Anna M. Peterson (née Chadwick; born May 30, 1947) is an American politician who served as Mayor of Salem, the state capital of Oregon, from 2011 until 2016.
A Republican,[1] and the third woman to hold the non-partisan office, Peterson became mayor on January 11, 2011, when she succeeded Janet Taylor.
[1][4] Peterson, the second of two children, was born in Corvallis, Oregon, where her parents had moved after her father returned from serving in the war, so that he could attend college.
[1] From 1984 to 1987, Peterson was the director of development and alumni relations for the University of Oregon School of Law in Eugene.
[1][8] From 1990 to 1992, she owned a marketing and public relations firm, Successful Results with Anna Peterson.
[1] In 2002, Peterson served as campaign manager for Janet Taylor's successful bid for mayor of Salem.
[14] Peterson has stated that her political influences include former Governor Tom McCall, Attorneys General Dave Frohnmayer and Hardy Myers, and judge Betty Roberts.