Draft:Wally Priestley, Maverick Oregon Legislator

``All legislatures need a Wally Priestley, '' Vera Katz (1990 )

From the 1960's into the 1980's, Wally Priestley was one of Oregon's most colorful and outspoken political activistgs. A Portland Oregon native who graduated from Jefferson High School (1949), served in the Navy during the Korean war, and worked as an engineer for Techtronix before embarking on his political career.

First active as President of the Multnomah County Young Democrats and the county Democratic Executive Committee, and first ran for State Reprentative in a North Portland Sub Legislative district in 1962, the again in 1964 was first elected to the Oregon House. He went on to serve continuously until 1964 except for a two year break (1972-74.

Priestley, a Democrat, began his public career when he was elected to the Oregon House in 1964. He served until 1985 except for a two-year break after he lost a 1970 election. He served on the Portland School Board from 1976 to 1981 and was a member of the Multnomah County Education Service District board from 1976 to 1980.

Priestley was a progressive, some say socialist, a protester for social justice, civil rights, the environment and anti-war. His protests gained him wide notoriety for their spontenaity and audaciousness. He was a familiar figure at demonstrations for various liberal causes, including peace, the environment, opposing the military, supporting the homeless, the farm workers, and opposing nuclear power. He was an activist, a gadfly, a maverick, and to many an eccentric.

The label most often attached to him was populist, a fitting description because he always stuck up for the individual fighting larger institutions. (Populist also as Wally opposed gas tax and vehicle registration tax increases and most of all any proposed sale tax.)

An all around great guy! More updates to come.