Oregon is a mess. For the past decade, Gov. Kate Brown and House Speaker Tina Kotek have pushed through a failed, far-left agenda that has left our beautiful state in the ditch. A growing homeless crisis. Rising crime and violence. Failing schools. A soaring cost of living. Today, our state is more divided than ever before with eight counties actually voting to leave the Oregon family for Idaho. We need big, bold change.
I’m running for governor to put the people back in charge of their government. I’m not running as a Democrat or as a Republican. I’m running as an Oregonian – loyal only to the people, not the entrenched partisan interests in Salem. You don’t have to leave your party to support me, you only have to want a better Oregon.
The two parties, dominated by their ideological extremes, would rather fight than find common ground. As Oregon’s independent governor, I will take the best ideas and best people from both parties to move us forward. Imagine a governor who would demand bipartisan support for legislation, budgets, and appointments to force the two sides to work together for Oregon. No longer will one-party run rough-shod over the other. Diverse voices will be included – no matter your politics or zip code.
RESIDENTS OF CRIME-RIDDEN PORTLAND AREA TO VOTE ON BALLOT MEASURE REMOVING GENDERED LANGUAGE
For me, leading independently is more than a talking point. During my service in the legislature, I frequently took on my own party to support jobs, law enforcement and common-sense taxation, spending and regulation. One Republican legislator regularly referred to me as a "BFD" – business friendly Democrat. In this campaign, I’ve been endorsed by former Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski and former Republican U.S. Senator Gordon Smith – along with the former chairs of the state Republican and Democrat parties. As former elected officials, they know this state is in trouble if we don’t do something to stop the endless, unproductive partisan fighting.
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The next governor has a long to-do list to clean up the problems created by our inability to move Oregon forward.
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At my age, I may seem an improbable leader to shake-up a broken system and an imperfect agent of big, bold change. But that is exactly what I am and who I am. Even more, I am a fed-up daughter of Oregon who refuses to give up on the state I love without one hell of fight. Join me. Together, we can recapture our maverick, independent spirit, put the people back in charge and rescue our beautiful state. If it can happen anywhere, I know it can happen here in Oregon.
Fox News Digital has also invited Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan to submit opeds about why voters should elect them as governor of Oregon.
