Kate Brown Receives Oregonian Endorsement

The Portland Democrat has the experience and character to be an effective statewide official

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Republicans occupied the secretary of state's office in Oregon for more than a century. From 1878 to 1984, they didn't budge.

Now Democrats are trying to make up for lost time.

This spring, four Democrats seek the party's nomination for this influential statewide seat that is next in line to the governor. State Sen. Kate Brown of Portland, former Senate majority leader, is a strong candidate for the job and the party's best chance at retaining power.

The secretary of state oversees elections, audits state government and serves on the state land board with the governor and treasurer. It's the kind of job that stays out of the headlines unless there's a crisis -- for example, an election goes awry or taxpayer money gets misspent.

This is why a secretary of state must be trustworthy above all. Whatever the party affiliation, the secretary must be able to bolster voter confidence by solving problems impartially and working behind the scenes to prevent them in the first place.

Brown has the potential to be an excellent secretary of state. During 16 years in the Legislature, including nearly a decade as a party leader, she has earned respect across party lines. She is well-acquainted with election law, after chairing the Senate elections committee and improving campaign disclosure laws. She's also experienced with budgets and state agencies, which should help in her efforts to make audits more targeted and useful.

Rick Dancer, a former Eugene anchorman, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Brown's opponents in the Democratic primary are state Sen. Rick Metsger of Welches, state Sen. Vicki Walker of Eugene and Newberg design engineer Paul Damian Wells. Wells does not appear to be running a serious campaign.

Walker is a fearless legislator, and she has exercised her powers as education committee chairwoman with some skill. There's no question she'd root out problems and demand accountability, which is appealing. However, her combative streak would limit her effectiveness in this statewide office.

Metsger, a former television anchorman, is a leader on transportation and consumer protection. His accessible style would make him a good spokesman, and he has bucked his party when necessary to protect voters and taxpayers.

Brown, however, has the overall edge, in no small part because of her success as one of the Oregon Legislature's preeminent forces for ethics reform -- not just in the landmark 2007 session but going clear back into legislatures of the 1990s. That's an especially attractive credential for a secretary of state.

We disagree with Brown on a number of policy issues related to this office. For example, we strongly disagree with the law she supported that bars people who voted in primary elections from signing a nominating petition for an independent candidate for the same office. This law freezes out independent candidates and protects the major parties' lock on power.

Brown will need to take extra precautions to avoid the appearance of partisanship after so many years as a party activist. She already has pledged not to be involved in Oregon political campaigns, a difficult but smart move for her.

As secretary of state, her political future would depend almost entirely on her ability to set aside party and work for every voter, every taxpayer, every time.