Pete T. Cenarrusa

Infobox Officeholder
name = Pete T. Cenarrusa
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caption =
office = Secretary of State of Idaho
term_start = May 1, 1967
term_end = January 6, 2003
predecessor = Edson H. Deal
successor = Ben Ysursa
birth_date = birth date and age|1917|12|16
birth_place = Carey, Idaho
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
party = Republican
alma_mater =
spouse =
profession =
religion =


footnotes =

Pete T. Cenarrusa (born December 16, 1917 in Carey, Idaho) is a Republican politician from Idaho. He served continuously for over half a century in elective office, first as a member of the Idaho Legislature and then as Secretary of State.

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

The Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies at Boise State University is named after him.