Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Kate Brown, Lars Larson, Clean Fuels
Friday, February 20, 2015
HOT:
Oregon Governor Kate Brown
Women in politics, regardless of party affiliation, got a boost this week when Kate Brown became Oregon’s Governor, becoming only the second woman Governor in Oregon’s history and the Nation’s 37th. Governor Brown kicked it off right, sounding determined and poised in her inaugural address. She delivered a great speech that avoided any celebratory nature, which was wise given the circumstances which she ascended to the office. She also outlined immediate steps to restore faith in the office. The only other woman to serve as Governor in Oregon, Barbara Roberts, was on hand to celebrate no longer being a caucus of one.
Sheila Hamilton
The final revelation before Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber’s decision to resign was his office’s request to destroy emails. The order to destroy the emails was exposed by a handful of media outlets, including KINK FM’s Sheila Hamilton. Hamilton, the long-time host of the station’s morning show is more often known to talk about pop culture but has a notable left leaning political streak. This Saturday, Hamilton appeared on KGW’s Straight Talk alongside Willamette Week reporter Nigel Jaquiss, who broke the story that started the Governor’s fall from grace. The emails saved from the electronic dumping grounds ultimately showed breathtaking insight on how now-former First Lady Cylvia Hayes planned to further leverage her title and relationship status to earn income.
State Representative Julie Parrish
State Representative Julie Parrish (R-West Linn) has never been afraid of stirring the pot and she has comparable media skills to those of Portland City Commissioner Steve Novick. They both know how to seize a moment, a great skill too often lacking in our elected officials. In the wake of a scandal that seemed to cripple Salem, Representative Parrish was busy drafting measures to counter the problems that were taking place from recurring in the future. This week she introduced measures that deal with ethics, the role of the governor’s spouse, and transparency in Oregon’s campaign, and to strengthen Oregon’s public records laws. As one of the legislatures few moderates, her ideas are likely to gain some traction.
Would be Secretaries of State
The hint of a gubernatorial resignation set off wild speculation about who would be the next Secretary of State in Oregon. While initial speculation on who might step into the position of Secretary of State centered on lesser known candidates, attention quickly shifted to three establishment names: Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (a post each of the past two Secretaries of State have held), House Speaker Tina Kotek, and House Majority Leader Val Hoyle. Kotek quickly shot the notion down, Rosenbaum acknowledged interest but Hoyle has remained publicly mum.
Capitol insiders say that Hoyle wants it badly and may find support from fellow Democrats who see an opportunity for themselves to move up the leadership ladder if she takes on a new role. Other insiders are grumbling that it is virtually certain Governor Brown will appoint a legislator, leaving a district without representation for weeks during a legislative session. Any appointee to fill a legislative vacancy will have a steep learning curve.
Kristin Grainger
Tan, rested and ready? Once a prominent lobbyist, Kristin Grainger shifted her focus over a decade ago when she joined the leadership team at Willamette University, just a couple hundred feet south of Oregon’s Capitol. Many Capitol insiders do anything they can to keep a grasp on their clout (see Marks, Steve, below). Not Grainger. She seemed content with a life in academia moonlighting as a folk singer. Many would argue someone with that level of political savvy without the typical ambition makes Grainger Governor Brown’s strongest hire to date. She was named Communications Director this week. Also a bonus: if the state revives Cover Oregon, we won’t have to contract out for a folk singer for the commercials this time.
NOT:
Lars Larson
Lars Larson, a longstanding right wing entertainment personality seemed intent on ensuring that he was on hand to help shovel dirt onto Governor Kitzhaber’s political grave this week. Larson did his show live from Salem on Tuesday. Oddly, he located himself near the hearing rooms in lieu of the rotunda or a variety of other places where he could air the show without further disrupting the legislature from doing its business. The space near the hearing rooms is scarce and lawmakers and staff are often actually trying to conduct business there.
Additionally, While Lars took a lot of calls, those could not be heard by the few who happened to be in earshot. Onlookers, few as they were, could only hear him blurting out responses to the callers. Said one Capitol insider “no one was nearby him. It was embarrassing that he didn’t know how bad it was.” Of course it has long been said it is embarrassing that he still thinks he is in the news business.
The Good Ole Boys
Steve Marks is the current head of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. With a DUII on his record, the extent of knowledge of the agency’s work prior to taking the helm seemed to be from the other side of the bar. Marks is a long-time confidante of now-former Governor John Kitzhaber. He served on his staff prior to and during his first two terms in office. In the 8 years between terms two and three, Marks ran for office himself, parlayed lobbying contracts and otherwise worked to keep himself relevant in Oregon politics. When Kitzhaber returned, so did Mark’s sway. Marks is emblematic of the old boy’s network that Kitzhaber fostered, many of whom never bothered to endear themselves to Governor Kate Brown. Don’t be surprised when the good ole boys start a quiet exit.
South Eugene High School
Willamette Week’s Nigel Jaquiss found an interesting comparison on the three highest profile elected officials he’s taken on as a journalist. On last week’s Straight Talk, he was asked about connections between former Oregon Governors Neil Goldschmidt and John Kitzhaber as well as former Portland Mayor Sam Adams. The three have all been subjects of intensive research by Jaquiss, ultimately ending each’s political career. The obvious answer is that they are all Democrats. When asked by the host of the show, Jaquiss noted, interestingly enough, they were all South Eugene High School graduates. While one South Eugene alumnus remains in office, State Representative Phil Barnhart, it seems unlikely he will fall prey to the Jaquiss curse.
Clean Fuels
Senate Bill 324 cleared the Oregon Senate on Tuesday on almost party line vote. The bill would extend Oregon’s low carbon fuel standard. While environmentalists should be cheering its passage, they find themselves on the defensive. While the merits of the policy have been debated, the conversation has shifted to whether First Lady Cylvia’s fingerprints on the measure will tank it. On Wednesday, emails showing her master plan to gain wealth off promoting measures such as this surfaced, reportedly leaving some Senate Democrats with buyer’s remorse.
Related Slideshow: Timeline of Kate Brown’s Life and Political Career
Related Articles
- Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in Oregon Politics: Blue Oregon, Shemia Fagan, Kurt Schrader
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