The Way: Kerman on homelessness, Gomez on immigration, Nosse on the session, Mooney on HS grad rates
PLUS: a new cartoon and an excerpt from "Rediscovering the Oregon Way."
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Editor’s Note:
When the timber industry in Oregon was uprooted, a unique kind of leadership style kept the state grounded in the Oregon Way, even if by a thread. The leaders that demonstrated this style were relatable to the struggling logger, the striving urban laborer, as well as the litany of folks just moving to the state. These leaders were the progeny of McCall and Hatfield.
One such descendent was Verne Allen Duncan. Contemporary Oregonians have likely never heard of Duncan but he deserves to be mentioned concomitantly with McCall and Hatfield. He embodied the Way while serving as the state chief education officer from 1974 through 1989 and, later, in the state legislature. Duncan crossed off each attribute of the Oregon Way.
His politics catered to identifying shared values—he was a “moderate’s moderate.” His style of leadership facilitated democratic participation—he spent half a day every week with students and administrators when he was leading the state’s education effort. His commitment to every community in Oregon signalled a norm of equally valuing the voice of every resident—he visited every single school district (all 301 throughout the state). Finally, while he was in the legislature, his deference to legislative committees and community organizations evidenced a high regard for institutions.
Like a massive counterweight in a skyscraper, Duncan stabilized whichever institution he joined from swaying too far in any direction. This leadership quality was developed outside of Oregon but nonetheless helped the state during the aforementioned turbulent times. Though an Oregon native—born in McMinnville, Duncan developed his distinguished leadership style in Idaho.
For twelve years, from 1954 to 1966, Duncan served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools in Butte County. He additionally served in the Gem State's legislature from 1963 through 1966. Upon return to the Beaver state, Duncan did not forget to pack his pragmatic approach to governance. It was an approach that caught the eye of Oregonians. Only eight years after returning to Oregon, Duncan earned sufficient support to win statewide elected office in 1974.
In those eight years as well as while in office, Duncan did not waver in exemplifying the Way’s characteristics, even when it may have been politically expedient to do so. Case in point, despite knowing he had a tough re-election fight ahead of him in 1978, Duncan did not bend to the will of lobbyists and major political influencers such as the Oregon Education Association (OEA). The organization opted not to endorse the incumbent because of his position on strikes and arbitration. The re-election battle would have been much easier with the OEA's backing...it was (and is) an understatement to merely call the organization "powerful," especially when dealing with blatantly educational matters. Yet, Duncan forged ahead.
In 1997, when Duncan was appointed to the Oregon House, Duncan again used his principles to gain political clout. Defined as a “pragmatic Republican” and celebrated as a son of McCall-style politics, Duncan’s presence in Salem showed voters that despite discord at the national level there was still a space for centrist Oregon officials. His presence showed other legislators that centrism and compromise were not dirty words, a fact illustrated by his rise through the legislative ranks.
Before ending his time in office in 2003, Duncan had served as the assistant majority leader and oftentimes as the chair of the most powerful committees, including the Government Affairs, Judiciary, and Legislative committees. He advanced despite not viewing politics as a competitive sport...his goal was never to “win” so much as to advocate for the best outcome. According to Duncan, “Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to lose. It keeps you humble.” This moderate approach paid off for Duncan and the state. Just as in the 70s, an ideological flexibility provided officials with the space required to enact Way-aligned priorities.
Whether a paternity test would reveal Duncan as the father of “moderatism” in the 1980s is uncertain, but his behavior likely helped several other Oregon officials comfortably identify as moderate as well as voters to strongly support them. The emphasis of this label—moderate—may seem overdone and inaccurate when viewed through a modern mindset that’s been through the tumult of the Trump administration.
Today, “moderate” in practice means slightly less partisan more so than actually independent from party influence. Though the share of contemporary voters that identify as independent has grown, the fraction of these self-described "moderates" who do not lean toward a specific party has actually shrunk since 1994. What’s more, those who truly fall within the moderate category are less likely than their partisan counterparts to participate in elections; this means that modern moderatism is politically impotent and not necessarily a label elected officials feel the need to earn given the small electoral benefits of catering to such a pint-sized portion of the participating electorate.
To look forward to:
Our #GovernorGoals series. Learn more about how you can help shape the future of our state here.
Mayor Lacey Beaty, Andrew Kalloch, and others on affordable housing.
To interpret:
#GovernorGoals Submissions on Homelessness
Scott Kerman discusses the role of trauma with respect to our homelessness crisis. Don’t miss this piece on his work at the Blanchet House.
Read more here.
Additional reading:
Jessica Gomez talks about how immigrants continue to sustain the American Dream across the nation as well as in Oregon.
Read the full piece here.
Tricia Mooney, superintendent of the Hermiston School District, on how they’ve managed to increase their high school graduation rate in difficult times.
Read the full piece here.
Rep. Rob Nosse provides a glimpse into the upcoming legislative session.
Read the full piece here.
Don’t forget to read the latest Liftoff! Access it here.
Photo credit: "Hot air balloons on lake, Albany Oregon" by Bonnie Moreland (free images) is licensed under CC PDM 1.0
Verne Duncan came from a period when public service was respected. True idealists went into public service. No longer the case. Public service nowadays is for the rich and powerful. Speeches on CSPAN are made to empty chambers because fellow members of Congress are in their offices dialing for dollars. When I worked for Child Welfare in Oregon, public service was respected, smart, intelligent idealists went into public service. Many were the cream of the crop. Less often the case. It began with Reagan and with Supreme Court decisions that allow legal bribery of politicians.
Speaking of Verne Duncan: In 1986 I was working for USA Today, on a four-month loan from the Salem Statesman Journal. My wife and I decided to visit New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., because the Rev. Jesse Jackson was scheduled to be the guest preacher. I looked across the pew aisle and there was Verne Duncan. New York Ave, where President Lincoln had worshiped, became our church home while away from Oregon. Duncan remains an active Presbyterian in Oregon, as am I.