Behind The Politics: Oregon Gov. Kate Brown
Before the political season really heats up, "Think Out Loud" sat down with the two most prominent candidates for Oregon governor for intimate one-on-one conversations about their lives. We didn’t talk much about politics but instead focused on their families, their backgrounds and their motivations.
We spoke with the Democratic incumbent, Gov. Kate Brown, in the living room at Mahonia Hall, the official governor's residence in Salem. Our conversation with her Republican opponent, Knute Buehler, will be available Aug. 15.
Here are five things we learned about Brown:
She Was Raised Republican.
“My parents were avid Republicans. My mother was an active campaign volunteer for our local legislator. ... I don't know that I was active, but I would certainly say outspoken supporter of the Republican party at the time. ... I am the oldest of four kids, and my parents encouraged a very active dinner table discussion and yes, we certainly talked about politics all the time. ... I think for me the real break came when I left home and went off to college.”
She Almost Went Down A Very Different Path In Life.
"I was volunteering at the local women's health center, the Portland Feminist Women's Health Center ... working to make sure that women and their partners could get into the clinic safely because protesters were either barricading or harassing them going into the clinic. ... I spent a couple of years there volunteering. ... But the job I first had following law school, my first job was at the Portland Feminist Women’s Health Center. I decided I did not want to practice law, and I was going to go work at the clinic and help coordinate volunteers and be an advocate for the women at the clinic. ... I got laid off on the first day.”
Coming Out As Bisexual Was Complicated.
“I think the challenge with being bi or pan is that the dominant culture sees this as a choice, and it’s hard to explain to people that this is not a choice. This is who I am and I know that. And so I've had conversations with family members; I've had conversations with supporters that this is who I am and my marital status doesn't change that.”
Being A Stepmother Has Been A Bit Of A Rollercoaster.
“I think everyone who thinks they want to be a stepparent ought to really talk to people who've actually been there. It can be incredibly painful, and it can be filled with amazing joy. It taught me a lot I have to say. ... You're not a parent but sort of functioning in a parent role. You can't be a friend but you can be a confidant, maybe. So, how do you find that mix? It was a challenge. We’ve done OK. The kids are really doing well and I'm very proud of them.”
She's Still Not Sure What Former Gov. John Kitzhaber Was Thinking.
[Copyright 2018 Oregon Public Broadcasting]
