The Liftoff: Kate Brown goes to Harvard
PLUS: Prison sentence for former mayor; the (new) campaign season kicks off in PDX; rabbits in the legislature; former legislator gets new job in the Capitol; BIPOC caucus elects leaders; and more!
Welcome back to The Liftoff!
Before we dive into this week’s stories, we wanted to offer our sincere thanks to our all of our readers. Thank you for supporting this newsletter. If you’d like to take your support to the next level, please consider forwarding this message to a work colleague—or becoming a paid subscriber!
1. Current and former elected officials on the move
Former Governor Kate Brown has been selected as a Spring 2023 Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics.
Rep. Ricki Ruiz and Sen. Wlnsvey Campos were elected the new co-chairs of the legislative BIPOC Caucus.
Former Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle has been sentenced to six months in prison for downloading hundreds of images of child pornography; he will also pay $22,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender, according to the Oregonian.
From the Oregon Capital Insider: Former state representative Raquel Moore Green has joined the Senate GOP Caucus as its caucus administrator.
Former GOP gubernatorial nominee Christine Drazan gave her first sit-down interview since the November 2022 election.
Read this new long-form profile of former Congressman Peter DeFazio from Eugene Weekly, including the story of how he raised money from garage sales and the phone book in his first campaign.
The story includes some incredible photos, including one of DeFazio, Les Aucoin, Mark Hatfield, and Neil Goldschmidt at a “timber summit” in 1989—called to deal with the spotted owl crisis.
2. Opioids, rabbits, and residency: news from the state legislature
Rep. Maxine Dexter is promoting legislation to expand access to life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, according to the Capital Chronicle.
Sen. Sara Gelser “immediately and repeatedly asked pointed questions about services for students experiencing disabilities” during a Senate Education Committee meeting, according to OSBA.
From the Capital Press: “House Bill 2689 would allow the rabbit meat to be sold directly to consumers in Oregon by farmers who raised and killed the animals themselves.” Sen. Lynn Findley says the bill would allow rabbits to be treated the same way chickens are. Rep. Mark Owens says the omission of rabbits in earlier legislation was inadvertent.
The Oregon Capital Insider has the most fun story of the week about two trinkets passed from legislator to legislator: a baseball for bipartisanship and a flag for independence.
From the Capital Chronicle: “State election officials opted not to investigate a complaint alleging that a new Democratic state representative (Rep. Hai Pham) doesn’t actually live in the district he represents, citing the complaint’s proximity to the November election.”
State Treasurer Tobias Read is pushing back against proposed legislation that would require his office to divest public employee pension funds from fossil fuels.
From OPB: “Oregon Senate Republicans plan delay tactics to press GOP agenda”
From Willamette Week: “After Exodus of Lobbyists From Portland City Hall, City Council Approves Contract With Outside Lobbying Firm”. Thorn Run Partners will represent the city with a contract not to exceed $360,000.
3. Conservative journalist Matthew Foldi joins The Bridge and gives the insider scoop on Kevin McCarthy’s speaker race
Matthew Foldi is a conservative journalist and activist with political experience at the national and local level. He is one of the youngest elected officials in Chicago history, served as the Rapid Response Director for Speaker the House Republican Super PAC, and ran for Congress in 2022, garnering endorsements from GOP heavyweights like Donald Trump Jr. and Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
We bring in Matt to give us a rundown in terms of why the GOP red wave failed to materialize and an inside look on Rep. Kevin McCarthy's historic vote to take the House Gavel. Matt also discusses what the GOP Congress has in store for 2022 and 2024 and gives his insights into when candidates on the GOP side of the aisle will begin announcing for President.
4. Sponsored Message from Harrang Long P.C.: Same Firm, with a New Name
This message is from our sponsor, Harrang Long P.C.
For decades, our clients, colleagues and friends have called us “Harrang Long.” Now, we are making it official: Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P.C. has shortened its name to “Harrang Long P.C.” Otherwise, we’re the same as we’ve always been: a dedicated team of legal professionals solving our clients’ thorniest legal problems and helping them navigate the intersections of law, policy, business and government. Although Sharon Rudnick plans to retire from the firm at the end of January, Bill Gary continues his busy practice representing clients in complex appellate, litigation and regulatory matters. We recently moved our Portland office into larger space. All our other contact information, including our website address at harrang.com, remains the same.
5. The (new) election season kicks off in the Portland area
From WW: The contest for an open Multnomah County Commission seat is heating up. Ana del Rocío, who served as a policy advisor to new Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, has already declared for the seat, with a list of 50 endorsements. Portland Public Schools Board Member (and former Nike executive) Julia Brim-Edwards is also weighing a run.
Our Portland, the PAC started by former mayoral candidate Sarah Iannarone, has launched a candidate school for Portland candidates. Their goal is to train 30 potential candidates who could run in 2024.
Activists took to the streets to protest the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police officers and call for more police accountability and transparency. Nichols was beaten by officers and died in a hospital a few days later. The death was condemned by leaders across the country, including the Portland police chief.
More Thorns Turmoil: The Portland Thorns fired more staff after an ongoing investigation into misconduct that has put the team and fanbase on edge for months. While the league recommended a suspension for the two staffers, the Thorns fired them in response. Ryan Clarke at The O has the full story.
The Timbers and Thorns also announced that Heather Davis will be the next CEO.
The O released a map showing which neighborhoods faced the worst gun violence in 2022, searchable by zip code.
Portland-based Vacasa announced that is was laying off some 1,300 employees—about 1/6 of those jobs were based in the area.
6. Big economic and political stories to watch
HOUSING: According to a report highlighted by KGW, Oregon has the 9th highest rental prices in the country, with an average rent of $1,284.
Mayors and other city officials are advocating for a significant housing investment.
PUBLIC EDUCATION: Oregon’s public schools had a significant drop in enrollment during the pandemic—and the numbers do not appear likely to rebound, according to state officials.
Oregon’s high school graduation rate increased slightly last year.
ABORTION: Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has launched a free hotline designed to answer legal questions about abortion access.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: From Willamette Week: “Hospitals and the State of Oregon Battle Over Responsibility for Civilly Committed Patients”
INCOME INEQUALITY: From the Oregonian: “Of the many divisions between urban and rural Oregon, personal income is among the starkest. People living near Oregon’s biggest cities earn nearly twice as much as those living in remote, sparsely populated areas.”
PUBLIC DEFENDER CRISIS: Some progress is being made to address Oregon’s public defender crisis, as a plan to raise fees has been developed.
BUSINESS: Intel reported a sharp decline in quarterly revenue—and its sales are expected to get even worse.
7. How safe do Oregonians feel outside?
Thanks as always to our friends at the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center for this week’s graphic about how safe Oregonians feel in natural areas.
8. News Roundup: whales, pollinators, and the (former) #1 team in the country
Yikes from Mike Rogoway at The O in a recent piece: “Oregon’s unemployment rate has risen for five consecutive months, climbing a full percentage point to 4.5%. Nearly 100,000 Oregonians were looking for work last month.”
Molly Woon was named the new Director of Elections by Secretary Shemia Fagan.
Local Government News: Springfield City Councilor Leonard Stoehr recently announced his resignation, noting that he will move to another state.
Ashland Mayor Julie Akins has also announced her resignation.
A 4th dead whale washed up on the Oregon coast. The Seaside Aquarium noted in a statement that the deaths don’t appear to be connected.
The West Linn High School boys basketball team was the number one team in the country—but just for a moment.
Check out the new pollinator-themed Oregon license plate, courtesy of Here Is Oregon.
Thank you for reading.
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About the Authors
Ben Bowman is the state representative for Oregon House District 25 (Tigard, Metzger, and South Beaverton) and a member of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board. In his day job, he works as an administrator for a public school district. Previously, he worked as a legislative aide for former Reps. Margaret Doherty and Val Hoyle. He also co-hosts The Oregon Bridge podcast. In the newsletter and podcast, he speaks only for himself.
Alex Titus is a small business owner and consultant to businesses, nonprofits, and associations. Previously, he served as an Advisor in the Trump Administration and as a Policy Advisor to President Trump’s Super PAC. His writing has appeared in National Review, Fox News, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, and other publications.
Have you ever lived on the East Coast? That is where I was born and graduated from High School.
Then I moved to Denton (Nowhere) Texas and then to Oregon. Harvard is nowhere I want to visit or live.
Prison Sentence for former mayor? Which one and from what city? Also, what is the skinny? We legalized marijuana, finally and thank you. The tax is abrupt, but it is earmarked for great causes. Again, many thanks.
Kate, life without a car, or ability to drive, is very difficult. However, life in Tigard is actually decent, crime free and borderline fun. It is certainly not Portland, however. It is a small Western town with decent cops, a very decent city parade, descent city library, small schools and good people not hellbent on religion. Oh, there are some bothersome Christians, an American smalltown cold sore, but they are wondering within the town with a blank stare. Such is life in a small public broadcasting murmur. If you would tolerate my company. I live in a house for the crippled at 12550 SW 134th Ave., Tigard, OR 97223 and I would love your company.
Welcome to America, I guess.
PEACE. I'm always your protector.
As Ever,
Dr. Jim McHugh
We should lunch and talk. You are no longer in my neighborhood. I am crippled, living in a home in Tigard, looking for renters at my house at 3104 SE 35th, Portland, Or 97213. Please come by.
As Ever, Just Crippled
Dr. Jim McHugh