Roger Valhammer

Valhammer grew up in Tysvær in Rogaland. His father was a painter and his mother worked in a shop. He moved to Bergen to study, and later settled there permanently. In Bergen, he became active in the Workers' Youth League, where he took on a number of different positions. He currently lives in the borough of Nordnes with a daughter and partner.{{cite web | url = http://nordnesrepublikken.no/2017/03/04/olbrygging-og-politikk/ | title = Arbeiderpartiet i Bergen styres nå fra Nordnes. | publisher = Nordnesrepublikken | date = 4 March 2017 | access-date = 29 March 2019 | language = no}}{{cite web | url = https://www.bt.no/btmagasinet/i/zLoQ1v/mannen-som-kom-inn-fraa-sidelinja | title = - Er det du som kjempar mot ho der om leiarposisjonar? Litt sånn maktkamp? | publisher = Bergens Tidende | date = 26 January 2019 | access-date = 29 March 2019 | language = no}}

Valhammer has a master's degree in comparative politics from the University of Bergen. He was involved in various student organisations there. He has professional experience from, among other things, the employee organisation Union of Employees in Commerce and Offices and as a strategic advisor at Sparebanken Vest.{{cite web | url = https://www.uib.no/en/node/102348 | title = Strategisk rådgiver i Sparebanken Vest | publisher= University of Bergen | date = 8 November 2016 | access-date = 29 March 2019 | language = no}}

Valhammer was elected to the Bergen City Council in 2011 and was re-elected in 2015 and 2019.{{cite web |url= https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/valg/7449/article-89298 |title= Valgresultat for kommunestyrevalget 2011 |access-date= 9 May 2019 |date= | publisher= Bergen kommune |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190509124845/https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/valg/7449/article-89298 |archive-date= 9 May 2019 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url= https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/valg/7449/article-129551 |title= Bystyret 2015-2019 |access-date= 9 May 2019 |date= | publisher= Bergen kommune |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190509124832/https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/valg/7449/article-129551 |archive-date= 9 May 2019 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url= https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/valg/7449/article-162685 |title= Slik blir det nye bystyret |access-date= 13 January 2020 |date= | publisher= Bergen kommune |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113233319/https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/valg/7449/article-162685 |archive-date= 13 January 2020 | url-status=dead}} Between 2017 and 2019, he led the Bergen Labour Party.

Valhammer was elected as a deputy representative from Hordaland following the 2013 parliamentary election. He served the full term until 2017.{{cite web | url = https://www.stortinget.no/no/Representanter-og-komiteer/Representantene/Representant/?perid=ROV | title = Biografi: Valhammer, Roger | publisher = stortinget.no | access-date = 29 March 2019 | language = no}}

Valhammer was appointed acting city commissioner for schools, kindergartens and sports on 1 December 2015 and served until 4 February 2016 during Pål Hafstad Thorsen's parental leave.{{cite web | url = https://www.bergen.kommune.no/politikk/byradet/historikk/byradet-schjelderup-2015-2019 | title = Byrådet Schjelderup 2015-2019 | publisher = Bergen kommune | date = 17 November 2020 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}}

Valhammer was appointed to the position on a permanent basis on 16 August 2018.{{cite web | url = https://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/a2ExW7/skolebyraaden-ble-bedt-om-aa-gaa | title = Skolebyråden ble bedt om å gå | publisher = Bergens Tidende | date = 16 August 2018 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}}

Valhammer was appointed chief commissioner of Bergen on 25 April 2019 following Harald Schjelderup's resignation. His government was a continued coalition between the Labour Party, Liberal Party and the Christian Democratic Party, with the latter's Håkon Pettersen as deputy.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/roger-valhammer-tek-over-for-harald-schjelderup-som-byradsleiar-i-bergen-1.14526965 | title = Her er Bergen sin nye byrådsleiar | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 25 April 2019 | access-date = 28 October 2023 | language = nn | archive-date = 7 November 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233007/https://www.nrk.no/vestland/roger-valhammer-tek-over-for-harald-schjelderup-som-byradsleiar-i-bergen-1.14526965 | url-status = live }} Following the 2019 local elections, the coalition was expanded with the Green Party, with Thor Haakon Bakke as deputy.{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/her-er-bergens-nye-byrad-1.14760296 | title = Her er Bergens nye byråd | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 29 October 2019 | access-date = 24 June 2023 | language = no}}

As chief commissioner, Valhammer led Bergen through the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic initially hit the municipality in March 2020, Valhammer and health officials announced strict measures to protect vulnerable groups and secure smooth operations of the health service.{{cite web | url = https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/Joy7MP/bergen-med-strengere-corona-tiltak-ber-utesteder-ta-grep-mot-trengsel | title = Bergen med strengere corona-tiltak: Ber utesteder ta grep mot trengsel | publisher = Verdens Gang | date = 10 March 2020 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}} Even stricter measures were implemented in September with increasing numbers of infected; which notably included the need to wear masks on public transport, limiting the number of people at private and public events and registration of visitors in restaurants.{{cite web | url = https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/WOLl0r/42-nye-smittetilfeller-i-bergen-innfoerer-strengere-tiltak | title = 42 nye smittetilfeller i Bergen – innfører strengere tiltak | date = 8 September 2020 | publisher = 8 September 2020 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}} By December, Bergen lifted many of its local measures, with the national measures and guidelines being recommended for further usage.{{cite web | url = https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/vAkqjw/bergen-opphever-lokale-corona-tiltak | title = Bergen opphever lokale corona-tiltak | publisher = Verdens Gang | date = 18 December 2020 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}}

He initially announced his resignation in 2021 after putting forward the cabinet question (kabinettspørsmål) on 24 November over disputes of extending the Bergen Light Rail to Åsane.{{cite web | url = https://www.tv2.no/a/14381165/ | title = Byrådet i Bergen går av etter å ha tapt i bybanesaken | publisher = TV2 | date = 24 November 2021 | access-date = 24 November 2021 | language = no}} However, on 2 December, two council members from the Centre Party and one from the Red Party secured a majority for extending the light rail over Bryggen.{{cite web | url = https://www.vg.no/i/1Oy7JW | title = Nytt flertall for Ap-byråd i Bergen: – Jeg er lettet | publisher = Verdens Gang | date = 2 December 2021 | access-date = 16 December 2021 | language = no}} This ensured that Valhammar could continue to govern and he announced his new cabinet on 6 December.{{cite web | url = https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/roger-valhammer-bekrefter-konstituert-nytt-byrad-i-bergen-og-sikrer-bybane-over-bryggen/14407744/ | title = Roger Valhammer bekrefter konstituert nytt byråd i Bergen - og sikrer Bybane over Bryggen. | publisher = TV2 | date = 6 December 2021 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}}

The Christian Democratic Party withdrew from the government on 22 August 2022 over disagreements on urban development policies.{{cite web | url = https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/2022/08/22/bt-krf-forlater-byradet-i-bergen/ | title = KrF forlater byrådet i Bergen | publisher = Dagsavisen | date = 22 August 2022 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}} Throughout the remainder of his term, Valhammer led a coalition consisting of the Labour Party, Liberal and Green parties.{{cite web | url = https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/politikk/2022/08/25/nytt-byrad-i-bergen/ | title = Nytt byråd i Bergen – Venstre overtar plassen til KrF | publisher = Dagsavisen | date = 25 August 2022 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}}

Valhammer again announced his intent to resign in October following revelations of child service cases where children had not been given sufficient or was lacking follow-ups. He was succeeded by mayor Rune Bakervik as chief commissioner on 3 November.{{cite web | url= https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/pQWjQj/barnevernskrisen-i-bergen-byraadet-gaar-av | title = Barnevernskrisen i Bergen: Byrådet går av | publisher = Verdens Gang | date = 7 October 2022 | access-date = 24 October 2022 | language = no}}{{cite web | url = https://www.nrk.no/vestland/arbeidarpartiet-og-venstre-dannar-byrad-i-bergen-1.16164626 | title = Visesongar blir kulturbyråd i Bergen | publisher = NRK Vestland | date = 3 November 2022 | access-date = 28 October 2023 | language = nn | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004030110/https://www.nrk.no/vestland/arbeidarpartiet-og-venstre-dannar-byrad-i-bergen-1.16164626 | url-status = live }}

In February 2023, Valhammer became director of community contact at TV2.{{cite web | url = https://www.m24.no/kommunikasjon-roger-valhammer-sarah-willand/roger-valhammer-blir-direktor-i-tv-2/582413 | title = Roger Valhammer blir direktør i TV 2 | publisher = Medier24 | date = 14 February 2023 | access-date = 4 November 2023 | language = no}}

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Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Bergen

Category:University of Bergen alumni

Category:Hordaland politicians

Category:Politicians from Bergen

Category:Labour Party (Norway) politicians

Category:21st-century Norwegian politicians