Scott Bruun: The Beaver State’s Lame Duck

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Scott Bruun, GoLocalPDX MINDSETTER™

Governor John Kitzhaber

In the world of political scandal, Oregon plays small ball. We have had a few cases over the years that torture our souls, of course. Most notably, the living-lie of former governor Neil Goldschmidt. We have also seen a few that torture our intelligence, like former congressman David Wu.

But for the most part our scandals are smallish and rare. When they do happen, they tend to be of the awkward bedroom variety – think former Multnomah County commissioner Jeff Cogen. Instead of skeletons, we have leather and lingerie in our closets.

That our true scandals are few is a good thing.

Yet it’s the rarity of political scandal in Oregon that now makes the realized prospect of another term with John Kitzhaber so discordant. And ironic.

After all, the man who’s already served longer than any other as Oregon’s governor, the man who the majority of voters apparently thought was indispensable, is now set to become the longest serving lame duck in Oregon history. Four long years, beginning today.

Sure, it’s possible that revelations of possible crimes, cronyism, corruption and cover-up in the governor’s office and home are now exhausted. Meaning, we’ve now seen all there is to see. It’s also possible that most of what has been revealed is a big misunderstanding, youthful mistakes at worst, and that once we see it all in the light of day we’ll just collectively shrug our shoulders and say, ‘no big deal.’

Possible, but highly unlikely. The slow response to public records requests, and the fast default to verbal obfuscation, suggests more than just pre-election day caution by the governor’s office. It suggests that there is more to find, perhaps much more.

That continued fallout from these issues will handicap the governor’s office, and by extension the citizens of Oregon, is self-evident. In a similar position, any elected leader from any state would struggle to regain balance and momentum. But this isn’t any state, it’s Oregon. ‘Things are different here’. Including our governor.

Kitzhaber is emphatically not the back-slapping, glad-handling, media hound sort of politician. Instead, he’s the aloof, man-of-mystery sort. He’s very private, occasionally sullen, with a subtle touch of hubris. Governor Kitzhaber is the smartest guy in the room, and he knows it.

Some might find these personality characteristics appealing, even beneficial when times are good. But despite his re-election victory, times are not good for the governor. Mea culpa is not part of his DNA, and therefore the issues that plagued his campaign will only intensify as we roll into 2015 and the next legislative session.

As others have noted, Kitzhaber and Cylvia Hayes will be plagued with ongoing records and information requests, as well as mounting legal costs. The time and energy this demands from Kitzhaber will be exhausting. At the same time, political pressures will grow. Legislative Republicans will seek the truth, and in any event will exact a cost on the governor. Legislative Democrats will look to distance themselves.

This is why scandal, real or perceived, is so damaging, and why Oregon has been blessed to have so little. Until now, that is. Now we are in it with a sitting, newly re-elected governor; and all of Oregon will pay the price.

Dissention in Salem and a distracted governor will result in less attention toward Oregon’s struggling schools and over-priced universities. Less attention toward monumental administrative challenges with healthcare. Less energy toward natural resource management, tax reform or even further PERS reform. Perhaps even a diminished ability to attract capital and new jobs to Oregon.

All of this and more, the price Oregon will pay.

Is there a solution? If the next few weeks and months suggest real corruption in the governor’s office, will there be a way to save Oregon from a severely damaged, lame duck governorship? Of course. But the solution, recall or impeachment, may rip Oregon apart. It certainly would further exacerbate Oregon’s deep political and cultural divide.

If we do get to that point, then only one person can fix it: John Kitzhaber himself. Through a graceful, statesman-like resignation of office. If he were to do this, resign by choice rather than compunction, he might very well earn his long sought-after moniker of ‘statesman’. At the very least, he will have shown what we all know: that Oregon is much more important than John Kitzhaber’s personal political ambitions.

Scott Bruun is a fifth-generation Oregonian and recovering politician. He lives with his family in the 'burbs, yet dutifully commutes every day to Portland, where he earns his living on the fifth floor of Big Pink.