Background
Gordly was born in Portland, Oregon, to a mother active in local leadership within the Order of the Eastern Star and a father who worked for the railroad.
political organization worker State Legislator
Gordly was born in Portland, Oregon, to a mother active in local leadership within the Order of the Eastern Star and a father who worked for the railroad.
Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, Portland State University, 1974. Graduate John F. Kennedy School Government, Harvard University, 1995. Graduate, University Oregon Pacific Program, 1998.
Phone company clerk Pacific West Bell, Portland, 1966-1970, management trainee, 1969-1970. Work release counselor Oregon Corrections Division, 1974-1978, parole and probation officer, 1974-1978. Director youth services Urban League of Portland, 1979-1983.
Director Southern Africa program American Friends Service Committee, Portland, 1983-1989, associate executive secretary, director Pacific Northwest region, 1987-1990. Freelance writer Portland Observer, 1988-1990. Program director Portland House of Umoja, 1991.
Member Oregon House of Representatives, Portland, 1991-1996, member joint ways and means committee, advisory member appropriations committee, rules and reorganization committee, low income housing committee, energy policy review committee, others. Member Oregon Senate from 10th district, Salem, since 1997. Member crime and corrections committee, trades economic development committee Oregon Senate, 1997, member joint ways and means committee on public safety, 1997, member joint ways and means committee on education, 1999, emergency board, co-chair, interim task force on parental and family abductions, 2003—2004, member joint ways and means public safety committee, since 2005, member joint ways and means education committee, since 2005, chair, joint ways and means, full committee, 2005.
Member joint ways and means committee on education, member governor drug and violent crime policy board, member Oregon liquor control commission task force, member sexual harrassement task force, member Hanford waste board, member Governor's Commission for Women, Governor's Drug and Violent Crime Policy Board. Originator, producer, host Black Women's Forum, 1983-1988. Co-producer, rotating host Northeast Spectrum, 1983-1988.
Associate professor department black studies Portland State University, since 2006.
She was a member of the Democratic Party until late 2006, when she dropped her party registration, becoming a nonaffiliated voter.
Member corrections advisory committee Multnomah Community. Member advisory committee Oregonians Against Gun Violence. Member Black Leadership Conference.
Treasurer, board directors Black United Fund. Co-founder, facilitator Unity Breakfast Committee. Co-founder Sisterhood Luncheon.
Past project advisory board directors National Organization Victims Assistance. Past citizen chairman Portland Police Bureau. Past member coordinating committee Portland Future Focus Policy Committee.
Past coordinator Community Rescue Plan. Past vice chairman international affairs Black United Front. Past secretary Urban League Portland, past vice chairman and executive committee.
Past advisory committee Black Educational Center. Past vice chairman Desegregation Monitoring. Also past advisory committee, past chairman curriculum committee, founder African American Leg.
Issues Roundtable; founder Black Women Gathering. Other past organization committees. Elected state senate First African American Woman, 1996.
Member National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
1 child, Tyrone Wayne Waters.
