Pat Whiting

Pat Whiting (born Patricia D. Carpio, October 22, 1940 – June 23, 2010) was an American activist and politician from Oregon. Whiting served three terms in the Oregon House of Representatives, where she was the first Filipino and Asian American representative and the first woman representative from her district. Whiting served from 1973 through 1981.

Born in Chicago, and raised in California, Whiting relocated to Tigard, Oregon, just outside of Portland, after enrolling in graduate school and her marrying Vince Whiting. She was a community activist and a member of a number of organizations until her death due to lymphoma.

Early life Whiting was born Patricia D. Carpio to Doris Runolfson in Chicago, Illinois. Whiting was of Filipino, Icelandic and Native American descent. Whiting was the eldest child of eight children, born into a migrant farmworker family.

Education Whiting attended San Jose State College, completed graduate work at Oregon State University and received a master's degree from Lewis and Clark College in Public Administration. While at SJSC, Whiting majored in Arts and Humanities, and was "active in the student body and participated in multiple plays and musicals, choir, flamenco dance and the International Platform Speaker Association." A year before her election, Whiting gave the keynote speech for the 37th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Mexico City, Mexico.

Co-sponsored legislation Whiting co-sponsored legislation to ban smoking tobacco products in public places, the first of its kind in Oregon.

Whiting was a co-sponsor of the Oregon Bottle Bill, an effort intended to curb litter and pollution that first passed in 1971.

Whiting co-sponsored legislation to establish Project Independence, a program that helps senior citizens age in place and maintain their autonomy.

In her first year as representative, Whiting co-sponsored House Bill 2930, which would have made anti-LGBTQ discrimination illegal. The activist who authored the bill noted that legislators who sponsored HB2930 took a risk in their political careers.

The legislation passed in 1975 and after the Oregon ban went into effect in 1977, 13 other states and Congress introduced similar proposals. The New York Times said that, "Oregon is an innovator in such environmental legislation.

Whiting appeared on the Today Show in defense of the ban on chlorofluorocarbons.

Whiting pushed the House to establish the Oregon Department of Energy and adopt an "Oregon Energy Policy" . Whiting wrote: "It is essential that future generations not be left a legacy of vanished or depleted resources, resulting in massive environmental, social and financial impact. The Oregon goal is to promote the efficient use of energy and to develop permanently sustainable energy resources."

Equal Rights Amendment In the House of Representatives, Whiting was a member of the Oregon Women's Political Caucus, which worked to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Betty Roberts, who served with Whiting, and Gail Wells wrote , "We were a diverse group of Republicans and Democrats ranging in age from thirty to seventy-five, lawyers and housewives, office workers, social workers and union workers, most married but some not, with children from pre-school age to grown and out on their own. The convergence of these women in my committee room was no accident. Every one of us had spirit and a common purpose." The state was the 25th in the country to ratify the ERA.

Land Use Planning As a member of the Oregon Joint Legislative Committee, which oversaw the Land Conservation and Development Commission responsible for Land Use Planning Directives, Whiting advocated for preservation of open spaces and development of recreational land. Whiting served as a board member for the Washington County Community Action poverty program.

Awards and achievements Izaak Walton League Conservationist of the Year, 1979 Carnegie Foundation Top 10 U.S. State Legislation Award, 1975 Eagleton Institute of Politics, Top 10 state legislators in United States Rutgers University top 10 state legislators in United States Washington County OSU Extension Service Pioneer Citizen Stateswoman Award Distinguished Service Award from the city of Tualatin Harold M. Hayes Award, 2009, for citizen involvement in Washington County, Oregon