Pete T. Cenarrusa
| Pete T. Cenarrusa | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Cenarrusa in July 2010 | |
| Secretary of State of Idaho | |
| In office May 1, 1967 – January 6, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Edson H. Deal |
| Succeeded by | Ben Ysursa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 16, 1917 Carey, Idaho |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Freda |
| Alma mater | B.S., University of Idaho |
Pete T. Cenarrusa (born December 16, 1917) is a Republican politician from Idaho. He served continuously for over half a century in elective office, first as a member of the Idaho Legislature and then as Secretary of State.[1][2]
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[edit] Career
Cenarrusa was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives from Blaine County in 1950. He served in that capacity for 16 years, including six as speaker of the house.
In May 1967, Cenarrusa was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Don Samuelson to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Edson H. Deal. Cenarussa was elected to a full term in 1970. He was reelected seven times (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998). Cenarrusa did not run for reelection in 2002, instead supporting his longtime chief deputy, Ben Ysursa. Upon leaving office Cenarrusa was the longest-serving secretary of state in the United States. Cenarrusa is also the longest-serving elected public official in Idaho history, having held elective office for a total of 52 years.[3]
[edit] Basque activism
The son of Basque immigrants from Bizkaia and a native speaker of the Basque language, Cenarrusa has been a longtime proponent of increased autonomy in the Basque Country, particularly in Spain. In the 1970s he worked with the Democratic U.S. Senator from Idaho, Frank Church, in an effort to curtail foreign aid to the Franco regime. Cenarrusa has also appealed for clemency for Basque political prisoners in Spain.[3]
In 2003, Pete and Freda Cenarrusa organized the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture (originally the Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies), which promotes the culture and history of the Basques by providing resources for performances, presentations and programs and to organizations throughout Idaho and Oregon.[4]
Cenarussa was instrumental in the founding of the Basque Studies Program at Boise State University in 2006. He still speaks Basque fluently.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Totoricagüena, Gloria (March 2004). "Pete T. Cenarrusa: A Post-Modern Basque". Euskonews & Media 247. http://www.euskonews.com/0247zbk/kosmo24702.html. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ "Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee Pete T. Cenarrusa ‘40 Still Fighting for the University of Idaho". University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/idahovandals/awards/halloffame/petet,-d-,cenarrusa.aspx. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ a b The Public Career of Pete Cenarrusa (accessed 17 January 2012)
- ^ "About the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture", in the website of the foundation. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
- ^ Pete Cenarrusa Biography (accessed 17 January 2012)
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Edson H. Deal |
Secretary of State of Idaho May 1, 1967–January 6, 2003 |
Succeeded by Ben Ysursa |
