Gov. Brown Sworn In, Says 'Oregon Families Are Counting On Us'

PORTLAND, OR – Calling it a "bittersweet day," Oregon Governor Kate Brown was sworn in Monday for what is her first full-term as governor. It will also be her final four years in office.

Brown took over in 2015 for John Kitzhaber – one month into his term when he resigned under a cloud of scandal. She won a special election the following year.

"Oregon families are counting on us," Brown told legislators on Monday. "While we tackle today's fiscal challenges, we must also address the challenges of our future.

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"Today we stand at a turning point, with an opportunity to put Oregon on a better path forward."

Brown was reelected this past November, garnering 50 percent of the vote as she defeated Republican Knute Buehler.

Her speech built on many of the themes that formed the bedrock of her campaign – education, health care, housing, climate change, helping the homeless, particularly veterans, and expanding voter registration efforts.

"For years we have struggled to overcome the impacts of recession on our state revenue, to build up adequate funding for our education system, and stabilize access to health care," she said. "Our state is growing faster than at any point in our lifetimes.

"With growth comes a lot of really good things. More jobs. More ideas. And hopefully, more opportunities.At the same time, not everyone is experiencing this prosperity."

Brown's plan for the legislative session includes:

Spending $400 million on housing with special initiatives aimed at helping homeless veterans and $20 million specifically for building permanent housing for the homeless;

Adopting a plan from Secretary of State Dennis Richardson – the only Republican to currently to hold statewide office – to centralize the way state contracts are handled, something Richardson found could have saved Oregon $1.6 billion in the 2015-17 biennial; and

Backing a plan by Speaker Tina Kotek and Majority Leader Ginny Burdick that would cap rent hikes to seven percent.

Brown also wants more funding for education.

"Our education system is in desperate need of repair, reform, and reinvestment. It’s like an old house that hasn’t been maintained," she said. The longer we wait, the more it will cost to fix it.

"I will work with you, the business community, teachers, and parents to fund K-12 schools at a level that ensures our districts aren’t forced to make cuts."

Brown's budget proposal – released last November – calls for $2 billion investment in education that goes beyond what's called for in the budget.

"Over the past year, we have worked with your Student Success Committee to build consensus on how to repair our schools," Brown said. "We agree that we need to prepare an additional 10,000 kids for kindergarten.

"We agree that we need to create a School Improvement Fund that invests in our students. And provides smaller class sizes and a longer school year."

Former Governors Barbara Roberts and Ted Kulongoski – two of Brown's mentors – were on hand for her speech.

Photo of Brown rehearsing her speech and video of her delivering the speech via Brown's office.