Commission to Consider Replacing Oregon Statue at U.S. Capitol
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
John McLoughlin, the "Father of Oregon" is one of two statues representing Oregon in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.
Kitzhaber announced a 10-member committee to look at whether Oregon should replace the statues representing Oregon at the U.S. Capitol. The Statutory Hall allows for up to two statues of prominent citizens representing each state. Oregon’s statues are of Oregon pioneer Jason Lee and the “Father of Oregon,” John McLoughlin.
“There has been significant legislative interest in recent years about who would best represent the Oregon spirit in our nation’s capital,” Kitzhaber said in a press release. “This is a forum for Oregonians to have a conversation about which historic and modern pioneers to showcase to Washington, D.C., visitors.
"It also presents an opportunity to bring a statue of an honored Oregonian back home.”
Kitzhaber said in the release that the panel will seek public input as well as suggestions from schoolchildren and historical societies across the state.
The commission consists of nine voting members, with five appointments by the governor, two appointments by House Speaker Tina Kotek, and two appointments by Senate President Peter Courtney. The governor’s appointments are Patsy Smullin, Jerry Hudson, Margaret Carter, Gale Castillo, and Brigette Whipple-Scott.
Kerry Tymchuk, director of the Oregon Historical Society, will also serve in an advisory, nonvoting role on the commission. Jerry Hudson will serve as chair, according to the press release.
If the commission decides to replace a statue, it will also recommend where to place the returned statue.
The National Statuary Hall, one of the most popular destinations at the U.S. Capitol, features up to two statues of prominent citizens representing each state in the country.
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