New Leadership for Oregon
A year before the 2006 election, the Oregon House Democratic Caucus met to discuss the future of our state. It was clear that we needed new leadership in the Oregon House, since 16 years of Republican control had left our great state depressed and searching for hope and new ideas. We decided to spend several months listening to Oregonians in all parts of our state about what they wanted and needed from their state government. Once we gathered these ideas we formed an agenda called the “Roadmap for Oregon’s Future”. Our outstanding candidates then brought this agenda back to their districts and, with strong campaigns, we were able to pull off an astonishing victory and win back the House majority.
Once the election was won it became clear the job ahead of us was daunting. Our caucus again joined together in a truly momentous team effort that produced the most successful legislative session in decades. After 16 years of disinvestment in schools, health care, state troopers, agriculture, infrastructure, and the environment, it would have been easy for our new majority caucus to sit back and just complain about who was responsible for the mess. Instead our caucus did what our State needed them to do: provide strong leadership in rebuilding Oregon for the future.
Leadership means setting forth a clear vision, actively fighting to implement that vision, and making thoughtful compromises to accomplish that vision. And leadership also requires lots of listening: listening on people’s doorsteps, at town hall meetings, in grocery store aisles, and in committee hearings. Listening to the overworked single mom in Junction City, the new business start-up in Hillsboro, the uninsured children in Woodburn, the struggling wheat grower in Pendleton, the under-employed longshoreman in Coos Bay – and people from all walks of life in communities throughout Oregon.
Challenging times also provide an opportunity for true leaders to step to the front lines. Manufactured home residents found an accomplished ally in Rep. Chris Edwards. Rep. Edwards and Rep. Brian Clem successfully fought to protect unincorporated communities and farms. Seniors found a true champion in Rep. Jean Cowan. Business leaders were brought to the table for true innovative thinking and passage of a Rainy Day Fund by Rep. David Edwards. Consumer protection and help for growing school districts were expanded by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. Education and the environment were strengthened by Rep. Ben Cannon. Rep. Sara Gelser fought and won for disabled kids and adults. Rep. Tina Kotek achieved major progress for health and child care. Rep. Nancy Nathanson showed amazing leadership as vice chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Tobias Read demonstrated great leadership on revenue and transportation issues. And those are just our 10 first-term House Democratic members!
The combination of strong vision, active listening, diligence, and amazing teamwork resulted in the many accomplishments of the 2007 Legislative Session. But we are just getting started.
Many people have asked what we have left to accomplish next session. We have only begun to rebuild Oregon’s schools, health care, public safety, infrastructure, environment, and public trust in their state government. Much remains to be done. For the first time in years, however, there is a sense of hope that we are moving forward again.
During the next few weeks you will meet each member of our House Democratic Leadership Team as they share their hopes with you. These individuals have been chosen by our caucus to listen and to lead. Please let us know what you think.
Thank you for the honor of representing you in the Oregon House of Representatives during these challenging and exciting times.
Dave Hunt
State Representative
(D-Clackamas County)
House Majority Leader
Posted on October 9, 2007
Majority Leader Dave Hunt
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