Introduction
Martha Northam Schrader (born August 12, 1953) is a Democratic American politician who is serving on the Board of Commissioners of Clackamas County, Oregon. She has served in the Oregon Senate, representing Oregon's 20th Senate district in southeastern Clackamas County, including the cities of Barlow, Canby, Gladstone, Johnson City, Oregon City, and portions of Milwaukie.
Early life
Born Martha Northam, she is a graduate of Cornell University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also holds two Master of Arts degrees—one in entomology from the University of Illinois, and one in education from Portland State University.
While at Cornell, she met Kurt Schrader, and they were married in 1975. In 1978, the couple moved to Oregon. The Schraders have five children. From 1986 to 1994, she worked as a teacher and library media specialist in the Oregon City School District.
Political career
In 1996, Kurt Schrader was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, and Martha served as his chief legislative analyst until his election to the Oregon Senate in 2002. That same year, Martha won the Democratic nomination to succeed her husband for his seat in the House, but she lost in the general election to Republican Wayne Scott.
In 2003, she was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners. In 2004, she was elected to a full term, defeating Republican Tootie Smith. Schrader has served as chair of the commission in 2005 and 2007.
In 2008, Kurt was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, on which Martha served, selected her to fill Kurt's vacated state Senate seat (though she recused herself from voting).
Schrader was narrowly defeated in the 2010 election by Republican Alan Olsen. She was re-elected to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners in 2012.
Personal
In May 2011, the Schraders announced their divorce. They own the Kraft-Brandes-Culberston Farmstead in Canby, also known as Three Rivers Farm, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.