Bob Jenson
Encyclopedia
Bob Jenson is a Republican
politician from the US state of Oregon
. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives
representing District 58, which encompasses portions of Umatilla County
, including the cities of Hermiston
, Pendleton
, and Stanfield
, as well as a small portion of Union County
. Jenson has served in the Oregon House since 1997, and as the member with the most seniority, is given the honorary title of Dean of the House
.
in 1931. He received a bachelor of science degree and master's degree in United States History from Montana State University
. He served in the United States Air Force
from 1950 to 1954 and then worked as an airport commissioner.
Jenson moved to eastern Oregon in 1967 and taught at Blue Mountain Community College
for 26 years. He also taught high school for 4 years.
for the seat in the Oregon House of Representatives
vacated by Chuck Norris, who did not seek re-election, defeating Republican Don Armstrong. In 1998, Jenson changed his party affiliation to Independent
after becoming dischanted with what he considered extreme environmental positions of the Democratic Party. He was re-elected to the House as an Independent in 1998, and then a year later, became a Republican
.
He was re-elected as a Republican in 2000, and has won re-election to the House every two years since then, making him the longest-serving member of the Oregon House, thus earning the ceremonial title of Dean of the House
.
. They have four grown children.
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
politician from the US state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He serves in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
representing District 58, which encompasses portions of Umatilla County
Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the Umatilla River. In 2010, its population was 75,889...
, including the cities of Hermiston
Hermiston, Oregon
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,745 people, 4,964 households, and 3,360 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,035.4 people per square mile . There were 5,383 housing units at an average density of 832.9 per square mile...
, Pendleton
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
, and Stanfield
Stanfield, Oregon
Stanfield is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,979 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Pendleton–Hermiston Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, as well as a small portion of Union County
Union County, Oregon
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the town of Union, which is located within its boundaries; in 2010, the county population was 25,748. The county seat is La Grande.-History:Union County...
. Jenson has served in the Oregon House since 1997, and as the member with the most seniority, is given the honorary title of Dean of the House
Dean of the House
The Dean of the House is the member with the longest unbroken record of service in several legislatures. Specific positions include:*Dean of the United States House of Representatives.*Dean of the House of Commons, the dean in the Canadian House of Commons....
.
Early life and career
Jenson was born on a ranch in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
in 1931. He received a bachelor of science degree and master's degree in United States History from Montana State University
Montana State University - Bozeman
Montana State University – Bozeman is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's land-grant university and primary campus in the Montana State University System, which is part of the Montana University System...
. He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1950 to 1954 and then worked as an airport commissioner.
Jenson moved to eastern Oregon in 1967 and taught at Blue Mountain Community College
Blue Mountain Community College
Blue Mountain Community College is a community college located in Pendleton, Oregon, United States, and serves Umatilla, Morrow, and Baker counties...
for 26 years. He also taught high school for 4 years.
Political career
In 1996, Jenson ran as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for the seat in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
vacated by Chuck Norris, who did not seek re-election, defeating Republican Don Armstrong. In 1998, Jenson changed his party affiliation to Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
after becoming dischanted with what he considered extreme environmental positions of the Democratic Party. He was re-elected to the House as an Independent in 1998, and then a year later, became a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
He was re-elected as a Republican in 2000, and has won re-election to the House every two years since then, making him the longest-serving member of the Oregon House, thus earning the ceremonial title of Dean of the House
Dean of the House
The Dean of the House is the member with the longest unbroken record of service in several legislatures. Specific positions include:*Dean of the United States House of Representatives.*Dean of the House of Commons, the dean in the Canadian House of Commons....
.
Personal
Jenson and his wife Evelyn live in PendletonPendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
. They have four grown children.