15 Facts About Margaret Carter

Margaret Louise Carter is an American politician who was a Democratic member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly from 1985 to 1999 and 2001 to 2009 and was the first black woman elected to the state's legislature.

Margaret Carter served in the Oregon House of Representatives until 1999, and then in the Oregon State Senate from 2001 to 2009.

Margaret Carter served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Vice Chair for Ways and Means, and as a member of both the Health and Human Services and Oregon State Hospital Patient Care committees.

Margaret Carter announced her resignation from the Senate effective August 31,2009, and took a post as Deputy Director for Human Services Programs at the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Margaret Carter was raised there in a family of nine children by her father, a Baptist minister, and her mother, a cook at the school cafeteria.

Margaret Carter arrived via train on December 1,1967, and began working odd jobs.

Margaret Carter then earned a masters of education in psychology from Oregon State University in 1973.

In 1973, Margaret Carter began working for Portland Community College as a counselor.

Republican leaders recruited Margaret Carter to run for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives in 1983.

Margaret Carter won as a Democrat in 1984 and began serving at the 1985 legislative session representing District 18.

Margaret Carter became the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

Margaret Carter was a member of the Oregon House until January 1999, when term limits prevented her from seeking additional terms.

Margaret Carter was then elected to the Senate in November 2000.

Margaret Carter resigned from the Oregon Senate in 2009 in order to take a job at the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Margaret Carter became director of community engagement in 2012 and saw her salary decreased.