Margaret Strachan
Margaret Strachan | |
|---|---|
| Portland City Commissioner, Position 3 | |
| In office 1981–1986 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Ivancie |
| Succeeded by | Bob Koch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Margaret Darcy 1935 (age 88–89) Helena, Montana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Carroll College |
| Occupation | Teacher, campaign manager, City Commissioner |
Margaret D. Strachan (born 1935)[1] is an American politician who served on the Portland City Council, in Portland, Oregon, from 1981–1986.[2] She was the first woman elected (not appointed) to the Council.[3][4]
Early life and education
She was born Margaret Darcy[5] in Helena, Montana. She graduated from Carroll College with a degree in English and became a high-school teacher. She taught in Montana for three years until she moved to Portland in 1973.[5]
Activism and political career
She worked as a neighborhood activist, including as a coordinator for the City of Portland's Office of Neighborhood Associations and later on the staff of Commissioner Mike Lindberg as a liaison to neighborhood organizations.[6] She was the campaign manager for Charles Jordan's first run for election to the city council,[5] in 1974, after Jordan was initially appointed to the council.
She was elected to the Portland City Council in March 1981,[7] and was sworn-in on April 9, 1981.[8] Her 1981 election was to a partial term only, to fill a vacancy on the council created in November 1980 as a result of Frank Ivancie's succeeding Connie McCready as mayor,[6] but she won re-election in May 1982.[9]
She ran for re-election again in 1986, but lost to Bob Koch[10] and her time on the council ended at the end of 1986.[1] She was instrumental in the redevelopment of the Pearl District from an industrial district to a high-end neighborhood.[11] During her term she was also involved in developing the Central City Plan and building public housing along the Park Blocks.
In 1988, she became the Executive Director of Central City Concern,[12] a Portland non-profit that provides resources to homeless people. She left the organization a year later, in March 1989.[13]
Personal life
Margaret Darcy married Jim Strachan in 1954, at age 19, and became Margaret Strachan.[5] They divorced before she moved to Portland. In Oregon, she married Sumner Sharpe.[5] She is currently retired and living in Montana.
References
- ^ a b Oliver, Gordon (January 1, 1987). "Strachan leaves office; future undecided". The Oregonian. p. C4.
- ^ "City Elected Officials Since 1913 | Directory of Current and Past Elected Officials". The City of Portland, Oregon. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
- ^ "Donor Profiles". College of Urban & Public Affairs, Portland State University. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
- ^ Slovic, Beth (April 19, 2012). "For women, history shows winning office in Portland is no easy task". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Linda (March 22, 1981). "Activists of differing backgrounds meet in council runoff; Strachan emphasizing 'perspective of citizen'". The Sunday Oregonian. pp. D1, D4.
- ^ a b Williams, Linda (March 29, 1981). "Strachan, Blumenauer stage last-minute blitz". The Sunday Oregonian. p. B1.
- ^ Williams, Linda (April 2, 1981). "Strachan's 'packaging', ability to project image credited in council win". The Oregonian. p. A25.
- ^ Williams, Linda (April 12, 1981). "Acclimatizing hectic for new commissioner". The Sunday Oregonian. p. B7.
- ^ Williams, Linda (May 19, 1982). "Both Strachan, Schwab coast to easy victories". The Oregonian. p. B1.
- ^ Oliver, Gordon (November 10, 1986). "New City Council's inexperience debated". The Oregonian. p. B1.
- ^ "Chloe Eudaly Portland City Commissioner". www.facebook.com. March 9, 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
- ^ Laatz, Joan (February 20, 1988). "Strachan new chief of Central City Concern". The Oregonian. p. D1.
- ^ Rollins, Michael (March 16, 1989). "Agency board affirms Strachan's departure". The Oregonian. p. D6.