| Alma mater | Portland State University |
| Occupation | Activist, community organizer, educator |
Avel Louise Gordly (born February 13, 1947) is an activist, community organizer, and former politician in the U.S. state of Oregon, who in 1996 became the first African-American woman to be elected to the Oregon State Senate. She served in the Senate from 1997 to 2009. Previously, she served for five years in the Oregon House of Representatives.
Early years
Gordly was born in Portland, Oregon, to a mother active in local leadership within the Order of the Eastern Star and a father who worked for the railroad.[1] She graduated from Girls Polytechnic High School in 1965[1] (which later merged with Benson Polytechnic). After five years at Pacific Northwest Bell, she enrolled at Portland State University, earning a degree in the administration of justice.[1]
Political office
Gordly was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1991, to replace Ron Cease,[2] and later elected to the seat,[3] ultimately serving three terms, representing parts of north and northeast Portland. In 1996, she won election to the Oregon State Senate, the first African-American woman to do so; she served in the Senate from 1997 to 2009. She was a member of the Democratic Party until late 2006, when she dropped her party registration, becoming a nonaffiliated voter.[4] She chose not to run for re-election in 2008.[5]
In 2008, while serving as senator, OHSU opened the Avel Gordly Center for Healing, which provides mental health and psychiatric services.
Recent work
Gordly is an adjunct professor at her alma mater,[6] and with Patricia A. Schecter, is the author of Remembering the Power of Words (2001, ISBN 0-87071-604-2), her memoirs, published by Oregon State University Press.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 Schechter, Patricia. "Avel Gordly (1947-)". Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
- ↑ "State Government Legislators and Staff, 1991 Regular Session". Oregon State Archives. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Portland State Black Studies | Avel Gordly Curriculum Vitae". Portland State University. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ↑ "Senator Avel Gordly renounces party politics". BlueOregon. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Sen. Gordly Not Running For Reelection". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Portland State Black Studies | Black Studies Department Faculty & Staff". Portland State University. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ↑ "Remembering the Power of Words". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
External links
- Biography and Curriculum Vitae at Portland State University
- Biography from The Oregon Encyclopedia
- Follow the Money - Avel Gordly (1992 1994 1996 2000 2004 2006)