John Kitzhaber : Ask Biography

Personal data

Date of birth

March 5, 1947(age 69)

Place of birth

Colfax, Washington, United States

Political party

Democratic Party

Spouse

Sharon LaCroix (1995 � 2003)

Residence

Mahonia Hall
and Portland

Alma mater

Dartmouth College
Oregon Health and Science University

Profession

Physician

35th and 37th Governor of Oregon

Assumed office

January 10, 2011

Preceded by

Ted Kulongoski

In office

January 9, 1995 - January 13, 2003

Succeeded by

Ted Kulongoski

Preceded by

Barbara Roberts

50th President of the Oregon Senate

In office

January 3, 1985 - January 3, 1992

Succeeded by

Bill Bradbury

Preceded by

Edward Fadeley

Home | Office Holder | John Kitzhaber

John Albert Kitzhaber (born March 5, 1947) is the 37th Governor of Oregon. He served as the 35th Governor of Oregon from 1995 to 2003, and became the first person to be elected to the office three times when he was re-elected to a non-consecutive third term in 2010. Prior to becoming a politician in Oregon, he was a practicing physician. He graduated from South Eugene High School in 1965, Dartmouth College in 1969, and Oregon Health & Science University with a medical degree in 1973. Kitzhaber practiced medicine from 1973 to 1986 in Roseburg, Oregon as an emergency room physician.

Kitzhaber began his political career in 1979 as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives for one term. In 1980, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate, where he served three terms from 1981 to 1993, and he was the president of the Senate from 1985 until 1993. As Oregon Senate President, he was the chief author of the state's government-funded health care plan, the Oregon Health Plan.

In the general election of November 2, 2010, he narrowly defeated the Republican nominee, former NBA player Chris Dudley. Two days after the balloting, their vote percentages were reported as 49.0% and 48.3%