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May 20, 2005

Will Oregon go nonpartisan?

OPB has the scoop on a very intriguing political development here in Oregon.

A coalition of Democrats and Republicans in the Oregon Senate voted Friday to make most statewide offices in Oregon nonpartisan.

SB161 would make all of the legislative positions non-partisan. It would also make the Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and Attorney General all non-partisan positions as well. But only those positions would be affected by this bill. State representatives to the federal government would remain partisan positions.

OPB quotes Grants Pass Republican Jason Atkinson: I think that this bill does two things: 1) it might start to heal the black eye that this body has with the rest of Oregon. And 2) it gives a great opportunity for the little guy to get back involved. Isn't that what we're all here for?

Currently Nebraska is the only state with a non-partisan legislature. SB161 would exceed even that by including the statewide offices listed.

As a long-time Independent I am highly intrigued by this. Of course it came from the narrowly Dem-dominated Senate and now goes to the GOP-dominated House. So it's far from a done deal. I don't know whether Gov. Kulingoski has a position on it and if so what that position might be. But it's exciting that it's gotten this far. And I very much agree with what state Senator Atkinson said.

What do you think?

What kind of pratical implications do you think would result from this bill if it becomes law?

Could it hurt Oregon? Kulingoski and future Governors would still have the Western Governors Association to participate in. But, I don't see how they could join either the Democratic Governors group or the Republican one. Could that hurt Oregon?

Posted by Kevin at May 20, 2005 07:42 PM