New Governor! Kate Brown Tells Oregonians She’ll Be More Rigorous than John Kitzhaber

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Looking composed and assured, your new governor just finished her first official address before the state Legislature, pledging to patch the damaged trust left in the wake of the John Kitzhaber debacle and set strict standards for avoiding conflicts of interest.

“As long as I am governor, I will not seek or accept any outside compensation from any outside source,” Gov. Kate Brown told the Legislative Assembly. “The members of my household or members of my staff will not seek or accept any outside compensation from outside sources for any business related to the State of Oregon. That simply will not happen.”

That’s more than an anodyne promise of lawfulness, of course. It’s a judgment on the ethical wobbliness that wound up forcing Kitzhaber out of office. His woes surround consulting money his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, accepted from firms, even while she touted and oversaw those firms’ interest in state government.

While most stories about Brown have painted her as a hardened liberal reticent to cut deals with Republicans, she said she’d “seek to reach across party lines to restore the public’s trust.” Whether that means agreeing with Republicans that some of Kitzhaber’s pet policies are best set aside remains to be seen. Brown’s also apparently promising “new laws to ensure the timely release of public documents,” another reference to Kitzhaber, and his office’s refusal to release many of the records requested in the wake of the scandal.

Brown included the standard nod to Kitzhaber’s decades of public service, too, saying he “dedicated most of his life to serving the people of Oregon. But now we must restore the public’s trust.”

The conventional press statements are already rolling in . House Republicans are congratulatory. And Mayor Charlie Hales is bullish on Brown’s tenure.

“The challenges ahead of her are significant,” Hales said in a statement. “Thanks to her extensive experience – as a Portlander, an activist, a member of the House, a member of the Senate, and Secretary of State – she is uniquely positioned to tackle these challenges.”

So much remains to be seen: Who Brown will appoint to replace her as secretary of state, how she’ll cotton to the work Kitzhaber began, and how much of this morning’s address was authored by Comcast, to name a few.

You can read Brown’s full remarks after the jump.

Governors Roberts and Kulongoski, tribal leaders, Speaker Kotek, President Courtney, honored colleagues, good morning.

As I take the oath of office this morning, I am blessed to have the support of a large and wonderful family, many of whom are here. I want to specially thank two people who’ve had a great influence on my life: my mother, Sally, and my spouse, Dan Little, who is my rock.

It’s been a tough few months. The people of Oregon have had reason to question their trust in state government. Oregon has been in the national news for all the wrong reasons.

That changes starting today. It’s time for us to get back to work. It’s time to move Oregon forward.

This great state is blessed with so many amazing qualities: breath-taking natural wonders, a resilient people and an unmatched quality of life. People born here want to stay here, and people are drawn here from all over the country. We are all fiercely proud to be Oregonians.

Before I sought public office, I worked as a family law advocate. There, I witnessed first-hand the problems of people whose lives were dramatically impacted by the law, but who seldom had an impact on shaping it – the child who needs a more stable home; the survivor of domestic violence; the family struggling to make ends meet.

I carry with me their faces and stories every day when I come to work.

And throughout my 24 years in public service, I have also sought to promote transparency and trust in government, working to build confidence that our public dollars are spent wisely.

As Governor, this will not change.

I will be a Governor who wants to hear the concerns of everyday Oregonians – children and working parents, small business owners and senior citizens.

In the public dialogue about resources and priorities, they will be my central focus.

It is with everyday Oregonians in mind that I take office today with enthusiasm and purpose. The legislature is in session; the budget has been submitted and more than 1,700 bills have been filed. Speaker Kotek, President Courtney, members of the legislature, on behalf of all Oregonians, thank you for your dedication and perseverance throughout this recent ordeal.
There is a great deal of work ahead of us, and I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to it.

We are all keenly aware of the difficult circumstances that brought us to this moment – circumstances that none of us would have predicted only a short time ago.

Governor Kitzhaber dedicated most of his adult life to serving the people of Oregon. His contributions to our state are well woven into the fabric of our public life.

But now, we must restore the public’s trust.

I know that every Representative and Senator in this chamber loves Oregon as much as I do. And as I am sure you agree, in order for us to move forward, the first order of business is to regain the confidence of the people.
There are several things we can do, and one of them starts right now.

I pledge to you today that for as long as I am your Governor, I will not seek or accept any outside compensation, from any source. And I pledge further that while I am Governor, the members of my household and the members of my staff will not seek or accept any outside compensation, from any source, for any work related to the business of the State of Oregon. That simply won’t happen.

Beyond that, we must seize this moment to work across party lines to restore the public’s trust. That means passing meaningful legislation that strengthens the capacity and independence of the Government Ethics Commission. We also must strengthen laws to ensure timely release of public documents.

We should not leave here without getting this done.

We must work together to address these and other real problems in real time; to strengthen Oregon’s recovery from the recession; to improve access to quality education and health care, and create more living-wage jobs in every corner of the state.

Although as individuals we may have our differences, one thing connects us – we are all Oregonians. We are innovators, seekers, doers. Even our state motto, “She flies with her own wings,” underscores the extraordinary Oregon spirit that unites us and characterizes us as a people.

It is time once again set our sights on Oregon’s future, to stretch our wings toward new horizons. Today is nearly half gone; tomorrow awaits, full of promise. Now it’s time to get to work.

Thank you.