Joanne Verger was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 2000. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2001–2004, and was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 2004. She is currently serving as a member of the Ways & Means Committee, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety, and as Co-Chair of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development.

Prior to the Legislature, Senator Verger served in many government roles over her 30 years in public service. She was the first woman mayor of Coos Bay, a position she filled for 4 terms. She was also a Coos Bay City Councilwoman from 1990-1992 and sat on the Coos Bay-North Bend Water Board for 3 years. Senator Verger became a League of Oregon Cities Board Member in 1995, was President of the League of Oregon Cities in 1999, and received The Legislative Leadership Award from The League of Oregon Cities in 2002.

Throughout her service in the Legislature, Senator Verger has sat on many Legislative and Advisory committees:

2003-2004 Assignments

• Vice Chair of Revenue Committee
• Rules and Public Affairs Committee
• Interim Joint Committee on Tax Reform
• Interim Government Oversight Committee
• Road User Fee Task Force
• Pacific Fisheries Task Force
• National Council of State Legislators Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

2001-2002 Assignments

• Transportation Committee
• Rules and Public Affairs Committee
• Interim Transportation Committee
• Interim Committee on Jobs and the Economy
• Road User Fee Task Force
• Pacific Fisheries Legislative Task Force
• House Task Force on Senior Issues

She is the co-owner of Verger Chrysler Plymouth Dodge and has spent over 20 years in advertising and marketing. Beyond these achievements, Senator Verger has received recognition for her work in both the private and public sector, including:

• Human Rights Award: 1991
• Easter Seal: Oregon’s Easter Seal Board of Directors, 3 years. Oregon’s Volunteer of the Year for Outstanding Service, Local Host of the Easter Seal Telethon 15 years.
• Delta Kappa Gamma Woman of Achievement
• First Coordinator of the Downtown Association In Coos Bay
• Planned and Directed The First Blackberry Arts Festival in Coos Bay
• United Way Board of Directors: Member 6 yrs
• United Way Campaign Chair, 1987
• SWOCC Foundation Board Chair, 1992
• SWOCC Business Advisory Board: 3 years
• Soroptimist Club of the Bay Area, Past President
• Coos Co. Children and Youth Services Comm.; Co-Chair, 1991 and 1992
• Coos Bay-North Bend Chamber of Commerce: Tourist Host Trainer