Elizabeth Furse
Elizabeth Furse | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 October 1936 Nairobi, Kenya Colony |
| Died | 18 April 2021 (aged 84) Near Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician, faculty member |
| Years active | 1993–1999 (U.S. House of Representatives) |
| Known for | First African-born naturalized citizen elected to the U.S. Congress; U.S. Representative for Oregon's 1st congressional district |
Elizabeth Furse (October 13, 1936 – April 18, 2021) was an American entrepreneur originally from Kenya and a former faculty member at Portland State University. She represented Oregon's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1993 until 1999. Notably, Furse was the first African-born naturalized citizen elected to the United States Congress.
Early years
Born in Nairobi, Kenya Colony, Furse was the daughter of Barbara Elizabeth (Ross), a Canadian, and Peter Reynolds Furse, a British national. Her lineage included notable figures such as her grandfather, artist Charles Wellington Furse, and grandmother Dame Katharine Furse, recognized for her contributions to nursing and military administration. Growing up in South Africa, she became involved in anti-apartheid activism by 1951, participating in some of the initial Black Sash protests in Cape Town.
In 1956, she relocated to England before moving to Los Angeles. There, she engaged in women's empowerment initiatives in the Watts neighborhood and supported unionization efforts led by Cesar Chavez with the United Farm Workers. After settling in Seattle in 1968, she championed Native American rights, particularly focusing on fishing rights and treaty enforcement. She obtained U.S. citizenship in 1972 and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Evergreen State College in 1974.
Furse moved to the Portland area in 1978 and enrolled at Northwestern School of Law but left after two years to spearhead lobbying campaigns that successfully reinstated federal recognition for several Oregon tribes including the Coquille, Klamath, Lower Umpqua, Coos, and Grand Ronde. In 1986, she helped establish the Oregon Peace Institute with the goal of integrating conflict resolution education into Oregon’s school curriculum.
Elections
In 1992, Furse won election to Congress by defeating State Treasurer Tony Meeker, during a period marked by a significant rise in female representation in the House. A Northwest newspaper characterized her in 1994 as the "opposite of Congress’ typical risk-averse politicians." Despite the Republican surge that year known as the Republican Revolution, she narrowly retained her seat by a margin of just 301 votes against businessman Bill Witt. In the 1996 rematch with Witt, she secured re-election with 52% of the vote. Choosing not to run again in 1998, she emphasized that serving in public office should not be viewed as a lifelong profession.
Tenure in U.S. House of Representatives
In 1996, Furse co-established the Congressional Diabetes Caucus alongside Congressman George Nethercutt (R-WA), which contributed to legislation enacted in 1997 that expanded Medicare coverage for diabetes-related education and supplies. This caucus has grown into the largest health-focused group within Congress.
She was instrumental in obtaining funding to extend the TriMet Westside MAX Light Rail line into downtown Hillsboro; TriMet honored her contributions by naming the plaza at Sunset Transit Center after her.
Other activities
Together with her partner John C. Platt, Furse launched Helvetia Vineyards and Winery in Oregon. They began planting grapevines in 1982 and officially opened the winery a decade later, specializing primarily in pinot noir and chardonnay varieties.
Following her departure from Congress in 1999, she took on leadership of Portland State University’s Institute for Tribal Government where she developed educational initiatives like "Great Tribal Leaders of Modern Times." Her deep involvement with Native American issues influenced her decision to endorse Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) during his Senate campaigns. She cited their aligned priorities on tribal matters and Smith’s opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as key reasons for her support. During his 2008 campaign, she commended his ethical approach and bipartisan independence.
In 2014, Furse sought election to represent District 4 on Washington County's Board of Commissioners but was narrowly defeated by incumbent Bob Terry. Her candidacy received endorsements from Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici as well as former Governors Barbara Roberts and Ted Kulongoski.
Additionally, Furse participated as a member of the ReFormers Caucus within Issue One.
Death
On April 18, 2021, Furse passed away at the age of 84 on her farm close to Hillsboro. Her death resulted from complications after experiencing a fall.