Knute Buehler Candidate for Oregon Secretary of State

Knute’s Election Night Speech

JoelThomas — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:38:09 +0000

Knute Buehler speaks to supporters in Multnomah County on Election night. Photo Credit – The Oregonian

Well, we didn’t get the result we were hoping for today. But rest assured that while we were not victorious, we can hold our heads high for running a fair, truthful, and issues based campaign. As I have stressed to our team, no matter if we win or lose, it will be with integrity. I am very proud of the work we accomplished over the last year, and you all should be as well.

First, I want to congratulate Secretary Brown on her victory tonight. I hope as she reflects on her campaign, and the issues we discussed, that she will work towards the important and needed reforms we advocated – reforms like meaningful election reform, reducing red tape so businesses can focus on putting people back to work, and restructuring PERS. There is much to do that is crucial for Oregon other than ridding the state of an imaginary “extreme team”.

I also want to thank the other candidates in this race, Seth Wooley and Bob Wolfe. It has been a pleasure to get to know them over the last couple months through joint appearances and debates. I wish them both the best of luck on their next endeavors. The people of Oregon should recognize that when leaders from all parts of the political spectrum unite around the need for election reform there is a serious problem. We do not have a healthy democracy in Oregon. I will continue to push for election reform like I have the past two decades. I was encouraged reading yesterday that the leaders of the women’s suffrage movement in Oregon worked for 40 years on their election reform efforts. We will eventually overcome!

I also want to thank the many people who gave their time and money to our effort. Thank you to our financial supporters, from many of my patients, who gave $10 to $20, to Phil Knight and Jim Young, who gave tens of thousands. Thank you to the over 3000 people who donated to my campaign. This was a grassroots, Oregon based campaign. We couldn’t have done any of it without you. Thank you to our volunteers, Nancy Gast, Brent Norman, Denise Renner, Sharon Bishop, Chris and Greg Barreto and the hundreds of others who gave their personal time and countless hours to this important effort. Thank you also to my staff. It’s been a pleasure working with you all. A special mention to Joel Thomas who has proven himself as a tremendously talented campaign manager with a range of skills that are truly remarkable. But most importantly, i consider him a great friend. And finally, I want to thank my wife, Patty, the love of my life and my biggest supporter. This would not have been possible without her. And thanks to my two great kids, Hannah and Owen, for whom I have caused much embarrassment being in the public eye, for standing by me through this all – your never-ending support is the source of much strength for me.

While this campaign has been costly to me personally and professionally. I am a much better person for it all. I have reconnected with long lost friends. I have met many true Oregon patriots. I have gained an intimate knowledge of Oregon and its people. And I understand much better the incredible depth of love that my family and several friends have for me.

While I am disappointed that we did not win tonight, we can hold our heads high. We started some very important discussions surrounding the Secretary of State’s office. We were able to make this a high profile race. I am sure that many more people know what the office of the Secretary of State does in Oregon than did a year ago. These people now know that the office can be used to help Oregon small businesses create jobs. They know now that the office is supposed to be their watchdog and eliminate waste in state government. And they know that the office is there to ensure fair and transparent elections. Finally, we started a very important discussion about fixing PERS. I encourage all of our supporters to not stop here. We need to apply pressure and stand ready to help Secretary Brown to make sure these important tasks are done.

Although we didn’t win tonight, we survive to fight another day. So, tonight is not a time to discuss my future… for with a new day will come new strength, new thoughts, and a new direction. Thank you all, again, for your help and hard work.

The Oregonian Endorses Knute!

JoelThomas — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:48:07 +0000

“Voters should elect Buehler.” The state’s largest newspaper The Oregonian, endorsed Knute for Secretary of State saying, “its time for a change.” They called Knute “independent minded… an exceptionally well rounded candidate with an impressive professional career and experience…” They said Knute, “will bring leadership and fresh ideas to an office in need of both.” Below is the entire article or click here to read it on The Oregonian’s website.

We only have one month to get Knute elected as our next Secretary of State. If you agree with the Oregonian that its time for change, new leadership, and fresh ideas, then please donate and volunteer. Together, we can Get Oregon Working.

Vote for Knute Buehler: editorial endorsement

By The Oregonian Editorial Board

Oregonians have been reluctant in recent years to elect Republicans to statewide office. They have reason to end that streak in November by voting for Knute Buehler, an independent-minded challenger who will bring leadership and fresh ideas to an office in need of both.

Buehler can’t boast incumbent Kate Brown’s experience in elected positions. However, he’s an exceptionally well-rounded candidate with an impressive professional career and experience pushing, through the initiative process, for beneficial election reforms. An Oregon State grad, he studied politics and economics at Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship before heading to medical school. Buehler’s interest in politics is long-standing, as his graduate experience suggests, and includes a stint working for Ross Perot’s presidential campaign.

Voters might wish for a term or two in the Legislature, say, to flesh out Buehler’s résumé. But long experience in elective office doesn’t guarantee stellar performance. Over the past 20 years-plus, Brown has become a fixture in Salem, first as a legislator and then, beginning in 2009, as secretary of state. This experience has led neither to memorable leadership as the state’s top election officer, nor to immunity from high-profile blunders.

Just months ago, in fact, her office gave the two candidates for labor commissioner a last-minute notification that their election would occur in November rather than May. Both Bruce Starr and Brad Avakian were surprised by the news, which they received after the filing deadline. Starr tried unsuccessfully to challenge the switch, which, he argued, helped Avakian. Though the office of labor commissioner is nonpartisan, Starr is a Republican and Avakian, like Brown, a Democrat.

This episode is far more likely to be a simple mistake than a nakedly cynical attempt to help a fellow party member, as some have alleged. And it isn’t, by itself, justification to turn Brown out of office. But it has eroded public confidence in Brown, if not the office itself, and it’s one reason for voters to give serious consideration to Buehler, who is anything but rigidly partisan. Heck, the guy contributed $2,500 to John Kitzhaber’s gubernatorial campaign in the 2010 election.

Buehler’s nonpartisan bent and his familiarity with issues relevant to the office are evident in his involvement with 2008′s unsuccessful Measure 65, which would have created a top-two primary. Buehler served on the steering committee for the measure, which was proposed by former Secretaries of State Phil Keisling and Norma Paulus. He also worked on a similar initiative in 2006 that failed to qualify for the ballot.

Buehler’s support for the top-two primary has waned since then, and he now prefers a less open model he refers to as an “Oregon solution.” It would create primary ballots for qualified minor parties such as the Independent Party, which now represents about 81,000 registered voters, and all parties would be encouraged to open their primaries. This is a step in the wrong direction, and we hope Buehler as secretary of state will rediscover his enthusiasm for the top-two model. Still, it’s more innovative than what Brown has to offer, which is a dutifully stated commitment to ask the two major parties to open their primaries. Ho, hum.

Buehler and Brown also differ on the matter of legislative redistricting, a once-a-decade task that falls to the secretary of state whenever the Legislature can’t come up with a plan. Buehler would prefer to take the task out of partisan hands and give it to an independent commission, an idea that deserves serious consideration. Brown says the current process works just fine, though she’s “watching” what’s going on elsewhere. Not much enthusiasm for new ideas there, either.

Buehler, notably, has introduced the condition of the Public Employees Retirement System to the campaign, vowing to use the office’s bully pulpit to seek reforms, which, of course, would help the numerous government entities subject to examination by the secretary of state’s Audits Division. Fixing PERS has little to do with the secretary of state’s formal role, but Buehler’s position is a reminder that secretaries frequently run for — and can inherit — higher office.

Neither Buehler nor Brown would rule out an eventual gubernatorial run. And Brown, by way of explaining her long list of union endorsements, said, “They’re concerned about who might be next in line for governor.” Voters should be, too.

Both candidates say they would like to make the office’s Corporations Division more business-friendly. But Buehler, unlike Brown, actually has an extensive business background. Not only is he a partner in a large medical practice, but he sits on the board of St. Charles Health System, one of central Oregon’s largest employers.

Brown is a smart, energetic official with a long record of public service. But she’s had her shot at this office, and it’s time for a change. Voters should elect Buehler.

Willamette Week Endorses Knute!

JoelThomas — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:35:16 +0000

The Willamette Week out of Portland became the 7th newspaper to endorse Knute for Secretary of State. That makes the tally 7 for 7.

Secretary of State

Knute Buehler (Republican)

Incumbent Kate Brown made a grab for headlines and credibility last month when she pledged to limit her expenditures in this race to $1 million. Brown’s proposed limit was late, insincere and ineffective, befitting a tenure in which she has often seemed a step behind. She probably wouldn’t have been able to top $1 million anyway, making her pledge hollow.

Although in 2008 she pledged to support a constitutional amendment limiting campaign contributions (Oregon is one of just four states with no limits), Brown, a Democrat, has not done that or anything meaningful about stemming the flood of money into politics.

It’s one of her many failures in this job.

She refused to investigate Charlie Hales’ Washington-residence duplicity, and she rescheduled the Bureau of Labor and Industries election so incumbent Brad Avakian, a fellow Democrat who faced a difficult re-election race, could delay his day of reckoning until November, when turnout would help him more. Brown denies a partisan sop to Avakian, but her credibility is badly damaged.

She’s now the one in jeopardy, facing a serious opponent in Knute Buehler.

Buehler, a Bend orthopedic surgeon and Rhodes scholar, does have a record of trying to limit political spending. He was a chief petitioner of a 1994 ballot measure that imposed campaign limits (later struck down).

He is a moderate (including on abortion rights) who has twice worked to pass nonpartisan primaries. Buehler lacks Brown’s 20 years of political experience. But he’s been successful not only as a surgeon but as a medical entrepreneur and partner in a 170-person medical office. Some of his statements about the security of Oregon’s vote-by-mail system give us pause, but we’re satisfied Buehler deserves a chance to bring integrity back to the secretary of state’s office.

There are two other candidates worth noting: Pacific Green Party candidate Seth Woolley is a whip-smart government wonk. Progressive Party candidate Bob Wolfe is in the race to protest what he says is Brown’s disqualification of otherwise valid signatures gathered by him and other initiative petitioners. (Wolfe was circulating a marijuana-legalization initiative this year and Brown fined him $65,000, alleging his campaign illegally paid signature gatherers.)

Wolfe is essentially saying vote for anyone but Brown. We put it this way: Vote Buehler.

What superpower would Buehler choose? “I’d like to fly.”

Register Guard Endorses Knute!

JoelThomas — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:25:08 +0000

ENDORSEMENT: Secretary of state: Buehler

It’s time for a change in pivotal statewide office

Published: October 14, 2012 12:00AM,Today

Oregonians haven’t put a Republican in the secretary of state’s office since Norma Paulus was elected in 1980. Based on Democrat Kate Brown’s inconsistent performance in this important job, voters should replace her with GOP challenger Knute Buehler.

Republicans have often failed to field impressive candidates for statewide office in recent years. Buehler, a 48-year-old orthopedic surgeon from Bend and a former Rhodes scholar, is an exception. He is an ambitious, über-smart candidate — and a throwback to the moderate, pragmatic Republican Party that once produced iconic leaders such as Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall.

Brown, a 51-year-old lawyer who served 17 years in the Legislature before winning election as secretary of state four years ago, cites her extensive experience in state government. She questions her challenger’s qualifications, saying he has spent “not one minute” in public office.

Brown is right about that. And she is right that Oregonians should take a hard look at candidates’ ability to serve as the state’s chief elections officer, auditor, archivist and corporate registrar — and to be first in line to fill the governor’s office should it become vacant.

But Buehler’s résumé is hardly a blank sheet. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he is a managing partner of a surgical practice that has 180 employees and more than $35 million in annual revenue. He sits on the board of the St. Charles Health System, one of central Oregon’s largest employers.

Nor is Buehler lacking in political experience. He worked in Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential campaign. He helped write a 1994 state ballot measure that reformed campaign finance laws, and worked to qualify open-primary ballot measures for the ballot in 2006 and 2008.

Buehler wants to encourage economic development in Oregon by transforming the corporations division into an office that helps businesses navigate the state’s regulatory maze and recommends improvements in that system to the Legislature. Brown has a similar plan, but Buehler is more emphatic and enthusiastic about the need to improve the state’s business climate.

In the field of campaign finance, Buehler wants to increase the transparency of independent expenditures that occur outside campaigns and create a system of voluntary spending limits that includes penalties for violations. Brown supports legislation requiring candidates to report contributions and expenditures within 48 hours in the final weeks of campaigns. She also want to push for federal-style campaign limits in Oregon, a change she acknowledges would require a constitutional amendment.

The candidates differ on how to increase voter access to primary elections. Buehler wants to create primary ballots for qualified minor parties and encourage the major parties to open their primaries. Brown would continue to urge parties to open their primaries to non-affiliated voters, which she has done to date with only mixed success.

The candidates also differ on legislative redistricting rules, which now requires the secretary of state to step in if lawmakers fail to approve a plan. Brown wants to keep the current system, while Buehler would seek to shift the secretary of state’s redistricting role to an independent commission. Buehler’s proposal suggests an encouraging willingness to surrender a powerful function of the secretary of state’s office in the interest of reducing the potential for partisan redistricting — or, more commonly, the perception of partisanship.

Buehler is also interested in changing the secretary of state’s role in succession. He likes a proposal made by former Secretary of State Phil Keisling to have the secretary serve as an acting governor until a special election could be held. Brown prefers the current system of succession. Here again, Buehler’s position speaks well of his willingness to put Oregonians’ interests above his own.

The challenger says he would use the “bully pulpit” of the secretary’s office to argue for broader government reform, most notably changes to the Public Employees Retirement System. Brown says she would continue to address the need for campaign finance reform and improvements to the state’s foster-care system.

Buehler has been critical of Brown’s oversight of the elections division. The office has had some high-profile problems, including the last-minute shift of the election for commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries to the fall, a decision Brown acknowledges involved too little consultation with the candidates. Buehler contends the decision was politically motivated, which Brown denies. But even if she is right, such mistakes have eroded public trust in the state’s election system.

Buehler is on shaky ground in his criticism of Brown’s oversight of the secretary of state’s audits division. The challenger wants a more muscular auditing division that keeps a closer eye on not only state agencies, but local governments. But it’s hard to fault the incumbent’s oversight of the audits division, which during Brown’s first term identified more than $180 million in savings.

Two other candidates are in the race — Pacific Green Party candidate Seth Woolley and Progressive Party candidate Robert Wolfe — but the real contest is between Brown and Buehler.

Oregonians should elect Knute Buehler secretary of state. He’s the kind of Republican Oregonians have been waiting for.

Bend Bulletin Calls Kate’s Ads Extremely Misleading

JoelThomas — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:48:24 +0000

Editorial: Ads are extremely misleading on Buehler and voting

Published: October 27. 2012 4:00AM PST

It’s a staple of political advertising to shade the facts so far that the truth can no longer be found. There’s no pretense of reasonableness or fairness, and neither party has clean hands. It’s one of the reasons voters are so disgusted by the political process and can’t wait for the campaign season to be over.

This year’s prime example is close to home.

Democratic Secretary of State Kate Brown has found herself with a strong challenge from Bend’s Dr. Knute Buehler, a Republican who is also the candidate of the Independent Party. In recent years, Republicans haven’t had much luck at winning statewide office, but Buehler has won the endorsement of most of the state’s newspapers, including liberal Willamette Week.

A new TV advertisement paints Buehler as part of the “right-wing extreme team” and accuses him of threatening Oregon’s vote-by-mail system. It attempts to link him to Republican efforts in other states to require voter IDs.

Buehler has indeed pointed out that it takes more ID to rent a movie than to register to vote, and said he’d support an audit of the system.

But he has consistently affirmed his support for vote-by-mail and clearly stated he has no interest in ending it. This week’s Politifact Oregon in The Oregonian labeled the complaint against Buehler as “inflammatory and ridiculous,” giving it a “Pants on Fire” ruling.

The ad campaign, which also targets labor commissioner candidate Bruce Starr, was paid for by the Service Employees International Union, the Oregon Education Association and Portland publisher Win McCormack. We suspect the unions’ distress with Buehler has more to do with his support for pension reform than his positions on vote-by-mail.

Buehler didn’t win the endorsements of so many varied editorial boards by being an extremist. He is anything but. As The (Eugene) Register Guard said in its endorsement, “He is an ambitious, uber-smart candidate — and a throwback to the moderate pragmatic Republican Party that once produced iconic leaders such as Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall.”

In its endorsement, The Oregonian cited Buehler’s “nonpartisan bent and his familiarity with issues relevant to the office” as well as the fact that Buehler contributed to John Kitzhaber’s gubernatorial campaign in 2010. The state’s largest newspaper described Buehler as “an independent-minded challenger who will bring leadership and fresh ideas to an office in need of both.”

This is no extremist. Buehler is the kind of accomplished, non-ideological and thoughtful candidate that is all too rare on the political scene.

Kate Brown Once Again Breaking Promises

JoelThomas — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 15:28:04 +0000

As late as a week ago, Kate Brown was still sticking to her story that she’d limit her campaign spending to $1 million: “Kate remains committed to limiting her campaign spending.” Jillian Schoene, Brown campaign spokeswoman, Willamette Week, 10/24/12

She has officially blown past her pledge to limit spending to $1 million.

According to ORESTAR today, she has spent $1.08 Million in 2012 for a total of $1.122 Million this election cycle.

http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29389-kate_brown_spending_exceeds_one_million_dollars.html#commAjax

In addition, she has at least $200k in in-kind contributions from the Too Extreme for Oregon group that do not appear, and another $100k or so in in-kind from the Democratic Party of Oregon . In the end, we estimate she’ll spend upwards of $1.5 million and exceed her spending from 2008.

She kept repeating the pledge as long as possible, while at the same time raising more and more money.

Here’s a look at several of the on-the-record statements:

“I think the overwhelming majority of Oregonians would agree that $1,000,00 is more than enough money for each of us to make the case for our election.” Kate Brown, letter to Knute Buehler, 7/26/12

“We think $1 million is plenty of money to spend in the Oregon Secretary of State race.” Kate Brown, The Oregonian, 7/26/12

LINK: http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/07 kate_brown_wants_1_million_spe.html

“I thought, like a millions dollars was a lot of money for this particular race, while my opponent didn’t think so because he laughed at my proposal to do voluntary spending limits.” Kate Brown, KATU “Think Out Loud”, 9/30/12 (TIME: 5:58)

When pressed by KATU political reporter Patrick Preston on why she spent more than a million in 2008, she answered “Well, I needed the money.” (TIME: 7:30)

In a follow-up, when pressed on whether this was merely a strategic move, as the Oregonian editorial board said, Brown simply did not answer the question presented. (TIME: 7:40)

VIDEO LINK: http://www.katu.com/politics/Knute-Buehler-Kate-Brown-say-theyre-concerned-about-big-money-in-politics-Oregon-Secretary-of-State-171969321.html?tab=video&c=y

The Oregonian editorial board wasn’t buying it from the start:

“Brown’s challenge is transparently self-serving, even desperate. Would Brown, historically a very good fundraiser, have taken a vow of relative poverty if she, and not Buehler, enjoyed a huge advantage in the cash race? Doubtful.” Oregonian Editorial, 9/20/12

BROWN ORESTAR: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/publicAccountSummary.do?filerId=931

Knute’s new ad

JoelThomas — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:53:10 +0000

The media has said some great things about Knute’s candidacy for Secretary of State…. and some not so great things about Kate Brown’s tenure in office.

In this latest ad, we highlight the Knute’s 11 newspaper endorsements and show voters why Knute Buehler is the clear choice to be our next Secretary of State.

Democrats for Buehler

JoelThomas — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:43:58 +0000

Are you a Democrat? Great! Join the growing list of over 100 Democrats who endorse Knute Buehler!

The people below have already decided that Oregon’s future is more important that political party. Instead of a partisan career politician, they want an independent minded, pragmatic leader focused on solving problems.

Many prominent figures have already added their name to this list, including Harry Lonsdale, Former Democratic Candidate, United States Senate, and Myrlie Evers, Civil Rights Activist.

Join Other Democrats for Buehler – Add your name! Together, we’ll Get Oregon Working!

Harry Lonsdale, Former Democratic Candidate, United States Senate

Here are three reasons I am supporting Dr. Knute Buehler for Oregon’s Next Secretary of State:

1. He’s a strong advocate for campaign finance reform – getting the big money out of Oregon politics

2. He’s a believer in the Citizen’s Initiative and making it easier for We The People to have a voice

3. He’s not a career politician

His principle opponent, incumbent Kate Brown falls short on all three of these issues.

I’m a lifelong Democrat and I’ve never contributed a dime to a Republican running for office – until now.

Gina Mcclard, Former Co-Chair, Deschutes County Democratic Party

VOTE FOR KNUTE BUEHLER: OREGON SECRETARY OF STATE   As a lifelong Democrat, and a former co-chair of the Deschutes County Democratic Party, I endorse Knute Buehler as secretary of state. While I know both Kate and Knute, I will be voting for Knute. I have talked with him about where he sees Oregon headed and his potential role as secretary of state. I’ve heard his political analysis of current issues and creative visions—and I think he is the right person for the job. He is a hardworking centrist who utilizes thoughtful analysis resulting in balanced policies. I want to elect politicians who support building consensus and bipartisan cooperation. Knute will be a smart, tireless secretary of state who will work well with Governor Kitzhaber’s office. Even though you may be a Democrat, please take a look at Knute Buehler and consider giving him your vote this November.

Don Crossfield, Math Teacher, Roseburg High School

I am voting for Knute Buehler for Secretary of State in November. Here’s why. He’s treating us with honesty and respect. He’s being clear about what it will take to get Oregon moving economically, and he’s willing to leave his own personally profitable medical career to lead us.

I taught Knute back in the 80’s, and I remember him as an honest, perceptive young man, who did his homework and prepared well. Before writing this letter, I tried to do my homework, as well. I’ve read his position papers, and emailed him for clarification. I think he’s going to be able to create a better job market/climate for Oregon, if we give him the chance this November. His position papers can be found at https://buehler2012.com. I appreciate his openness at sharing the details. It makes me trust him even more.

As a member of PERS, I have studied with interest his reform goals. He has had some hard decisions to make; however I believe he is being fair. Also, the results of these decisions will make the program more stable for both retired and current PERS employees, and free funds to hire more teachers, police and firemen – deeply needed by our community and state.

Knute’s opponent is the current Secretary of State. I believe that her connections with special interest groups, both inside and outside Oregon, have compromised her effectiveness, and that a change is needed. Knute will be a good change; that’s what I think.

Dr. Tomasz Beer, Oncologist, OHSU; Longtime friend of Knute

I met Knute Buehler 26 years ago in medical school. While we were students of medicine by day, we spent lunch breaks reading newspapers, evenings watching Nightline with Ted Koppel and discussed the world’s challenges daily. I was not surprised he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to study politics and economics.

Knute is a pragmatic, data driven problem solver with non-partisan core instincts. He has been deeply involved in efforts to reform campaign finances and has been a strong and consistent supporter of more inclusive elections. He worked with former Secretaries of State Phil Keisling and Norma Paulus to open primary elections to 500,000 registered voters.

Knute is deeply passionate about public service. He has solid policy proposals, strong qualifications for the office, and is someone I am honored to call a friend.

I urge my fellow Democrats to join me in supporting Dr. Knute Buehler for Secretary of State.

Ruth Williamson, Board of Directors, Bend Parks and Recreation

Knute Buehler is a native Oregonian. His ideas reflect the individuality that defines our state. Buehler has both the head and heart to be a reasoned voice for change with creative ideas for revitalizing our rural economies, growing a healthy business climate for our state, and generating much needed revenue to fund statewide education needs.

Notably, Buehler has taken a position regarding Public Employees Retirement System reform, bringing additional attention to this important discussion. And while PERS is a divisive issue, most agree balanced reform is needed. I don’t believe Buehler will sell our public employees out in the process.

My husband and I generally support a Democratic platform, particularly around social issues. But like so many, we recognize the important services good government provides require sustainable and consistent funding to meet their reach.

We’re looking for leaders committed to building consensus and shaping balanced policy that will define Oregon for the future. We’re looking for more Mark Hatfields. Buehler is this kind of leader. We believe he will be an effective secretary of state, working closely with Gov. John Kitzhaber’s office. We encourage our fellow Democrats, as well as our Republican friends, to give him a look and consider giving him your support.

Lisa Reynolds, Pediatric Physician, The Children’s Clinic

I have known Knute Buehler for 20+ years. I have had the pleasure of hearing Knute’s vision for Oregon and have seen his passion for public service first hand.

I am a registered Democrat but pride myself in voting for the best candidate, regardless of party. Knute is a pragmatic, independent thinker – a moderate Republican in the mold of Mark Hatfield. He is intelligent, articulate, and cares and thinks deeply about Oregon. He really is the antidote to the lament “why isn’t anyone good running for office?” Knute is the real thing.

I encourage all my fellow Oregonians, whether Democrat, Republican or other, to vote for Knute Buehler.

Here is a list of over 100 Democrats who support Knute Buehler – Join the growing list!

Bend Bulletin Endorses Knute!

JoelThomas — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 10:15:03 +0000

Editorial: Buehler for secretary of state

Published: October 14. 2012 4:00AM PST

Knute Buehler is making his first run for elected office, but he is far from a newcomer to the electoral process. Voters can support his well-informed, well-reasoned and results-oriented approach by ousting Secretary of State Kate Brown and sending Buehler to Salem in her stead.

Buehler grew up in Roseburg and played baseball for Oregon State University before becoming that school’s first Rhodes Scholar. He was awarded a master’s degree in politics and economics from Oxford University before earning his medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and returning to Oregon for medical residency at Oregon Health & Science University.

In Bend as an orthopedic surgeon, he helped build and manage The Center: Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Care & Research, which employs 170 Oregonians. His extensive community involvement includes serving on the board of directors of St. Charles Health System.

Locals may be less aware, however, of his long-term political involvement, including more than 20 years advocating for campaign finance reform. One early reflection is his 1994 voter’s pamphlet statement supporting Measure 9, designed to limit the effect of special interest campaign contributions.

The secretary of state, which may be an enigma for many voters, runs the elections division, as well as the corporate and audit divisions of the state. Buehler, a Republican who also has the Independent Party nomination, advocates changes to lessen the influence of extreme political forces. They involve redistricting, ballot access and campaign finance reform.

In the corporate division, he would seek to ease government barriers to business development, particularly by eliminating outdated administrative rules that strangle business growth and innovation. Buehler believes the audit division lacks a strong feedback system to ensure identified fixes are carried out.

Incumbent Kate Brown is a lawyer with a long history in state government, starting as a Democratic representative in the Oregon House in the early 1990s and moving to the state Senate in 1996, where she served for some years as party leader. She ran successfully for secretary of state in 2008 and now seeks re-election.

Brown has been criticized for partisan dealings, particularly in the election division.

The other two candidates in this race — the Pacific Green Party’s Seth Woolley and Progressive Robert Wolfe — say she tries to restrict the initiative process. Wolfe is a one-issue candidate, unhappy with the way Brown’s office rejected signatures and thus kept his marijuana measure off the ballot. However, we were impressed with Woolley’s knowledge and analysis of ballot and voting issues, and believe the winning candidate would do well to engage him in a reform process.

Buehler is open-minded and non-ideological, with a focus on solving problems rather than winning arguments. Asked about key differences between himself and Brown, Buehler said it has to do with how they approach solutions: “I’d rather empower; she’s more top down with a bigger role for government.

Oregon has big problems to solve, in the secretary of state’s office and elsewhere, and Buehler can bring a fresh perspective to those discussions. Voters should send him to Salem.

Medford Mail Tribune Endorses Knute!

JoelThomas — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 17:57:57 +0000

The newspaper endorsements keep coming. The Medford Mail Tribune became the 10th newspaper across the state to endorse Knute Buehler! Here’s what they had to say about Knute:

Buehler for secretary of state

October 20, 2012

Oregon’s secretary of state has numerous important duties, but none more so than serving as the state’s chief election official. It’s a position that demands a nonpartisan, even-handed approach.

So it was telling to see a TV ad supporting incumbent Kate Brown that took her Republican challenger, Knute Buehler, to task for — brace yourself — being a Republican. Just to ensure that voters would be properly horrified, the ad included a photograph of Mitt Romney.

That smacks not only of partisanship, but also of desperation by Brown’s camp, which knows it is facing a real challenge from Buehler, a candidate who is so moderate that he once sponsored a fundraiser for Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber.

The red-flag waving over her opponent’s GOP credentials lends credence to concerns that the former Democratic state Senate president and chief Democratic fundraiser still has partisan tendencies. It does not alter the fact that Buehler is the kind of moderate that many in the state have long hoped would make a reappearance in Republican leadership ranks.

Brown also criticizes Buehler for his lack of elected experience. That’s true, but there seems to be little doubt that Buehler would be up to the task of serving in the state’s second-highest elected office.

Buehler is a managing partner of a Bend-based surgical practice that has 180 employees and more than $35 million in annual revenue. His political credentials include helping to write a 1994 state ballot measure to reform campaign finance laws, and working (with former Democratic Secretary of State Phil Keisling) to qualify open-primary ballot measures for the ballot in 2006 and 2008.

Another of the secretary of state’s chief functions is overseeing audits of state government, a task that Buehler says is not fully embraced by Brown. With the Democrats’ longtime stranglehold on statewide office, there’s something to be said for having audits managed by the loyal opposition, especially someone like Buehler, who seems willing to put the best interests of the state above the interests of himself and even his party (an increasing rarity these days).

We are convinced the Buehler would do more than provide lip-service to the idea of improving the business climate in Oregon. Brown touts her department’s new online “one-stop shopping” feature where businesses can get answers and directions on dealing with various rules and regulations. Fair enough, but in truth, it’s just a road map leading to the traffic jam created by the state’s labyrinth of rules that are often cited as an impediment to business.

We think Buehler has a real passion for cutting through some of that red tape, especially in taking on the proliferation of administrative rules that are at the heart of the bureaucratic maze.

Buehler would bring an even-handed, intelligent approach to the job. Given the state’s recent history of electing only Democrats to statewide office, it will take support from Democrats and independents alike for him to win this race. We think he deserves that support and encourage voters to elect Knute Buehler as Oregon’s next secretary of state.