collaborative & committed
Meet SENATOR Anderson
Running for the Oregon Senate wasn’t a personal aspiration for Senator Anderson but rather a call to duty to help protect the coastal communities and State he loves.
While a Republican, he has a rare and proven ability to work across political party lines to come up with creative, collaborative answers that don’t add to the tax burden of coastal residents. Even Democrats voted for him because they understood the need for levelheaded balance in Salem and knew Senator Anderson wouldn’t forget them.
Senator Anderson, along with his three brothers, was raised in Wallowa County, Oregon, by his father, Bob, an Episcopal minister, and his mother, Ruth. He graduated from high school in Washougal, Washington. Later, he graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, where he met his wife, Sue.
His collaborative approach was honed during his professional career. He worked in financial services for 35 years in Portland, Eugene, Boise, Spokane, Seattle, Walnut Creek, and back to Portland. He started with US Bank and retired, working for Fannie Mae.
He and Sue purchased their home in Lincoln City in 1999, knowing that was where they wanted to retire. As an avid golfer and newly retired, Anderson noticed the need in the community for support for the high school golf teams and created a junior golf program for 7-16-year-olds.
Because of his financial background, Anderson was curious about the City Budget and how it worked. He joined the Budget Committee and also the Planning Commission. When a seat opened on the City Council with the two years remaining, Anderson ran for that position and won. From there, he ran for Mayor and was successful. Rather than running for another term as Mayor, Anderson ran for County Commissioner against a longtime incumbent and lost.
About this time, another City Council seat was vacated for an almost full 4-year term, and Anderson was successful in gaining that seat. When the seat opened for Mayor, he ran again in 2018 for the seat he held until being elected to the Oregon Senate in 2020.
While serving on the North Lincoln Health District Board, Anderson helped partner with Samaritan Health Services to bring a new $45 million hospital to Lincoln City without raising taxes on the citizens.
He also advocated for a new police station, which was built without local tax dollars, utilizing revenue from tourism instead.
Senator Anderson and his wife have owned their home on the coast for over 25+ years, and they’ve come to love the area even more than they anticipated.
Those many dedicated years of unpaid service to our coast’s communities have also proven his exceptional ability to work creatively with leaders across political parties and make the coast a better place.
Current community involvement
- Senator, Oregon Senate
- North Lincoln Health District, Presently Secretary/Treasurer
- Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund Board, Governor appointed 2014
- Siletz Tribe Revolving Credit Program Board
- Siletz Tribe (SMLLC) Property Management Company Board
- Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association, Executive Committee
- Oregon Coast Community College, Business Advisory Board
- Cascade West Area Commission on Transportation (ODOT)
- Mid-Willamette Valley Area Commission on Transportation (ODOT)
- Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce
- B’nai B’rith Summer Youth Camp-Volunteer
- Family Promise of Lincoln County-Volunteer
Past community Involvement
- Lincoln City, Mayor, 2018-2020
- Lincoln City, City Council, 2009-2010, 2015-2018
- Lincoln City Man of the Year, 2014
- Oregon Mayors Association
- League of Oregon Cities
- North Lincoln County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
- Lincoln City Planning Commission, 2009
- Lincoln City Budget Committee–Citizen Representative, 2009
- Lincoln County Foundation Board
- Lincoln County Community Development Corp., Board Member
- Lincoln County 10 Year Housing Plan, Workforce Housing Committee
- Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce, Housing Committee
- Siletz Tribe (EDAC) Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Waverly Children’s Home Board
- Junior Achievement of Oregon, Board Chair
- Housing Development Center, Past Board-Vice Chair
- Oregon Mortgage Lenders Association, Past President 1994 & 2004
- Greater Portland Academy of Finance Board
- Oregon Bankers Association Committee, Chair
- City of Lake Oswego Redevelopment Committee
- African American Alliance for Home Ownership Advisory Board
- The Enterprise Foundation Oregon Advisory Board
- Mortgage Industry for Responsible Government (PAC) Chair
- Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Advisory Board
- ASPIRE Program at Taft 7-11 Lincoln City
- Junior Golf Program developed for Chinook Winds Casino Resort Golf Course
Professional career
FANNIE MAE | 1995-2007 | RETIRED
Director, Oregon/Idaho Community Business Center
Portland, Oregon
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK | 1988-1995
Sr. Vice President, NW Region, Mortgage Division
Portland, Oregon
PACIFIC FIRST MORTGAGE CORP. | 1985-1988
Sr. Vice President, National Production
Walnut Creek, California
OLD STONE MORTGAGE CORP. | 1979-1985
Vice President, Regional Manager
Seattle, Washington
IDAHO FIRST NATIONAL BANK | 1978-1979
Assistant Vice President, Secondary Marketing
Boise, Idaho
US BANCORP MORTGAGE | 1972-1978
Branch Manager
Portland, Oregon