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News Release
Contact: Robin Maxey October 10, 2012
(503) 986-1605
Linn, Benton County Commissioners
Select Close As Newest State Senator
(SALEM) – Senate President Peter Courtney Wednesday welcomed former Oregon State Representative Betsy Close to the Oregon Senate as its newest member.
Close (R-Albany) was appointed to the Senate District 8 seat in a joint meeting of the Benton and Linn County Commissioners Wednesday afternoon. The seat was vacated in September when longtime Senator Frank Morse (R-Albany) announced his retirement.
“I had the privilege of serving in the Legislature with Senator-select Close when she was in the House and I look forward to working with her again in the Senate,” said Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn). The Senate President said he would work with the new Senator to schedule a swearing in ceremony soon.
Close served four terms in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1999 through 2005. She was an assistant majority leader in both the 2001 and 2003 sessions. She previously taught public school in Albany and in the State of Washington.
She holds bachelor’s degrees from both Washington State University and Central Washington University and a master’s from Oregon State University. Close is married with four grown children.