Pete T. Cenarrusa is a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 politician from Idaho. He served continuously for over half a century in elective office, first as a member of the Idaho Legislature

Idaho Legislature

The Idaho Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Idaho. It consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. The Idaho Senate contains 35 Senators, who are elected from 35 districts...

 and then as Secretary of State

Secretary of State of Idaho

The Secretary of State of Idaho is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is an elected position within the executive branch of the state government...

.

Career

Cenarrusa was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives in 1950. He served in that capacity for 16 years, including six as speaker of the house.

In May 1967, Cenarrusa was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Don Samuelson

Don Samuelson

Donald William Samuelson was a Republican politician from the US state of Idaho. He served as the 25th Governor of Idaho from 1967 to 1971....

 to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Edson H. Deal

Edson H. Deal

Edson H. Deal was a Republican politician from Idaho. He served as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho from 1955 to 1959 during the administration of Governor Len Jordan. He briefly served as Secretary of State of Idaho from January to April 1967, where he died in office.He married Gwen and had...

. Cenarussa was elected to a full term in 1970. He was reelected seven times (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998). Cenarrusa did not run for reelection in 2002, instead supporting his longtime chief deputy, Ben Ysursa

Ben Ysursa

Ben T. Ysursa, born October 15, 1949, in Boise, Idaho, is the Secretary of State of Idaho, United States. He was elected on the Republican Party ticket.-Family:...

.

In 2003, Pete and Freda Cenarrusa organized the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture, which promotes the culture and history of the Basques

Basque people

The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...

 by providing resources for performances, presentations and programs and to organizations throughout Idaho and Oregon.

The Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies at Boise State University

Boise State University

Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...

 is named after him. Basque was his first language, and he still speaks fluent Basque.

External links

• The Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture