Oregon Governor Kate Brown has amassed a solid record during her tenure. We deserve a governor in Oregon with her combination of leadership and compassion. I’ll cast my vote for her with confidence in Oregon with her at the helm.
Our state faces many challenges. We have a president hostile to the values that have made Oregon great. Those values have traditionally transcended partisanship in Oregon and include a commitment to the environment, strong public education, expanded healthcare, and services for the most vulnerable in society.
As governor, Kate Brown has followed the economic philosophy advanced by President Obama (policies that reversed the Great Recession) and that continue to make Oregon strong. It is entirely possible that the GOP tax plan, put forward by Donald Trump and his allies, will once again turn the economy in a downward spiral. If so, we know from experience that Kate Brown has the values to protect the progress we’ve made as a state.
State Rep. Knute Buehler is the GOP candidate. He’s running as a moderate Republican but his record doesn’t match his rhetoric. Kate Brown backs the assault weapons ban pushed by faith leaders and students in Oregon. Rep. Buehler opposes a ban and received an “A” rating from the Oregon Firearms Federation, the group that believes the NRA is too liberal, in 2016.
Rep. Buehler supports a ballot measure that would create racial profiling and hurt immigrant families in Oregon (Gov. Brown opposes Measure 105 along with much of the state's law enforcement community, faith and business leaders, and civil rights advocates), he’s campaigning to end homelessness but was kicked off the Housing Committee in the Oregon House and opposes a regional ballot measure to build new affordable housing (Gov. Brown has endorsed Measure 26-199) and even though he is a medical doctor, Rep. Buehler supports exemptions for vaccinations. Medical (and faith) leaders will tell you that Rep. Buehler’s views could help cause new epidemics.
For those who know me, you know in one way or another I’ve been involved in the effort to end homelessness for the last thirty years. I have more to say about Rep. Buehler’s empty plan to end homelessness on Twitter.
1. The @GOP’s @KnuteBuehler released a plan to end #homelessness today following his recent photo-op at a shelter. Plans are good. But we’ve had many in #Oregon that didn’t deliver. This plan doesn’t add up. https://t.co/CpXj4XdavM #orpol
— Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie (@RevChuckCurrie) August 14, 2018
But the bottom line is this: Governor Brown is creating affordable housing and supports efforts to create more affordable housing. I hope to sit down with Kate Brown directly after the election to talk more about how we can support students experiencing homelessness in our public schools.
Polls say the race is close. It shouldn’t be. Kate Brown’s values and lifetime of public service make her the ideal choice for governor. Be sure to vote because in this race every vote matters!
Note: As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I trust deeply in the Constitutional principle of separation of church and state and my endorsement is therefore a personal one and does not represent the views of my denomination (or the university where I serve). Good people of faith can come to different conclusions as to how they will vote. But as a citizen, I believe that all Americans must engage in the political process as individuals for democracy to thrive.
