An unprecedented level of opposition has formed against Oregon Governor Kate Brown’s nomination for a seat on the Oregon Transportation Commission.
The powerful, unelected, five-member body oversees the Oregon Department of Transportation and decides how to spend the state’s $5.1 billion transportation budget.
Brown nominated outgoing State Senator Lee Beyer to a four-year term that would start this coming January. The Senate Committee in charge of commission appointments meets tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/21) and advocates leading the charge against the nomination have kicked their effort up a notch.
A new statement and letter released today by The Street Trust includes a list of 31 organizations and over 175 individuals from across the state who’ve signed onto the opposition effort.
Here’s the list of organizations and their leaders:
| 1000 Friends of Oregon, Brett Morgan Better Eugene-Springfield Transportation (BEST), Rob Zako Climate Solutions, Vee Paykar Oregon Environmental Council, Sara Wright Oregon Just Transition Alliance, Joel Iboa Oregon Walks, Ashton Simpson Rogue Action Center, Dana Greenblatt The Street Trust and The Street Trust Action Fund, Sarah Iannarone Verde, Vivian Satterfield Coalition of Communities of Color, Taren Evans Getting There Together Coalition, Ariadna Falcon Gonzalez | Ardelis Inc., Brian Roddy Bend Bikes, LeeAnn O’Neill Bikabout, Megan Ramey Bike Loud PDX, Kiel Johnson Gorge Pedal, Armando Zelada Lithic Technology, Robert Galanakis Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association, Matchu Williams Onward Oregon, Lenny Dee OPAL Environmental Justice, Lee Helfend Oregon and SW Washington Families for Safe Streets, Michelle DuBarry | Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, David De La Torre Pedal Bike Tours, Todd Roll Plugstart, Thor Hinckley Portland: Neighbors Welcome, Aaron Brown Portland Youth Climate Strike, Adah Crandall Safe Routes to Schools, Valerie Rosenberg Sunrise Beaverton, Amy Johnson Sunrise PDX, Danny Cage Sunrise Rural Oregon, Cassie Wilson |
Those who oppose the Governor’s nomination say she failed to solicit recommendation and did not consult with stakeholders statewide. “They are also concerned that it does not address climate change or maintain racial diversity on the influential OTC. They note that outgoing Commissioner Alando Simpson is a younger Black business owner from Portland (ODOT Region 1); Brown’s proposed replacement is a retiree from Springfield (ODOT Region 2),” the statement reads.
The Street Trust Executive Director Sarah Iannarone is spearheading the campaign against Beyer’s appointment. “In addition to implementing congestion pricing and tolling, the OTC will be overseeing billions of dollars of investment here in the coming decade,” she said in today’s statement. “To see these major projects implemented effectively and equitably, we need leaders who are connected to our region and representative of its increasing diversity.”
They’re asking for a pause on the process so the next administration can make this important appointment.
The nomination will be considered by the Senate Interim Committee On Rules and Executive Appointments at a meeting Wednesday at 2:30 pm.
View the letter and signatories here.
In case you’re scoring at home the Sept 20 WW story posted by Aaron Mesh included an official quote from Governor Brown’s spokeswoman Elizabeth Merah that the Governor is standing behind her nomination of Senator Beyer to the OTC. In fact if you read the official statement it’s a full throated endorsement of Senator Beyer from the Governor. I’d say this so called “strengthened opposition” is dead in the water. Senate confirmation will be nothing more than a formality.
I like it, but do these signatories have any actual power in Oregon? We shall see today.
“They’re asking for a pause on the process so the next administration can make this important appointment.” Isn’t that straight out of Mitch McConnell’s playbook? #hypocrisy
It also makes no sense. I suspect it is just a ploy. Whoever is elected our next Governor will be no less liberal, and probably a lot less, than our current denizen.