The Oregonian Endorses Mark
Tuesday, October 07, 2008 The Oregonian
At a time of considerable fiscal uncertainty in Oregon government, voters in Southwest Portland and suburban Multnomah and Washington counties should return three seasoned state senators to the Legislature in the fall election.
They are Sen. Mark Hass, D-Raleigh Hills, in the 14th District representing parts of Beaverton, Aloha and Sylvan; Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, in the 18th District representing Southwest Portland and parts of Tigard; and Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, D-Gresham, in the 25th District representing east Multnomah County. All three are capable incumbents committed to economic development, health care reform, sound public schools, investment in higher education and other pressing needs that will test Oregon lawmakers in the 2009 session.
District 14: Hass, an ad agency manager, has a wealth of effective experience that his GOP challenger, Lisa Michaels, a Beaverton videographer, can't match. He became a keen observer of state government during his 15 years as political reporter for Portland's KATU (2). He then served in the Oregon House in 2001-2007 and was appointed to the vacant Senate seat last fall.
Hass has stood out in Salem for his bipartisan approach to lawmaking and for his expertise in state finance and budget making. As a member of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee, he offers capabilities and knowledge that will be urgently needed as legislators grapple with tax reform, transportation funding and other daunting fiscal challenges.
Voters should return Hass to the Oregon Senate.
