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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
Senate Concurrent Resolution 33
Sponsored by Senators NASH, STARR, Representative LEVY B, Senator ANDERSON, Represen-
tatives LIVELY, OWENS; Senator MANNING JR
Whereas Susan Roberts was born and raised in Wallowa County, Oregon, and lived in multiple
towns within the county, including Minam, Wallowa, Joseph and Enterprise; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ diverse experience within the region gave her a unique perspective on
its varied communities and the needs and values that drove and defined them, from rural ranching
areas to small urban centers; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ family background was rooted in agriculture and timber, industries that
have historically defined the economy of Wallowa County, and this connection to the land and its
traditions shaped her approach to governance, emphasizing stewardship and practical problem solv-
ing; and
Whereas Susan Roberts attended elementary school in Minam and Wallowa, followed by high
school in Wallowa, and she later pursued further education at a business school in Boise, Idaho,
equipping herself with skills that would be vital to her extensive career in business management and
public administration; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ early life instilled a strong work ethic and a sense of duty to her
community, qualities that would define her career as a public servant; and
Whereas before entering politics, Susan Roberts spent over 35 years working for or managing
businesses in Wallowa County; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ occupational background provided her with practical experience in lo-
cal commerce, which later informed her economic development initiatives as a county commissioner;
and
Whereas Susan Roberts served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, from
November 1967 to November 1970, and she cited that experience with pride, noting its role in
shaping her core values in leadership and discipline; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ reverence for and service with the United States Marine Corps was
driven in part by family tradition, as her father and brothers served as well, and that tradition
continued with her granddaughter; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ entry into public service began with volunteer roles, including serving
on the Enterprise School District 21 Budget Committee and the Enterprise City Budget Committee,
and those early positions allowed her to develop a deep understanding of local governance and fiscal
management; and
Whereas Susan Roberts also participated in various community organizations, volunteering
wherever and whenever asked, further cementing her reputation as a dedicated community member;
and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ involvement in her community extended to boards and commissions,
including the Enterprise Cemetery Maintenance District, reflecting her commitment to preserving
local heritage and infrastructure; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ formal political career began in Enterprise, the county seat of Wallowa
County, where she served on the City of Enterprise Planning Commission, gaining experience in land
use and urban development issues; and
Whereas Susan Roberts was later elected to the City of Enterprise City Council, serving for a
decade and honing her skills in policymaking and community engagement; and
Enrolled Senate Concurrent Resolution 33 (SCR 33-INTRO)Page 1
Whereas Susan Roberts’ tenure with the city council culminated in her election as mayor of the
City of Enterprise, and during the decade she held the role she oversaw several key projects in the
community, frequently in collaboration with other local leaders; and
Whereas as mayor, Susan Roberts’ leadership style emphasized cooperation and community in-
put, a philosophy she carried forward throughout her career; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ experience in city government provided her with a nuanced under-
standing of the differences between municipal and county governance, although she noted that the
core principles of responsiveness and constituent service remained consistent; and
Whereas during her time as mayor, Susan Roberts was elected president of the League of
Oregon Cities, a significant honor that involved representing Oregon’s cities before the Legislative
Assembly; and
Whereas as president of the League of Oregon Cities, she visited every city in the state of
Oregon, expanding her influence beyond Wallowa County and allowing her to advocate for rural
communities on a state level; and
Whereas in 2008, Susan Roberts was elected as Wallowa County Commissioner, a nonpartisan
role with a four-year term, and she began her first term in 2009; and
Whereas in Susan Roberts’ first term as county commissioner, much attention was paid to the
dispersal of gray wolves from Idaho, and along with the Wallowa County Stockgrowers, Susan and
her fellow commissioners supported the development of the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Man-
agement Plan, which helped refund ranchers for livestock loss when investigations proved that loss
to be caused by wolves; and
Whereas Susan Roberts was on the ground herself for many of these investigations, and even
bought a pair of rubber BOGS boots to wear when her river sandals weren’t up for the terrain; and
Whereas as county commissioner, Susan Roberts was instrumental in revitalizing the Wallowa
County Courthouse, overseeing several upgrades to the historic building, including the installation
of the Wallowa County Courthouse Fountain of Honor for the county’s veterans, replacing the roof,
upgrading the electrical system, adding much-needed accessibility features including an elevator and
transforming the third floor, which had long been occupied only by squirrels and birds, into office
space for commissioners and administrative staff; and
Whereas as a longtime believer in exercising the county’s coordination status with the federal
government, Susan Roberts, along with the other county commissioners and the Wallowa County
Natural Resource Advisory Committee, routinely engaged with the United States Forest Service to
provide input on project planning and implementation; and
Whereas when members of the public, local government officials and special interest groups
were unhappy with the United States Forest Service’s Blue Mountains Plan Revision, Susan Roberts
traded in her BOGS for Gore-Tex chest waders and volunteered to cochair the Blue Mountains
Intergovernmental Council (BIC), a new alliance of eastern Oregon agencies; and
Whereas over the past six years, Susan Roberts and BIC affected key changes in the plan re-
vision, including how it affected public land access and local economies; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ love for the county’s history, culture and traditions was evident in her
efforts to preserve its heritage, from protecting natural landmarks to supporting community events
like the Wallowa County Fair; and
Whereas Susan Roberts always spoke fondly of her time in Wallowa County, whether visiting
ranches, picking elderberries or stopping at the Imnaha Store and Tavern for a basket of gizzards;
and
Whereas in May 2025, Wallowa County announced Susan Roberts’ retirement, marking the end
of her 15-year tenure as county commissioner and over 40 years of public service; and
Whereas Susan Roberts’ vision and commitment, her tenacity and her drive, and the unflappable
resolve that enabled her to forge ahead and solve problems no matter how great the challenge, will
be missed in Wallowa County; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
Enrolled Senate Concurrent Resolution 33 (SCR 33-INTRO)Page 2
That we, the members of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, celebrate the life and accom-
plishments of Susan Roberts, and we recognize and honor her contributions to the people of this
state.
Adopted by Senate June 10, 2025
Obadiah Rutledge, Secretary of Senate
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Adopted by House June 20, 2025
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Enrolled Senate Concurrent Resolution 33 (SCR 33-INTRO) Page 3