Join Governor Roberts and support Kate Brown for Secretary of State!
Oregon's Democrats will have their hands full making decisions on a number of very competitive statewide primary elections. The secretary of state's race is no different, as three experienced legislators compete for the nomination.
Our choice is Kate Brown, a Portland state senator who has been in the Legislature since 1991 and the Senate majority leader since 2004. She brings a resume packed with experience and a reputation for dealing fairly with both sides of the aisle.
Brown faces two other Democratic candidates with considerable experience: Rick Metsger and Vicki Walker, both of whom began their legislative careers in 1999. On the Republican side, Rick Dancer, a Eugene TV journalist, is running unopposed.
Metsger says he sees the secretary of state taking a greater role in everything from transportation to education. It seems to us an unfocused approach to a job that requires very concentrated attention on elections, state lands, audits of state agencies and, potentially, redistricting.
Walker has earned a reputation for taking on sacred cows in state government. She challenged the SAIF workers' compensation insurance agency for its use of high profile lobbyists— including former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt — and its overly cozy connections with various legislators. She sponsored legislation that ended "golden parachute" severance packages for school administrators and helped push through a bill that ensured that taxes collected by private utilities were actually paid out as taxes.
That kind of dogged determination and willingness to buck the power structure — even her own party's power structure — makes her an appealing candidate. But along the way she has managed to alienate people throughout government, the good and the bad alike. She is widely considered a loose cannon whose focus on her crusades prevents her from effectively dealing with other issues. The secretary of state, who is first in line to succeed the governor in case of death or an early departure, must be a multi-tasker who can work well with all kinds of people on all kinds of tasks, often almost simultaneously.
Brown has proven she has that ability. She was a leader in shoring up safeguards for the state's initiative system after a variety of abuses were uncovered. She pushed through a law creating an online public system that details political campaign financing. She says a priority for her would be to focus more effort on performance audits of state agencies, to ensure that programs are administered properly and services delivered efficiently.
She was a chief architect of the current congressional districting plan for Oregon, which she points out created a safe Democratic seat in the U.S. House, a safe Republican seat and three seats that are currently up for grabs. She says if the task falls to her in 2010, she would create a bipartisan citizens panel to give her a recommendation.
The question mark hovering over Brown is her role as a leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus and the concern that the complaints of partisanship raised against current Secretary of State Bill Bradbury would continue under her watch. But Republicans who have worked with her describe her as fair and say they feel she made an honest effort to include them in the process when they were in the minority.
Brown has proven her leadership capabilities and we're convinced that she will put the best interests of the state ahead of any partisan interests. We encourage Democratic voters to send her on to the November general election.
]]>While the rest of our major race endorsements follow a theme of "change, change, change" (the Kool-Aid was delicious, thanks for asking), we're favoring a more establishment candidate in the race for secretary of state.
Three state senators are vying for the seat: Kate Brown, Vicki Walker, and Rick Metsger. (A fourth candidate, Paul Wells, is running on the solo issue of making the seat nonpartisan.) All three are capable, respected political leaders, but our vote goes to Brown.
Metsger doesn't have the energy of his two colleagues, and fell flat in our endorsement interview—the issues he's most effective on, like transportation, don't seem like a good fit for this office. Walker, on the other hand, is a fighter, and we love her for that (she's also put out an impressive booklet outlining her stance on the issues). But in a position like secretary of state, we'd rather have levelheaded Brown at the helm, overseeing elections and audits.
Brown spent nearly a decade as senate majority leader, and has chaired the Senate Rules and Elections Committee—two positions that have honed her leadership skills, and have prepared her well to lead the state in the important areas of elections and audits. Brown plans to watchdog the basics—keeping an eye out for initiative fraud—while also looking ahead by making it easier for people to register to vote and sign petitions, perhaps by making both possible online. We're confident that she'll uphold the high standards set by this office, and that she'll innovate where needed. Vote for Brown.
]]>Local Washington County Officials and Activists Gather to
Support Kate Brown for Secretary of State
Beaverton, OR- On Sunday, a group of activists and local Washington County officials gathered to support Kate Brown in her run for Secretary of State. Desari Strader, Washington County Commissioner; Representative Mitch Greenlick and Kathryn Harrington, Metro Councilor spoke to the volunteers before they hit the doors talking to voters for Secretary of State candidate, Kate Brown.
Representative Mitch Greenlick welcomed the group to his district with these words about Senator Kate Brown. "I have worked with Senator Kate Brown in the legislature for many years. I have seen her leadership, her ability to build consensus and collaborate with her colleagues. Whether it was holding her own team together or working across the aisle, Kate Brown demonstrated the skill and leadership that we need in a Secretary of State."
Kathryn Harrington, Metro Councilor spoke about the important role that the Secretary of State will play in protecting and preserving Oregon for future generations. "As an advocate for sound land use planning, the role that the Secretary of State fills on the State Land Board is of particular interest to me. Oregon's next Secretary of State will have to walk the tightrope of providing for Oregon's schools while protecting our natural environment. This can be a tough job- and left to the wrong person it could have devastating impacts on our environment for generations to come. I trust Kate Brown, she has the skill and wisdom to protect our state lands and provide for our schools."
Finally, Desari Strader, longtime resident and Washington County Commissioner stated, "In the race for Secretary of State, there is one clear leader who truly understands the unique needs of Washington County and that is Kate Brown."
Kate Brown's campaign for Secretary of State is incorporating a solid grassroots component with volunteers knocking on doors and talking to voters all across the state.
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The Statesman Journal , endorsed Kate Brown stating, "Brown stands out in crowded Secretary of State race. She is able to compromise and get results." Read to read the full Statesman-Journal endorsement.
The East Oregonian wrote in the fall "What's not to like about Kate Brown?" This week, they selected Kate Brown as the choice for Secretary of State. Read The East Oregonian's endorsement of Kate!
The Medford Mail Tribune backs Kate Brown because "Brown has proven her leadership capabilities and we're convinced that she will put the best interests of the state ahead of any partisan interests."
]]>When voters start wading through the possible candidates for secretary of state, they should be grateful so many highly-qualified individuals have demonstrated a willingness to serve in Oregon's number two leadership position.
The ballot looks like a "Who's Who" list from the last session of the Oregon Legislature.
As the East Oregonian has gone about the process of studying the candidates for all offices and determining who is worthy of an endorsement, some of the races have been almost "no brainers."
Not so this race. And we would want to make it perfectly clear that while we are obligated to choose a single candidate, this is a field rich with talent.
We have been particularly impressed with Rick Metsger and Kate Brown, both of whom have spent time visiting our area and focusing on the issues that resonate among our voters. In the end, it was a difficult choice between the two.
Early on we were impressed with Kate Brown and her sincere interest in issues that cover all of Oregon. Although she is characterized as a liberal from the heart of Portland, a description that would ordinarily send us fleeing to another camp, upon further inspection we don't think this is a very apt or realistic description. Certainly she represents her Portland constituency as one would expect, but she also has a grasp of issues that affect Eastern Oregon.
Following her visit to Pendleton last fall, we mused aloud, "What's not to like about Kate Brown?"
Her husband spent almost 10 years working for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Enterprise and also did a stint in John Day.
This is by no means our first encounter with Brown or any of her opponents for that matter. Since Oregon doesn't have a lieutenant governor, the secretary of state is the second ranking constitutional officer. It's clear Brown has a keen understanding of the role of that office and an interest in running that is specific to the duties.
Brown, who has served for 16 years in the legislature, won her first election by just seven votes, so she has a unique understanding of how much every vote counts. Election law and procedures are one of the major focuses of the office.
As the ranking Democratic leader in the senate, Brown developed a reputation for working effectively with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and demonstrated quality leadership based more on the needs of Oregon and less on partisanship.
Her time in the legislature also left her with an understanding of the state's economic ups and downs and the need for efficiency. The secretary of state also has major responsibilities for conducting audits and promoting savings and economy.
Perhaps whast's most interesting about Brown is her take on the difference between representative government and direct democracy. While she sees a need to reform the initiative system, she views it as a prelude to making government more relevant for succeeding generations.
While we support her candidacy, we can't overlook mentioning her participation in the passage of the expanded ethics rules that are wreaking havoc among volunteer officials in rural communities. From the Senate side, she was a supporter of House Speaker Merkley's efforts to help create this debacle. As secretary of state, we would hope that she would help bring Oregon back to reality on this count.
Brown also has said there is no question young people are feeling less connected with the governmental process and are less inclined to vote, but in some respects she sees this as a reflection of the difference between generations.
A strong proponent of civic engagement, she advocates for ways to reach out to a generation that lives online, is connected instantly by text messaging and is involved and engaged in its own way.
Brown said it won't be long before almost every citizen in Oregon will be able to weigh in on an issue almost instantly.
"Rather than criticizing young people for not being interested," she said, "we need to make sure we have a system that involves, rather than discourages, the new generations."
As part of that understanding, Brown knows there is a declining interest in strict party lines and a greater interest in being able to focus on candidates rather than on which party they represent.
As we noted earlier, there are lots of good choices in this race, but our money is on Kate Brown.
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.
]]>April 20, 2008
Democrats have three excellent candidates for secretary of state in the May 20 primary. All are state senators. All have good ideas. All would be capable secretaries of state.
Topping the list is Sen. Kate Brown of Portland.
Her nine years as Senate majority leader gave her experience in working with colleagues, other elected officials and everyday Oregonians. She demonstrated a keen understanding of state issues and the pragmatic ability to negotiate compromises.
Most of all, she proved she could get results. She played a key role in passing major pieces of legislation. She would apply the same intelligence and skill to the job she seeks.
The secretary of state's most visible duty is overseeing elections. But this person also oversees public audits, maintains public records and sits on the State Land Board.
The secretary of state also likely will have a critical role in redrawing legislative boundaries after the 2010 census.
As secretary of state, Brown says, her priorities would be to crack down on fraud and abuse in the initiative system and to get kids excited about voting before they're of age to do so. She'd work to expand the scope of audits — scrutinizing not just how money is spent, but whether state agencies are meeting their goals.
Brown would be a diligent, conscientious representative of the public's trust.
State Sen. Vicki Walker of Eugene might be more visible than Brown or the incumbent secretary of state, Democrat Bill Bradbury. As a legislator, Walker has been a tenacious watchdog on the public's behalf. She's not afraid to take on those in power, whether school administrators or SAIF Corp.
Walker's direct style shows in a 16-page booklet that outlines her plans as secretary of state. She says she wants voters to know more about her than sound bites and to hold her accountable for keeping her promises.
The third major candidate in this crowded field is Sen. Rick Metsger of Welches. He emphasizes his interest in sustainable development. That's appropriate because one of the secretary of state's jobs is heading the Oregon Sustainability Board. He pledges to fight for ballot-measure integrity, as well.
Metsger advocates making secretary of state a nonpartisan office. That's a long shot, but it would give more credibility to the person who oversees elections.
Also on the Democratic ballot is perennial candidate Paul Damian Wells, who did not return a Statesman Journal questionnaire.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face Republican Rick Dancer in the general election.
The Statesman Journal Editorial Board recommends Kate Brown as the strongest candidate among Democrats.
"Kate Brown has the background and capabilities to build on the good work of Bill Bradbury as Secretary of State and further invigorate the office," said Barbara Casey, statewide chair of CAPE, SEIU's political arm in Oregon. "We are especially impressed with her vision of the Secretary of State's role in auditing the performance of state agencies to ensure they are working as well as they should for all of us. Kate's activist, progressive and effective record in public life makes her the ideal candidate to realize this ambitious vision."
"Throughout my career I have stood with union members in the legislature and on the picket lines, together we have fought for living wage jobs and expanded bargaining rights. I am honored to have the support of SEIU members in my run for Secretary of State," states Senator Brown.
SEIU joins the Oregon Education Association, Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, Working Families Party, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Basic Rights Oregon, EMILY's List, NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, Victory Fund, Twenty-First Century Democrats and hundreds of Oregonians from all across the state in supporting Kate Brown for Secretary of State.
This news comes on the heels of Senator Kate Brown receiving the support of Oregon educators at last weekends Oregon Education Association, People for the Improvement of Education conference in Salem. Early this week, Senator Brown also received the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC, one of Oregon's leading reproductive rights organizations.
Click Here to read the press release!
and
Click Here for a complete list of Endorsements!
In addition to receiving the support of Oregon educators, Senator Kate Brown received the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC, one of Oregon's leading reproductive rights organizations.
NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon Executive Director, Michele Stranger Hunter cites Brown's long history of leadership on the issue. "Senator Brown has been involved in the choice movement for two decades. Her hard work on this issue dates back to her experiences in law school as an escort at the Portland Feminist Health Center. Since then she has continued to be a champion for reproductive rights as a advocate and a legislator, even volunteering her legal services to fight Ballot Measures 8 and 10 in the court system. We look forward to working with Kate as the next Secretary of State for Oregon."
]]>Join Governor Roberts and support Kate Brown for Secretary of State!
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