Oregon. Office of the Governor

Prior to the formation of the Provisional Government, executive authority was exercised by the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company and the superintendent of the Oregon Methodist Mission. An attempt to establish a provisional government in 1841 led to the creation of an executive committee, but the attempt was abandoned as premature on the advice of John McLoughlin and Charles Wilkes.

The provisional government was established on July 5, 1843, after three months of public meetings. Executive power was vested in a three-person committee elected by popular vote. The executive committee had the power to grant pardons and reprieves, to call out the militia, and to recommend legislation to the legislative assembly.

The Organic Act of 1845 replaced the executive committee with an elected "Executive of Oregon," informally known as the governor. The governor was popularly elected and served a two-year term. The governor was commander-in-chief of the militia, commissioned all public officers, appointed persons to fill vacancies in public offices, granted pardons and reprieves, insured that laws were "faithfully executed," recommended legislation to the Legislative Assembly, and signed legislative bills into law. The first governor, George Abernethy, took office on July 14, 1845 and served until March 3, 1849, when the territorial government, was organized.

Oregon became a United States Territory by act of Congress on August 14, 1848. This act made several changes in the governor's office. The territorial governor was appointed by the President of the United States and served a term of four years, unless removed by the President. Five governors served seven terms during the ten years the Oregon Territory existed. Only two of the terms lasted longer than fourteen months.

The governor could call special sessions of the legislative assembly. In addition, the governor could grant reprieves for violations of territorial and federal laws, but could only pardon territorial offenses. Laws passed by the 1853-1854 legislative assembly authorized the governor to appoint coroners, notaries public, the militia brigadier general, and to commission militia officers. the laws also established procedures for the governor to extradite criminals.

The Oregon Constitution was ratified in 1857 and provided for an elected governor. The governor's term was set at four years and no governor could serve more than eight out of any twelve consecutive years. The duties of the territorial governor were retained in the constitution. the first state governor, John Whiteaker, was elected June 7, 1858, nearly nine months before he took office on March 3, 1859.

The Governor of the State of Oregon has retained the powers and duties granted him at the time of statehood. These powers and duties include the drafting and recommending of a budget to the legislative assembly, initiating planning for future state activities, and serving as the focal point for coordination of federal and local governments. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

The governor may call legislative special sessions and may veto single items or emergency clauses on legislative bills. The governor may reprieves, commutations, and pardons and serves as chairperson of the State Land Board.

In case of vacancy or disability, determined in accordance with statutory provisions, the Office of the Governor respectively passes to the Secretary of State, State Treasurer, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House.

From the description of Agency History Record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 150503769

Robert W. Straub was inaugurated as Oregon's 31st Governor on January 13, 1975, after winning an impressive victory by the largest margin ever recorded in an Oregon Gubernatorial election.

Straub, an old Democrat, had previously served two terms as State Treasurer. He also served as a state senator from Lane County after launching his political career in 1954 as a member of the Lane County Board of Commissioners.

Governor Straub was born in San Francisco, California, on May 6, 1920. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Science degrees in business administration at Dartmouth College. He and his wife Pat were married in 1944 and had six children.

Soon after he was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1959, Straub became identified as an enthusiastic proponent of natural resources management and conservation. Straub had voiced his concern about increases in air and water pollution early in his political career.

In 1964, and again in 1968, Oregon voters elected Straub as State Treasurer. The eight years he spent in that office earned him a reputation as a fiscally conservative politician.

Straub's political career is well founded on his environmentally concious platform and he is well known for his favorable stance on the "Oregon Beach Bill" and the "Willamette Greenway Plan." Both of these bills were considered landmark environmental packages. The beach bill provides that Oregon beaches are public domain and will not be closed by private owners. The "Willamette Greenway Plan" made the Willamette River open and accessible to the public and as pollution free as possible. His anti-pollution legislation also helped his claim as a supporter of a Green Oregon.

Governor Straub served one term as Oregon Governor, losing his bid for a second term to Victor Atiyeh. Straub has retired from public service and resides in Oregon.

From the description of Biographical note. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122622942