The next governor will be selected during a pivotal time for Oregon. Homelessness, pandemic-related economic hardship and a severe lack of affordable housing combine to create a time of historic need for lower- and middle-income Oregonians.
Whoever is elected as Oregon's governor will help shape the state's response to this convergence of crises by appointing leadership for agencies responsible for carrying out the work ordered by the Oregon Legislature and governor via executive actions. The governor, who is responsible for a proposed budget every two years, also has a significant role in the state budgeting process and ensuring funding is spent responsibly and effectively — a critical front in efforts to address homelessness and housing affordability. Additionally, the governor heads the State Land Board, which could play a crucial role as officials consider opening more space — both developed and undeveloped — to new housing and shelter.
Democratic Gov. Kate Brown will leave office after reaching term limits, and whoever fills her shoes will have a massive role in addressing housing and homelessness.
Below, Street Roots examines what is known and what is not known about each of the three candidates' policies on housing and homelessness.
Christine Drazan - Republican
More police, police funding and anti-homeless ordinance enforcement; declaring homelessness a state of emergency; recriminalizing drugs; more permanent housing; lower taxes and fewer regulations on developers; and investing in addiction and mental health services. These are the core tenets of Republican Governor hopeful Christine Drazan’s plans to “address the crisis in our streets” and “restore community safety and the rule of law.”
Read the full story here.
Tina Kotek - Democrat
Build, build, build.
Democrat Tina Kotek, the prohibitive favorite to become Oregon’s next governor, is placing a premium on new development in her plans to address housing affordability and homelessness in Oregon — a common thread for almost every candidate in almost every race. Kotek wants to create a coordinated statewide task force to better administer aid and more efficiently marshal available resources.
Read the full story here.
Betsy Johnson - Unaffiliated
A dystopian society of lawlessness, decay and wokeness beset by ineffective leadership needs a tough-talking leader to step from the crowd of clowns to the left and jokers to the right to take the reins. It’s not the plot of the latest “Mad Max” film, it’s essentially Betsy Johnson’s campaign messaging.
Read the full story here.