Vera Katz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vera Katz
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| 49th Mayor of Portland, Oregon | |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Bud Clark |
| Succeeded by | Tom Potter |
| 57th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office January 14, 1985 – November 10, 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Grattan Kerans |
| Succeeded by | Larry Campbell |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1973–1990 |
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| Constituency | Multnomah County |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Vera Pistrak
August 3, 1933 Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Died | December 11, 2017 (aged 84) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Leukemia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mel Katz (1964–1985; divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Politician |
Vera Katz (born Vera Pistrak; August 3, 1933 – December 11, 2017) was an important American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Vera Katz made history as the first woman to be the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives. She also served as the 49th mayor of Portland, Oregon's biggest city. She grew up in New York City and moved to Portland in 1962. She was elected to the Oregon House in 1972 and later served as mayor from 1993 to 2005.
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Vera Katz's Early Life and Journey
Vera Katz was born on August 3, 1933, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Her parents, Elizar and Raissa, left Moscow after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. They settled in Germany. When Vera was just two months old, her family had to flee again. They were Jewish and belonged to a group called Mensheviks. They left Germany for France because Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party were gaining power.
When World War II started and Hitler invaded France, Vera's family had to escape once more. They walked over the Pyrenees Mountains to Spain. In 1940, they were able to move to the United States. They sailed on a ship called Nea Hellas and settled in Brooklyn, New York.
Education and Moving to Portland
Vera Katz went to Brooklyn College. She earned her first degree in 1955 and a master's degree in 1957. She met her future husband, Mel Katz, while working as a camp counselor. In 1962, they decided to move to Portland, Oregon. They chose Portland from a list of other cities like Seattle and San Francisco.
After moving, Vera and Mel had a son named Jesse. Jesse later became a journalist in Los Angeles. He wrote a book about his life called The Opposite Field.
Getting Involved in Politics
Vera Katz started getting involved in politics in the late 1960s. She worked on the presidential campaign for Robert F. Kennedy. She also supported the Delano grape strike. This strike was organized by César Chávez to help farm workers get better rights.
In the early 1970s, Vera Katz protested against the City Club of Portland. This club only allowed men to be members. Her protests helped change this rule, and the club started allowing women.
Vera Katz's Political Career
In 1972, Vera Katz was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. She represented Portland and Multnomah County. She was re-elected many times and served until 1990.
In 1985, she became the first woman to be the Speaker of the Oregon House. This was a very important leadership role. While in the House, she helped pass the Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century. This was a big law to improve schools. She also helped pass laws about gun control. She worked to stop unfair treatment based on gender in public places. Vera Katz was the first person in Oregon to be Speaker for three terms in a row.
Serving as Mayor of Portland
In 1992, Vera Katz decided to run for mayor of Portland. She used public transportation to get around and show her commitment to the city. She promised to lower crime rates. She won the election and served three terms as mayor. Her time as mayor was from January 1993 to January 2005. She was re-elected in 1996 and 2000.
As mayor, Vera Katz supported the Yellow Bike Project. This project helped make Portland known as a bike-friendly city. During her time as mayor, she worked hard to improve the city's neighborhoods.
In 2000, Mayor Katz had surgery and treatment for breast cancer. In 2004, she was diagnosed with another type of cancer. While she beat the cancer, the treatment affected her kidneys. For the rest of her life, she needed kidney dialysis treatments.
Later Years and Legacy
Vera Katz and Mel Katz divorced in 1985. Their son, Jesse, became a journalist.
After being mayor, Vera Katz continued to be involved in public life. In 2005, she took an unpaid position at Portland State University. From 2008 until she passed away, she volunteered for a reading program called Start Making A Reader Today.
Her last job was as a lobbyist for a public relations company. She retired in 2012.
Remembering Vera Katz
Vera Katz passed away peacefully on December 11, 2017, in Portland. She was 84 years old. She had been diagnosed with leukemia a week before. She is remembered as a hardworking and energetic public servant.
One of her biggest achievements is the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade. This is a 1.5-mile-long river walk along the Willamette River. It connects the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge. The Esplanade was finished in 2001 and named after her in 2004. In 2006, a bronze statue of Vera Katz was added to the Esplanade. It honors her important work for the city.
See also
- Timeline of Portland, 1990s–2000s
- List of female speakers of legislatures in the United States
