John Albert Kitzhaber (born March 5, 1947) is an American politician and former governor of Oregon, from 2011 until his planned resignation on February 18, 2015 A member of the Democratic Party, Kitzhaber earlier than the 35th Governor for two Office hours (1995 to 2003). He was also in the Oregon House of Representatives (1979-1981) and Oregon Senate (1983-1993), including as President of the Senate (1985-1993). He was also an emergency physician and has worked as a health administrator.
Born in Colfax, Washington, Kitzhaber is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received his doctorate from the Oregon Health & Science University. Kitzhaber began his career as an emergency physician, before he was elected in 1978 to the Oregon House of Representatives a semester in the Oregon House from 1979 to 1981 and was elected State Senate in Oregon in 1982 He served three terms in the Oregon Senate from 1983 to in 1993 and served as Oregon Senate President from 1985 to 1993.
In 1994, after the incumbent Governor Barbara Roberts announced she would not seek re-election, Kitzhaber declared his intention to run for governor. He sat in the Democratic primary, defeating former representative and Republican candidate Denny Smith with 50% of votes in the parliamentary
Born in Colfax, Washington, Kitzhaber is a graduate of Dartmouth College and received his doctorate from the Oregon Health & Science University. Kitzhaber began his career as an emergency physician, before he was elected in 1978 to the Oregon House of Representatives a semester in the Oregon House from 1979 to 1981 and was elected State Senate in Oregon in 1982 He served three terms in the Oregon Senate from 1983 to in 1993 and served as Oregon Senate President from 1985 to 1993.
In 1994, after the incumbent Governor Barbara Roberts announced she would not seek re-election, Kitzhaber declared his intention to run for governor. He sat in the Democratic primary, defeating former representative and Republican candidate Denny Smith with 50% of votes in the parliamentary
After his first term as Governor Kitzhaber was the director of the Center for Evidence Based Policy at the Oregon Health & Science University, served as Executive Chair and President both at the Foundation for Medical Excellence and the Estes Park Institute and founded the health care advocacy group of Archimedes movement. In September 2009, Kitzhaber announced he would run for a third term as governor, defeating Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury in the Democratic primaries and former basketball player Chris Dudley with 49% of votes in Oregon 2010 gubernatorial election. He was re-elected to a historic fourth term in 2014 gubernatorial election, defeating State Representative Dennis Richardson. [1]
On February 13, 2015 Kitzhaber announced his intention to resign as governor effect February 18, 2015 [2] Kate Brown is his successor.