Ted Kulongoski

Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski ( born November 5, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American lawyer and politician (Democratic Party). From 2003 to 2011 he was the 36th Governor of the State of Oregon.

Early years and political rise

When Ted Kulongoski was four years old, his father died. For this reason, he spent the rest of his childhood in a Catholic boy's home in St. Louis. After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Marines. After he graduated in law and settled in Eugene ( Oregon) as a lawyer specializing in labor down.

In 1974 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Oregon, 1978 in the state Senate. In 1980, he failed in the election to the Senate of the United States at the Republican Bob Packwood. In 1982 he made ​​his first attempt to become Governor of Oregon, but lost significantly against Victor G. Atiyeh. His successor, Neil Goldschmidt appointed Kulongoski in 1987 with the reform of the accident insurance system. Between 1993 and 1997, was Attorney General Kulongoski of Oregon and reformed in this position, the juvenile justice system. On January 4, 1997, he was a member of the Oregon Supreme Court, the highest court in Oregon, where he stayed until 18 June 2001. In 2002, Kulongoski was elected governor of his state, where he prevailed with 49 percent of the vote against Republican Kevin Mannix.

Governor of Oregon

On 13 January 2003 Kulongoski took office as governor of Oregon. On 7 November 2006 he won re- election as governor against his Republican challenger Ron Saxton. At the time of taking office to Kulongoski had to deal with the biggest budget deficit since the Great Depression. This was a consequence of the onset after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 economic recession. By reforming the financial system and through clever investment programs, he managed to gradually re-establish a degree of financial stability. The infrastructure of the state has been improved, and created about 150,000 new jobs. This was partly a result of the settlement of companies from other parts of the United States. For his second term, which began in January 2007, he promised himself a further improvement of the education system and health care. He wanted to become the leading force in the fight for renewable and alternative energy Oregon worldwide.

In January 2011, ended Kulongoskis second term. His predecessor John Kitzhaber was also chosen as his successor, and succeeded him hence again. Together with his wife, Mary Oberst, he has three grown children.