The Liftoff: Kotek's new transition team and mounting pressure on embattled legislator-elect
The Liftoff: Kotek's new transition team and mounting pressure on embattled legislator-elect
PLUS: Two state leaders leave their jobs; Measure 114's chaotic start; a half a billion dollar budget shortfall; Mayor Ted Wheeler increases sweeps and brings employees back to in-person; and more!
Welcome back to The Liftoff!
First, some exciting news: because of our recent success, we are planning to hire a part-time editor/content director in the New Year! A huge thank you to all of our subscribers who have made this possible.
We are still working on a position description and compensation package, but we’ll be looking for someone who is entrepreneurial, politically savvy, and a skilled writer. If that sounds like you, please reach out to alex@or360.org.
Paid subscribers empower us to provide more and better content—if you want to be part of the community, consider becoming a paid subscriber today for just $10/month.
1. Gov.-Elect’s transition team comes together
Gov.-Elect Tina Kotek has selected Andrea Cooper, an experienced hand in Oregon politics, to be her Chief of Staff. Cooper is currently Gov. Kate Brown’s Deputy Chief of Staff; previously she worked in the Oregon legislature and for public sector labor unions. Cooper will be the first Black woman to serve in the role.
Kotek also announced four new leads on her transition team. The bullets below are taken directly from Kotek’s press release:
Annaliese Dolph - Behavioral Health Lead. Dolph previously served as a policy advisor in the Speaker’s Office and is an attorney with over a decade of experience working on health policy. She will continue to serve in the incoming Kotek administration after assisting with the transition.
Karin Power - Policy Lead. Power, the outgoing State Representative for HD 41 and Interim Executive Director of Business for a Better Portland, is volunteering her time to assist with policy work during the transition.
Taylor Smiley Wolfe - Housing and Homelessness Lead. Smiley Wolfe previously served as policy director in the Speaker’s Office and Director of Policy and Planning at Home Forward. She will continue to serve in the incoming Kotek administration after assisting with the transition.
Abby Tibbs - Budget Lead. Tibbs, an attorney with over 20 years of public affairs and operations experience, has taken a temporary leave from her position as vice president of public affairs at Oregon Health and Science University to assist with the development of the Governor’s Recommended Budget.
The four women will join Tim Inman in building the foundation for the Kotek Administration; Dolph and Smiley Wolf will remain after the transition.
2. Pressure mounts on embattled lawmaker-to-be (and other legislative news)
Pressure is mounting on Rep.-Elect Brian Stout, who has been accused of sexual assault. Sen. Rachel Armitage, who represents Stout’s district in the Senate, has called for him to step down.
Speaker Dan Rayfield and House GOP Leader Vikki Breese-Iverson are in conversation about how to “appropriately handle” the issue, according to WW.
Stout’s motion to terminate the protective order sought by his accuser was denied. A full evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for January 13.
More legislative news:
After several years of budgetary sunshine, the 2023 session could be fiscally challenging: according to the Oregonian, “lawmakers could have to solve a $560 million shortfall next year due to a combination of factors including inflation and the expansion of government programs funded with prior windfalls.”
All four legislative caucuses have officially elected their leaders after Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson was re-elected as House GOP Leader.
Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis and Rep. Werner Reschke will replace Rep. Kim Wallan and Rep. Lily Morgan in leadership.
A group seeking to create an independent redistricting process can begin collecting signatures for a potential ballot measure. If approved, current legislative districts would be thrown out and another round of redistricting would happen in 2025.
Leaders of state education advocacy groups say the projected “current service level” budget for K-12 education, calculated by Legislative Fiscal Office, is at least half a billion less than what they will need to continue current operations.
Oregon lawmakers are exploring tightening restrictions against illegal marijuana growers.
3. Influential Oregonians in the news
A must-read profile of Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt in Portland Monthly: “Mike Schmidt Doesn’t Want to Be the Next Chesa Boudin”
Deborah Scroggin, who serves at the Director of Elections in the Secretary of State’s Office, has decided to step down, citing the challenges of dealing with disinformation and misinformation.
In related news, from the Capital Chronicle: “Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is seeking roughly $2 million over the next two years to hire more staff dedicated to election security and oversight”
Cameron Whitten, Executive Director of Brown Hope, was placed on administrative leave by his board after unspecified “serious allegations”, according to WW. Oregon360 interviewed Whitten on the Bridge podcast last year, which you can listen to here.
Ron Bersin, who has led the Oregon Government Ethics Commission since 2006, is retiring.
4. The Way: Conkling on speech; Hester on Christmas and elections parallels
Check out the most recent columns from our incredible Oregon Way contributors Gary Conkling and Mark Hester. Conkling gives us a breakdown the never-ending battle of free speech vs. hate speech, and Hester walks through the similarities between elections and Christmas gifts.
5. Measure 114’s wild and chaotic start
It’s been a chaotic launch for Measure 114, the recently-approved ballot measure that applies restrictions on firearm purchases and magazine capacities.
Gun sales across the state exploded since the Measure’s December 8 start date.
Next, Measure 114 ran into a big problem: the state wasn’t ready to implement some of it. The measure requires new gun owners to obtain a permit for firearm purchase—something that isn’t even close to complete. So, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s office asked a federal judge to delay portions of the measure.
That federal judge then allowed the ban to take place.
But…immediately afterward (in a separate case), a Harney County judge put it on hold and will now determine if the measure violates the Oregon constitution.
The Oregon Attorney General’s Office then asked the Oregon Supreme Court to intervene—which they refused to do, meaning that the entirety of Measure 114 is on hold for the time being.
6. Portland news: fuel standards, universal basic income, and tens of thousands of tents
There was a lot of news in the Portland area last week. Here’s the rundown:
Paging City Employees: You’re going back to the office. That’s the message that Mayor Ted Wheeler delivered to nearly 40% of city employees who will be required to be in-person at least half-time starting in April. Additionally, according to the Oregonian, the City will prohibit employees who are working fully remote to live anywhere but Oregon and Washington, pending Council approval.
In more City Hall news, Mayor Wheeler is struggling to raise funds from Multnomah County for his homeless camp sites.
Meanwhile, “Portland has dramatically increased homeless sweeps”, according to the Oregonian.
And, “Mayor Ted Wheeler Wants to Forcibly Commit More People With Mental Illness”, according to Willamette Week. From the article: “Civil rights issues aside, even if police began sweeping up people along with their tents, there is nowhere to send them for mental health treatment.”
The Portland City Council passed new requirements on diesel fuel to help move the city towards its climate change goals. Commissioner Carmen Rubio noted in a press release that “Portland will have the nation’s most aggressive renewable fuel requirements.”
The notorious “Shroom House” was finally raided and shut down by Portland Police after illegally selling psychedelic mushrooms for nearly a month and a half. Numerous arrests were made.
Over the last two years, Multnomah County has purchased a jaw-dropping 22,000 tents and 69,000 tarps for the homeless population. According to Pamplin, “the purchases were intended to help the homeless survive the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing restrictions reduced shelter space.”
7. Oregonians’ perception of their own neighborhoods
Thanks as always to our friends at the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center for this week’s graphic on how Oregonians view their own neighborhoods.
8. News Roundup: a very expensive bridge, a proposed name change, and good earthquake news
Déjà vu all over again : Oregon healthcare professionals are sounding the alarm after a surge in respiratory illnesses and rising hospitalization levels.
Weird News of the Week: A string of attacks against power substations in Oregon and Washington continues to go unresolved. The attacks bear a resemblance to recent attacks in North Carolina—all with the use of firearms.
National Spotlight: From AP: “Oregon lawsuit spotlights destruction of Black neighborhoods”
The Interstate Bridge replacement is expected to cost almost $3 billion more than originally projected.
Some surprisingly good news: a new model from the University of Washington suggests that “the great majority of bridges in the inland I-5 corridor should remain standing” following the Cascadia earthquake, according to OPB.
A group of Lane County residents are working to change the name of the county, whose namesake was racist. Voters would have to approve a name change, according to the Register-Guard.
Thank you for reading.
Tips? Feedback? Ideas? Corrections? We want to hear from you! Email benjaminwbowman@gmail.com.
If you value this newsletter, please become a paying subscriber today. Your support will help us grow and offer more opportunities to this community. It’s just $10 a month!
Interested in advertising with us? Get in touch!
About the Authors
Ben Bowman is the chair of the Tigard-Tualatin School Board and state representative-elect for Oregon House District 25 (Tigard and Beaverton). 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.