Statewide Endorsements
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John Kitzhaber-Governor John Kitzhaber has served Oregon as an emergency room doctor, legislator, and two-term governor. He has a long history as a leader for equality. He provided a key vote in passing Oregon’s first LGBT-related law, which created hate crimes protections based on sexual orientation. He has joined in the fight against anti-gay legislation and ballot measures. He supports inclusive health care coverage for transgender Oregonians and will protect against cuts to HIV prevention and treatment. He has declared his commitment to marriage equality and overturning Measure 36. At a time when few legislators of any stripe were willing to stand and be counted—we could count on John Kitzhaber. http://www.johnkitzhaber.com |
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Ted Wheeler- Treasurer State Treasurer Ted Wheeler is running for the seat to which he was recently appointed, following the tragic death of Ben Westlund. Wheeler served as Multnomah County chairman for the past three years and prior to his serving in public office he worked as an executive in the financial services industry. Treasurer Wheeler has long supported equality. Under his leadership, Multnomah County became one of the first counties in the country to end discriminatory practices in health insurance for transgender workers. He is a 100 percent pro-equality candidate. http://www.tedwheeler.com |
Oregon State Senate Endorsements |
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Senator Alan Bates, Senate District 3 (Ashland and Medford) Senator Alan Bates was first elected to serve District 3 in 2004. Bates served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives prior to his election to the Senate. Bates is a practicing physician and was appointed to the Health Services Commission in 1989, where he was instrumental in designing and implementing the Oregon Health Plan. In 2005, Bates was one of four legislators to sponsor Basic Rights Oregon’s Oregon Equality Act - a non-discrimination and civil union combination bill that was passed by the Senate and killed by Speaker Minnis in the House. He is a true leader! http://www.alanbates.net/ |
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Floyd Prozanski, Senate District 4 (Lane and Douglas counties) Senator Floyd Prozanski first entered the Oregon Senate by appointment to serve District 4 in 2003 before being elected to the same post in 2004. Prozanski served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1995 to 2000 and in 2003, when he joined the Senate. He currently is the Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee which is the committee most civil rights issues go through. Prozanski has been an unwavering supporter of Basic Rights Oregon and pro-equality legislation. http://www.floyd4senate.com/ |
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Lee Beyer, Senate District 6 (Springfield) Lee Beyer is running for this seat vacated by Senator Morrisette. Beyer has had a long career in public service including serving in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1991 to 1998, when he was elected to a term in the Oregon Senate. In 2001, Beyer was appointed to the Oregon Public Utility Commission, where he served for nearly nine years, including a stint as chairman starting in 2003. Beyer is a solid pro-equality candidate who will bring great experience to the Senate—just when Oregon needs it most. He will be a great asset in Salem and work to support equal and fair treatment for all Oregon families. http://voteleebeyer.com/ |
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Chris Edwards, Senate District 7 (Eugene, Junction City) Senator Chris Edwards first entered the Oregon Senate by appointment to serve District 7 in 2009, and is running for reelection to the same post for the first time. Before he was appointed to the Senate, Edwards served in the Oregon House of Representatives after being elected in 2006. Edwards was a solid pro-equality vote when Basic Rights Oregon’s Oregon Family Fairness and Oregon Equality Acts were passed into law. He is a fair-minded legislator who supports equality for all Oregon families. http://www.chrisedwardsfororegon.com/ |
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Timi Parker, Senate District 13 (Newberg) Timi Parker is challenging incumbent Larry George for the District 13 Senate seat. Parker is a retired Oregon public school teacher, having taught for 25 years in St. Paul, Newberg and West Linn. Parker is a committed pro-equality candidate who values Basic Rights Oregon’s efforts on the Safe Schools Act to prevent bullying of LGBT youth. Her opponent, Larry George, voted to oppose the anti-bullying legislation and voted against non-discrimination and domestic partnership laws. There is a clear choice in this race and it is Parker! http://www.timiparker.com |
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Chuck Riley, Senate District 15 (Hillsboro and West Washington County) |
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Suzanne Bonamici, Senate District 17 (NW Portland and Washington County) Senator Suzanne Bonamici was elected in 2007 to serve District 17 after having served in the Oregon House of Representatives. Bonamici counts passing Oregon's domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws among her legislative victories, along with improvements to education and restrictions on predatory lenders. www.suzannefororegon.com |
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Richard Devlin, Senate District 19 (West Linn and Tualatin) Senator Richard Devlin was elected in 2002 to serve District 19 and currently serves as the Senate majority leader as well as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. Previously he served three terms in the Oregon House of Representatives after being elected in 1996. Devlin voted to support non-discrimination and domestic partnerships. He was a big supporter of the Oregon Safe Schools Act to prevent and address bullying in Oregon schools. He is a solid pro-equality legislator. http://www.devlinfororegon.com |
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Chip Shields, Senate District 22 (North Portland) Senator Chip Shields was appointed in 2009 to serve District 22 to fill the seat of Margaret Carter. Shields served in the last session as co-chairman of the Public Safety Subcommittee of Ways & Means. He previously had served in the Oregon House of Representatives after being elected in 2004. When the Oregon Legislature is not is session, Senator Shields is the business manager of his wife Shelda Holmes’ North Portland primary care clinic, Hands on Medicine. www.chipshields.com |
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Rod Monroe, Senate District 24 (East Portland, Happy Valley) Senator Rod Monroe was first elected to serve District 24 in 2006. Monroe has had a long career in public service, serving in the Oregon State House from 1976 to 1980, when he was first elected to the Oregon Senate. Monroe also served as president of Metro from 1992 to 2004. Prior to his career in government, Monroe taught history and government at Tigard High School. Monroe has supported Basic Rights Oregon’s legislative efforts to end discrimination and proudly voted for the Safe Schools Act in 2009 to prevent and address bullying in our public schools. |
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Brent Barton, Senate District 26 (Hood River, East Multnomah County) Brent Barton was elected in 2008 to the Oregon House. Barton is now running for the open Senate seat for District 26, which serves Sandy, Corbett, Hood River and communities on the slopes of Mt. Hood. Barton served as vice-chair of the Business & Labor Committee and on the Judiciary Committee. Barton supported Basic Rights Oregon’s Safe Schools Act in 2009 to better prevent and address bullying in our public schools. http://www.votebrentbarton.com |
Oregon State House Endorsements |
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Peter Buckley, House District 5 (Jackson County, Ashland) Representative Peter Buckley was first elected to serve District 5 in 2004. As a committed advocate for children and the community, Buckley has spent more than 20 years managing and fundraising for non-profit organizations such as Head Start, the Boys and Girls Club and Pacific Art Center. Passionate about education, Buckley plans to stabilize Oregon’s economy in order to better fund Oregon schools. A long-time ally of LGBT Oregonians, Buckley pledges to continue standing up for fairness and equality. www.peterbuckley.org |
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Lynn Howe, House District 6 (Medford) A nurse, a mother and a community leader, Lynn Howe has the experience to represent Medford and get things done. She has taught middle school, served as a VISTA volunteer and is trained as an occupational health nurse. She managed employee health services for more than 9,000 employees. Howe supports equal rights for all Oregonians. By contrast, her opponent voted against the Oregon Equality Act – his vote supported allowing employers to fire a qualified employee just because they are gay. http://www.lynnhowestaterep.com/ |
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Paul Holvey, House District 8 (Eugene) A Eugene native, Representative Paul Holvey has long been an advocate for progressive causes. He is actively pro-labor as a representative for Pacific Northwest Carpenters and has worked with many organizations advocating for workers’ rights. Holvey has a passion for consumer protection issues and chairs the committee to address those issues at the legislature. Holvey has also been recognized for his advocacy by the Eugene Human Rights Commission. Serving District 8 since he was appointed to the position in 2004, he has been a solid vote for Basic Rights Oregon on non-discrimination legislation for several terms. He is a pro-equality candidate. www.paulholvey.com |
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Jean Cowan, House District 10 (Lincoln City, Central Coast) Jean Cowan believes that public service begins with community service, as she has demonstrated through years of actively working to better her community. Not only has she served two terms in the Oregon House, elected to serve District 10 in 2006, she is a former Lincoln County Commissioner and two-term mayor of Elgin, as well as an Emergency Medical Technician, volunteer police officer and a school bus driver. Cowan knows what it means to work for change. Cowan has supported anti-discrimination legislation and voted to improve Oregon’s anti-bullying law in 2009. She supports equality. www.jeancowan.com |
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Phil Barnhart, House District 11 (Central Lane and Linn Counties) Representative Phil Barnhart was elected in 2000 to serve District 11. A lawyer and psychologist, Barnhart entered politics out of concern for the education system, health care and the environment in the state he was raised in. As a representative of central Lane and Linn counties, Barnhart has worked to protect his constituents against discrimination, and he will continue to do so if re-elected. http://philbarnhart.com/ |
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Terry Beyer, House District 12 (Springfield) Representative Terry Beyer has been serving District 12 since 2001. Currently, Beyer is chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee and is a member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Communities Committee and the Ways and Means Sub-Committee on Transportation and Economic Development. In addition to having the cutest Bassett hound in politics, Beyer is a pro-equality legislator who has a solid record of voting to end discrimination and promote fairness. She stands up for equality for all Oregon families. |
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Nancy Nathanson, House District 13 (Eugene) After 12 years on the Eugene City Council, Representative Nancy Nathanson was elected to serve District 13 in 2006. Currently employed by Orbis Cascade Alliance, a consortium of libraries in 33 educational institutions in Washington and Oregon, Nathanson has served on numerous civic boards, commissions and committees. An advocate for the disadvantaged, small business and the environment, we can count on Nathanson to voice the concerns of the LGBT community in the House. She is a pro-equality candidate you can count on! www.nancynathanson.com |
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Val Hoyle, House District 14 (Eugene, Junction City) Representative Val Hoyle was appointed to serve District 14 in 2009 and is running for re-election for the first time. Prior to her appointment, Hoyle served on the Federal District Export Council of Oregon, the Federal Advisory Board for International Trade for Small Business, the Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition and the Eugene Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Roundtables. Hoyle is a pro-equality candidate and will work to ensure a fair Oregon for all families to work and live. http://www.valhoyle.com/ |
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Sara Gelser, House District 16 (Corvallis) As a parent, educator, minister and community organizer, Representative Sara Gelser is very much aware of the challenges gay, lesbian and transgender Oregonians face each day. Fighting for the disadvantaged is one of her top priorities. A long-time ally of Basic Rights Oregon and an advocate for women, Gelser has proven her support of LGBT Oregonians many times but never more so than when she lead the charge on passing Basic Rights Oregon’s Safe Schools Act to better address and prevent bullying in public schools. www.saragelser.com |
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Claudia Kyle, House District 19 (Marion County) Claudia Kyle is challenging incumbent Republican Kevin Cameron for the House District 19 seat. Kyle is an Oregon native who has worked as an electrician, supervisor and project engineer. If elected, Kyle would be the second openly gay legislator serving in the Oregon House. She would be a leader on fairness and equality in Salem. http://claudiakyle.com/ |
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Brian Clem, House District 21 (Salem) Representative Brian Clem, a fifth-generation Oregonian, was elected in 2006 to serve District 21. Clem is a small business owner and also co-owns and operates an 80-acre family fruit orchard. Clem voted in favor of the non-discrimination and domestic partnership laws and supported the Safe Schools Act to address and prevent bullying. He is a true advocate for fairness. www.brianclem.com |
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Sandy Webb, House District 26 (Aloha) Sandy Webb is challenging incumbent Matt Wingard for the House District 26 seat. Webb is a teacher, attorney, small business owner and community volunteer. Webb supports making Oregon a safe and fair place for all Oregon families to work and live. http://www.electsandywebb.com |
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Tobias Read, House District 27 (Beaverton) Representativve Tobias Read was elected to serve District 27 in 2006 and since then has fought to bring a long-term focus to Oregon’s government by creating a state savings account, advancing a comprehensive environmental agenda and updating the Bottle Bill. He has the wholehearted support of Basic Rights Oregon — he has been a fair and balanced member of the House, someone Oregon can count on to raise the level of discourse in Salem. www.tobiasread.com |
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Jeff Barker, House District 28 (Beaverton and Aloha) Representative Jeff Barker has long worked in law enforcement, which has afforded him a valuable understanding of how the justice system works. This perspective, along with a proven commitment to women’s issues and equality, is much needed in Salem. Barker has been someone Basic Rights Oregon can count on and he will continue to provide a voice for equality and fairness in the Oregon House. |
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Katie Riley, House District 29 (Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro) Katie Riley is running for the open House District 29 seat in the Oregon House. Before running for public office, Riley served as the chairwoman of the Washington County Commission on Children and Families and she recently retired as a faculty member and director of education for the Public Health and Preventive Medicine department at OHSU. Riley will work to ensure Oregon is a fair and equal place for all families to work and live. http://www.katieriley.org |
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Brad Witt, House District 31 (Columbia County) Representative Brad Witt was elected in 2004 to serve District 31 in the Oregon House. As a former Secretary-Treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO with more than two decades of experience lobbying for economic and workforce development, natural resources and workers’ compensation, Witt knows his way around the Capitol. Witt is a strong supporter of Oregon’s non-discrimination and domestic partnership laws. www.bradwitt.com (site is currently under construction) |
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Mitch Greenlick, House District 33 (Northwest Portland) Representative Mitch Greenlick has had a long career in the health field and brings tremendous insight into health policy and finance to Salem. Greenlick is 100 percent committed to equity and fairness— he supported Oregon's domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws and he will continue to work hard to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Oregon. www.greenlick.com |
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Margaret Doherty, House District 35 (Tigard) Representative Margaret Doherty was appointed to serve District 35 in 2009 and is running for re-election for the first time. Doherty is a retired schoolteacher whose background will be an asset in the legislature as Oregon struggles to ensure quality education in the face of a challenging budget. Doherty is committed to fairness and equality. She believes Oregon should be a safe and welcoming place for all Oregon families. http://margaretdoherty.com/ |
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Mary Nolan, House District 36 (Southwest Portland) Representative Mary Nolan has worked to improve Oregon schools, co-sponsored the Willamette Restoration Project and the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program, defended a woman’s right to choose and promoted sustainable economic growth. Nolan believes that all Oregonians deserve equal treatment under the law. She was a strong supporter of Oregon's domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws and worked to pass Basic Rights Oregon’s Safe Schools act to address bullying Oregon’s schools. |
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Will Rasmussen, House District 37 (West Linn) Will Rasmussen is running for the open House seat serving District 37. Rasmussen is an attorney with Miller Nash LLP. He’s also a volunteer with the Democratic Party of Oregon, the Oregon Business Association and the University of Washington. Rasmussen supports equality for all Oregon families and will work hard to ensure that everyone can live and work free from the sting of discrimination in Oregon. http://www.votewillrasmussen.com |
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Chris Garrett, House District 38 (Lake Oswego) Representative Chris Garrett was elected in 2008 to serve House District 38. Garrett devotes time to pro bono legal work and other volunteer causes, including the Oregon Food Bank and the Classroom Law Project which helps high school students learn about the legal system and the U.S. Constitution. A strong supporter of Oregon's domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws, Chris has vowed to "be as vocal as necessary" to support full equality for all Oregonians which he believes is a basic and fundamental right. http://www.chrisfororegon.com/ |
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Dave Hunt, House District 40 (Gladstone) A Northwest native, Representative Dave Hunt was elected in 2002 to serve House District 40. During the 2007 session, Rep. Hunt served as the Democratic Majority Leader and now serves as the Speaker of the House, the highest presiding officer. Hunt has established a reputation as a pragmatic problem solver who works across party lines to get things done. He has authored legislation to reform Oregon’s unfair double majority election law, prevent identity theft and expand children’s health insurance and care. He voted in favor of the non-discrimination and domestic partnership laws and is an advocate for equality. http://www.electdavehunt.com/ |
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Carolyn Tomei, House District 41 (Milwaukie) Representative Carolyn Tomei was elected in 2000 to serve House District 41 and has chaired the House Human Services and Women’s Wellness Committee, focusing her attention on women, children, low-income and vulnerable populations. She is a strong supporter of equality, and voted for Oregon's anti-discrimination and domestic partnership laws as well as Basic Rights Oregon’s Safe Schools Act to address bullying. |
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Jules Bailey, House District 42 (Southeast Portland) Representative Jules Bailey was elected in 2008 to serve House District 42. As an economist and sustainable development expert with ECONorthwest, Bailey works at the intersection of economics, public policy, the environment and urban development. Bailey will be a strong advocate for equality in the Oregon House. http://www.julesfororegon.com/ |
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Lew Frederick, House District 43 (North Portland) Representative Lew Frederick is running for the seat he was appointed to serve for House District 43. Frederick learned the importance of public service as a young man in Atlanta during the height of the civil rights movement. He’s spent his career in public service, with 17 years as a radio and television reporter with KGW/Channel 8 KGW-TV, 13 years as director of public information at Portland Public Schools, assistant to the President at Portland Community College and, most recently, two years on the State Board of Education. Frederick is a long-time supporter of Basic Rights Oregon and is a pro-equality legislator who is already showing leadership in Salem addressing issues of discrimination and working for fairness. http://lewfrederick.org |
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Tina Kotek, House District 44 (North, Northeast Portland) Representative Tina Kotek was elected in 2006 to serve District 44. A former policy director at Children First for Oregon, Kotek is a long-time advocate for fairness, equality and opportunity for all children and families in Oregon. In her first session in the Oregon House, Kotek oversaw the passage of historic LGBT equality legislation, making Oregon one of a handful of states that has passed equality legislation largely because of the work of out legislators. If re-elected, Tina will be the only out member of the Oregon Legislature—though Claudia Kyle from the Salem area hopes to join her making two LGBT members. http://votetina.com/ |
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Michael Dembrow, House District 45 (Portland) Representative Michael Dembrow was elected in 2008 to serve District 45. Dembrow is an English instructor at Portland Community College Cascade campus, where he has been teaching writing and film studies since 1981 and where he has served as President of the faculty union for 16 years. Dembrow has served on the State Board of Education since 2007. As a member of the House Education Committee, Dembrow was a strong leader on Basic Rights Oregon’s Safe Schools Act to better address and prevent bullying in Oregon schools. http://www.michaeldembrow.com/ |
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Ben Cannon, House District 46 (Portland) Representative Ben Cannon was elected in 2006 to serve District 46. Cannon teaches humanities to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at the Arbor School of Arts and Sciences in Tualatin. He is a member of the board of directors of the Oregon Bus Project. Cannon is a pro-equality legislator and lends a voice in Salem to issues of fairness and justice for all Oregon families. http://www.votebencannon.com/ |
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Jefferson Smith, House District 47 (Portland) Representative Jefferson Smith was elected in 2008 to serve District 47. Smith is the founder of the Oregon Bus Project and has had great success in motivating younger voters to participate in the process. He supported Basic Rights Oregon’s Safe Schools Act to prevent and address bullying in our public schools. http://www.jeffersonsmith.com/jeffersons-story |
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Mike Schaufler, House District 48 (Happy Valley) Representative Mike Schaufler was elected in 2002 to serve District 48. In his three terms, Schaufler has been a solid supporter of Basic Rights Oregon. An Oregon resident for almost two decades, Schaufler has not only worked to promote equality but is also strongly in favor of worker’s rights and increasing funding for education. In 2007, Schaufler voted in favor of Oregon's domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws. www.mikeschaufler.com |
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Nick Kahl, House District 49 (Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village) Representative Nick Kahl was elected in 2008. Kahl, a recent grad of Lewis and Clark law school, is a dynamic community leader with a keen understanding of how to make change. Kahl has a deep connection to East County and understands what it takes to balance a budget, pay a living wage and provide affordable health care. Kahl supports equality for all Oregon families. www.nickkahl.com |
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Suzanne VanOrman, House District 52 (Sandy, Hood River) Representative Suzanne VanOrman was elected in 2008 to serve District 52. For more than 22 years, VanOrman was executive director of the Mid-Columbia Children’s Council. She has also served her community as a member of the Commission on Children and Families for both Hood River and Clackamas counties. With a special focus on health care, renewable energy and education, VanOrman will champion policies that promise fairness for all Oregonians. www.votevanorman.com |
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Judy Stiegler, House District 54 (Bend) Representative Judy Stiegler was elected in 2008 to serve District 54. Stiegler is an attorney and served on the Oregon State Board of Education. Stiegler is a pro-equality candidate who supports a fairer Oregon for all families. http://judyforbend.com/ |