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Hello Friends,
There
has been much speculation over the last several months as to whether I plan to
seek another term in office. I had originally planned to announce a decision
earlier this year, but wanted to focus on being as effective as possible for
the 2018 legislative session.
After
careful consideration, I have decided that I am not going to be a candidate in
the upcoming election.
During
the 2017 session and the one currently taking place in Salem, I’ve found that
we have several hundred bills to vote on. There are lobbyists and special
interest groups who apply constant pressure to pass their priorities. All of
that takes up a whole lot of time that could be better spent solving the bigger
problems facing Oregon and its people.
For
the remainder of my term, I will continue my work on the committees to which I
have been assigned. The Joint Committee on Student Success will embark on a
statewide tour to hear about ways in which our education system can be
improved. I’m looking forward to attending and learning what I can about the
best paths forward for our students, teachers, parents and anyone else who has
a perspective they would like to share.
I’ve
spent the last several weeks as the newest member of the Senate Committee on
Health Care. While challenges remain, I feel that the Oregon Health Authority will
be served well by the leadership of Director Pat Allen. Similarly, the
Department of Human Services has had issues, but Director Fariborz Pakseresht has
it going back in the right direction.
The
four biggest problems that I see facing the state are health care, education,
PERS and the state budget. Ideally, I would like to continue working on these
issues in a volunteer capacity at the expiration of my current term early next
year. I think I could do that more effectively in that kind of a role, away
from the partisanship that too often prevents us from working together as well
as we should.
In
such a scenario, I could use the knowledge I’ve gained of budgets in the private,
nonprofit, local government and legislative settings and help the co-chairs of
the Ways and Means Committee. There are ways we can obtain tremendous savings
through cost containment without cutting or sacrificing vital programs, and I
would like to help in any way I can.
I
would like to thank the voters of Senate District 3 for the unique opportunity
that I’ve had to fill out the last two years of my friend Alan Bates’ term.
It’s been a very educational experience.
Yours truly,
Sen. Alan DeBoer
Senate District 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: sen.AlanDeBoer@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/deboer
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