ACLU of Oregon Director to Retire After 33 Years

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Taya Alami, GoLocalPDX Reporter

The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon announced Monday that David Fidanque, the organization’s executive director, will retire in March.

Fidanque joined the organization’s staff in 1982 and became the group’s executive director in 1993.

Jennifer Middleton, president of the board at the ACLU of Oregon, said that Fidanque’s leadership helped improve the effectiveness of the advocacy group, while also adding to its influence and size. 

The ACLU of Oregon made significant strides in gay rights across the state under Fidanque, according to Middleton.

“When Dave took over as executive director in 1993, we were battling more than 30 statewide and local anti-gay ballot measures put forward by the Oregon Citizens Alliance,” Middleton said. “He immediately committed resources to challenging those measures in the courts, in the Legislature and at the ballot box. The ACLU has never let up on its efforts working as a key partner with the LGBT community, including its work to help achieve the freedom to marry for same-sex couples this year.

Middleton said the ACLU has changed the civil rights landscape over the past two decades.

“Working for the ACLU has been an amazing, exhilarating experience,” Fidanque said in a statement. “I’ve had the opportunity to work on some of the most important civil liberties and civil rights struggles for more than three decades and to work with an incredible array of individuals and organizations. It’s been the most rewarding and challenging work I could ever imagine doing.”

The need for the ACLU’s work is critical, both nationally and locally, Fidanque said, before adding that he has a lot more he wants to accomplish before his retirement date in March. 

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