Thirteen of Oregon’s major newspapers have endorsed Knute Buehler for Secretary of State. Many of the newspapers who endorsed his opponent when she ran for Secretary of State in 2008 have now endorsed Knute Buehler.
Here’s what they had to say about Knute (Click on each logo to read their entire endorsement):
“Vote for Knute Buehler”
“Independent minded… Will bring leadership and fresh ideas to an office in need of both”
“…non partisan bent… familiarity with issues relevant to the office…”
“…an exceptionally well rounded candidate with an impressive professional career and experience… Oregon State grad… Rhodes scholarship”
“Over the past 20 years-plus, Brown has become a fixture in Salem… this experience has led neither to memorable leadership… nor to immunity from high-profile blunders.”
“…has erode public confidence in Brown, if not the office itself…”
“Brown… had her shot at this office, and its time for change. Voters should elect Buehler.”
“Its time for a change in pivotal statewide office”
“Based on Democrat Kate Brown’s inconsistent performance in this important job, voters should replace her with GOP challenger Knute Buehler.”
“…an ambitious, über-smart candidate… throwback to the moderate, pragmatic… leaders such as Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall.”
“…managing partner of a surgical practice that has 180 employees… board of the St. Charles Health System, one of central Oregon’s largest employers… reformed campaign finance laws… worked to qualify open-primary ballot measures…”
“…wants to encourage economic development in Oregon.”
“…willingness to put Oregonians’ interests above his own.”
“Oregonians should elect Knute Buehler secretary of state. He’s the kind of Republican Oregonians have been waiting for.”
“Brown’s proposed limit was late, insincere and ineffective, befitting a tenure in which she has often seemed a step behind… hollow.”
“Brown, a Democrat, has not done that or anything meaningful… It’s one of her many failures in this job.”
“Buehler, a Bend orthopedic surgeon and Rhodes scholar, does have a record of trying to limit political spending.”
“He is a moderate… twice worked to pass nonpartisan primaries.”
“Buehler deserves a chance to bring integrity back to the secretary of state’s office.”
“…vote for anyone but Brown. We put it this way: Vote Buehler.”
“Its 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.”
“This smacks not only of partisanship, but also of desperation by Brown’s camp… the former Democratic State Senate president and chief Democratic fundraiser still has partisan tendencies.”
“Brown touts her departments new online “one-stop shopping”… but in truth, its just a road map leading to the traffic jam created by the state’s labyrinth of rules…”
“…Buehler has a real passion for cutting through some of that red tape…”
“Buehler is the kind of moderate that many in the state have long hoped would make a reappearance…”
“…little doubt that Buehler would be up to the task of serving in the state’s second-highest elected office.”
“Buehler seems willing to put the best interests of the state above the interests of himself and even his party (an increasing rarity these days).”
“…elect Knute Buehler as Oregon’s next secretary of state.”
“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.”
“…long-term political involvement… 20 years advocating for campaign finance reform.”
“…a Republican who also has the Independent Party nomination, advocates changes to lessen the influence of extreme political forces.”
“…open-minded and non-ideological, with a focus on solving problems.”
“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.”
“Voters have an interesting choice in this race between a conventional Democrat who has been competent, but not inspiring in office and a Republican who has high ambitions”
“If you want to shake up the sense of entitlement that afflicts some Democratic Party politicians, this is your opportunity.”
“We recommend Knute Buehler. Electing him would add diversity to the chemistry of the statehouse. Oregon could use that.”
“Republican Knute Buehler makes a strong case for replacing incumbent Kate Brown”
“…he’s no neophyte, despite Brown’s testy observation… for someone who wants to run a state agency, he has been a managing partner in a 170-employee medical practice.”
“Unlike Brown, Buehler has a demonstrated history of working for campaign spending limits.”
“Buehler has ambitious plans for the secretary of state’s office, which he describes as chronically underperforming.”
Kate Brown “damaged public faith by rescheduling the election for labor commissioner—a move that benefited the Democrat incumbent”
“Buehler’s record, skills and vision argue persuasively for a change of leadership.”
“Roseburg native Knute Buehler is our choice for Secretary of State”
“…nomination from both the Republican and Independent parties… perspective of a businessman”
“He’s sincere when he says it’s time for him to enter public service, to pay back the investment made in him when he attended Oxford University to gain a master’s degree in politics and economics on his Rhodes Scholarship.”
“…interested in improving access to the Oregon primary…”
“…he would bring a good balance to the state’s top offices… the official who reaches out to Chambers of Commerce, encourages corporations to locate in Oregon and makes the state more friendly to business.”
“…we’ve got one of Roseburg’s best and brightest ready to take a leadership role in state government, so we’re going with the hometown favorite.”
Buehler “has emphasized—correctly—that the Secretary of State can have a major influence on important issues.”
“…he makes a compelling argument that his challenger, incumbent Democrat Kate Brown, has not wielded that influence with much vigor.”
“Buehler, unlike Brown, has proposed a series of reforms that could help ease the PERS threat.”
“Finally, we believe Buehler will be more aggressive that Brown has been in using the state’s audits division, which the Secretary of State oversees, to find frivolous spending in state agencies.”
“Oregon voters should elect Buehler and give him a chance to make good on his plan to turn the Secretary of State into something more than just another office in Salem.”
Dr. Buehler gains the endorsement of the Hood River News.
…well educated, with years of private sector business experience… smart, matter-of-fact, team player…
…streamline the process businesses face when they attempt to navigate state regulations.”
“Voters shouldn’t be swayed by Brown’s claim that Buehler does not have the experience…”
“Two decades of behind-the-scenes policy work has helped Buehler gain bipartisan endorsements from the likes of former Secretary of State Norma Paulus, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden and former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Harry Lonsdale.
…20 years as an elected official didn’t prevent Brown from awkwardly fumbling a couple of issues while in office…
“…Brown will always put her party in front of the state as a whole.”
“Buehler’s moderate stances… bode well for the state of Oregon. He should be the next Secretary of State.”
“Buehler… best suited to promote realistic changes to PERS.”
“…publicize and promote realistic changes…”
“…wants to use the office of secretary of state to call attention to the burden PERS puts on cities, school districts and others.”
Kate Brown… hasn’t done this and isn’t likely to give the issue the attention it deserves… public employee unions have traditionally been big financial supporters of hers… voted against PERS reforms…”
“Our picks to handle PERS: …Buehler for secretary of state.”
“… choosing the right person for the post can have wide—ranging effects across the state.”
“We also like Buehler’s enthusiasm for taking a more active role as a member of the State Land Board and questioning the status quo.”
“Oregon voters should elect Buehler…”
“The Republican Party has a credible candidate in Buehler… he makes the case for change.”
“Buehler has high ambitions, including contributing to the reform of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
“If you want to shake up the sense of entitlement that afflicts some Democratic Party politicians, this your opportunity.”
“We recommend Knute Buehler.”
