Here are two recommendations for our Oregon readers:

OREGON SENATE:

Oregon is one of our pick-up opportunities for 2008. Jeff Merkley has come up from behind and now is the frontrunner in this race. Merkley has MAJOR union support as well as the support of the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, 21st Century Democrats, and Council for a Livable World, among MANY others. You can read Merkley's stands on the issues here.

Here is Merkley discussing the Middle Class:

Obama for Merkley:

Jeff Merkley's proposals for rural towns. You can read about it here.

Go here to volunteer to help Merkley win.

OREGON SECRETARY OF STATE:

The Florida 2000, Georgia 2002 and Ohio 2004 elections have taught us that partisan, corrupt secretaries of state can help steal an election. Or at least can prevent a proper recount. So from 2006 on the Secretary of State Project (SoS) has focused on electing fair, honest secretaries of states around the country...and they did well in 2006, electing Jennifer Brunner in Ohio, for example.

Building on their 2006 success, the SoS Project is strategically focusing on a handful of key races this year, including county-level races, to ensure fair, clean elections in 2008 and beyond. Oregon is one state where they are active in 2008. In Oregon, Democrat Kate Brown is running against GOP nominee Rick Dancer.

From Kate's website:

Senator Kate Brown began her career in public service over sixteen years ago. First elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1991, Kate served two successful terms in the House before being elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1996. In 1998, Senator Brown was elected Democratic Leader, where she successfully led the Senate Democratic Caucus from a 10-20 Minority to an 18-12 Majority.

With Democrats squarely in the majority, Kate Brown was elected by her caucus to serve as the Oregon’s first woman Senate Majority Leader in 2004...

Senator Brown has served as Chair of the Senate Rules and Elections Committees for years, stewarding landmark initiative reform legislation and moving Oregon to the forefront of transparent campaign finance reporting.

In 2001, the Republican controlled Legislature passed redistricting plans for legislative and congressional districts that Governor Kitzhaber vetoed. As Democratic Leader, Kate Brown took charge of offering an alternative plan for our Congressional districts – one that the Oregon courts adopted in its entirety.

In the 2005 legislative session, Brown led successful efforts to make Oregon’s state government open and accessible by taking legislative committee meetings to communities around the state, ensuring funding for a comprehensive review of Oregon’s ethics laws, and spearheading legislation creating a searchable online database of campaign contributions and expenditures, which The Oregonian called the best campaign finance disclosure law in the country.

Additionally, Brown led the Senate Democrats in their efforts to reduce the skyrocketing costs of health care, ensure that Oregon’s education dollars reach the classroom, and protect Oregon’s uniquely livable communities.
With her strong record of public service, integrity and fairness, Kate Brown has been the recipient many awards and distinctions including:

* National Public and Community Service Award from the American Mental Health Counselors Association
* Elected Chair of the Council of State Governments West.
* “Profiles in Courage" Award from Basic Rights Oregon
* Legislature of the Year Award from the Oregon Psychological Association
* Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Oregon Family Support Network
* Woman of Achievement Award from the Oregon Commission for Women.

Kate Brown has been endorsed by Barbara Roberts (Former Governor and Secretary of State), Working Families Party, SEIU Locals 503 and 49, Oregon Small Business for Responsible Leadership, Carpenters Local 1065, and many, many others. Visit her website and learn more about her. And volunteer if you can. The secretary of state race is one we should be focused on in each and every state of the Union!