Martha Schrader
Encyclopedia
Martha Northam Schrader (born August 12, 1953) is a Democratic
American politician who served in the Oregon State Senate
, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County
, including the cities of Barlow
, Canby
, Gladstone
, Johnson City
, Oregon City
, and portions of Milwaukie
.
, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also holds two Master of Arts
degrees—one in entomology
from the University of Illinois, and one in education from Portland State University
.
While at Cornell, she met Kurt Schrader
, and the two were married in 1975. In 1978, the couple moved to Oregon. The Schraders have five children. From 1986 to 1994, she worked as a teacher and library media specialist in the Oregon City School District
.
, and Martha served as his chief legislative analyst until his election to the Oregon State Senate
in 2002. That same year, Martha won the Democratic nomination to succeed her husband for his seat in the House, but she lost in the general election to Republican Wayne Scott
.
In 2003, she was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Clackamas County
Board of Commissioners. In 2004, she was elected to a full term, defeating Republican Tootie Smith. Schrader has served as chair of the commission in 2005 and 2007.
In 2008, Kurt was elected to the United States House of Representatives
, and the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, on which Martha served, selected her to fill Kurt's vacated state Senate seat (though she recused herself from voting).
Schrader was narrowly defeated in the 2010 election
by Republican Alan Olsen
.
.
Democratic 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...
American politician who served in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
, including the cities of Barlow
Barlow, Oregon
Barlow is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 135 at the 2010 census.-History:Barlow is named for William Barlow, the son of Samuel K. Barlow . Samuel bought the donation land claim in which Barlow is located from Thomas McKay on September 17, 1850...
, Canby
Canby, Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is located on Oregon Route 99E, two miles northeast of Barlow.-History:...
, Gladstone
Gladstone, Oregon
Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 11,438. The 2007 estimate is 12,200 residents. Gladstone is a four-square-mile suburban community twelve miles south of Portland at the confluence of the Clackamas and...
, Johnson City
Johnson City, Oregon
Johnson City is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It was a manufactured housing community owned entirely by one man, whose residents voted to incorporate by a 49 to 10 vote on June 16, 1970...
, Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, and portions of Milwaukie
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
.
Early life
Born Martha Northam, she is a graduate of Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also holds two Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degrees—one in entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
from the University of Illinois, and one in education from Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
.
While at Cornell, she met Kurt Schrader
Kurt Schrader
Kurt Schrader is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.-Early life, education, and early career:...
, and the two were married in 1975. In 1978, the couple moved to Oregon. The Schraders have five children. From 1986 to 1994, she worked as a teacher and library media specialist in the Oregon City School District
Oregon City School District (Oregon)
The Oregon City School District is a school district that serves the city of Oregon City, Oregon and some unincorporated areas of southwestern Clackamas County, including the hamlet of Beavercreek and the community of Jennings Lodge, which is physically separated from the rest of the district by...
.
Political career
In 1996, Kurt Schrader was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon 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....
, and Martha served as his chief legislative analyst until his election to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 2002. That same year, Martha won the Democratic nomination to succeed her husband for his seat in the House, but she lost in the general election to Republican Wayne Scott
Wayne Scott
Wayne Scott is a politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives for the Republican Party until 2009, representing House District 39, which includes the communities of Barlow, Beavercreek, Canby, Mulino and Oregon City. He was House Minority Leader...
.
In 2003, she was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
Board of Commissioners. In 2004, she was elected to a full term, defeating Republican Tootie Smith. Schrader has served as chair of the commission in 2005 and 2007.
In 2008, Kurt was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, on which Martha served, selected her to fill Kurt's vacated state Senate seat (though she recused herself from voting).
Schrader was narrowly defeated in the 2010 election
Oregon elections, 2010
Elections were held in Oregon on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Primary elections took place on May 18, 2010.-United States Senate:Democratic incumbent Ron Wyden is running for re-election. His Republican opponent is Jim Huffman....
by Republican Alan Olsen
Alan Olsen
Alan Randal Olsen is a Republican American politician who serves in the Oregon State Senate, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County, including the cities of Barlow, Canby, Gladstone, Johnson City, Oregon City, and portions of Milwaukie...
.
Personal
In May 2011, the Schraders announced their divorce. They own the Kraft-Brandes-Culberston Farmstead in Canby, also known as Three Rivers Farm, which is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.