What I learned at a national program for emerging legislative leaders
Oregon State Legislature sent this bulletin at 07/26/2023 03:30 PM PDT
Hello Friends,
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. This is my first “summer edition” – to those who read each week during the session, thank you! I’ll be sending updates out less frequently, but I still want to keep you informed about what I’m up to.
New Roles and Responsibilities
Since Session ended, I have been fortunate to be tasked with two new leadership opportunities. First, my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus elected me Assistant Majority Leader. In this role, I will serve on the “Leadership Team” with the House Speaker, Majority Leader, and other Assistant Majority Leaders. I am responsible for supporting my caucus colleagues in their development as legislators.
House Speaker Dan Rayfield appointed me to serve on Governor Kotek’s Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council. I’m really excited about this opportunity–I spent many hours this past session working with Rep. Jason Kropf and the Governor’s Office on our new early literacy success initiative. One critical component that was not addressed in the bill is the higher education component. That’s where this Council comes in: our job will be to ensure that Oregon’s educator preparation programs and curriculum are aligned with research-based best practices for teaching literacy. This is a critical component of a statewide literacy strategy.
Lastly, I was also appointed to serve as a member of the Electronic Government Portal Advisory Board. One of the first things I learned while onboarding for the role: the name of the board is far more boring than the actual role. The board gives guidance on how the state can implement and improve government digital services. One topic I discussed with the board staff in my onboarding was artificial intelligence. I’m sure I’ll have more to report in the months to come.
Celebrating the Purchase of Woodspring Apartments
I was both thrilled and relieved to celebrate with residents after the sale of Woodspring Apartments by an out-of-state private equity fund to Washington County–ensuring that the units will remain affordable. More than 100 low-income seniors live in the Woodspring community, so you can imagine how big of a deal this is to them and their families. After years of hard work and advocacy, they won a huge victory for tenants of affordable housing across the state.
Lois Keck, one of the leaders of the Woodspring Tenant Association, speaks to a crowd of supporters.
Emerging Legislative Leaders Program
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of participating in the 2023 Emerging Leaders Program for first and second-term legislators, an offering of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. Speaker Dan Rayfield nominated me as Oregon’s representative to spend a week with emerging legislative leaders from nearly every state.
I have attended many leadership trainings over the years, and this was one of the most impactful. During the program, I built relationships with legislators from across the country and across the ideological spectrum. With the skilled facilitation of Darden Business School professors, we discussed several challenging topics–including the not-so-great state of our country’s politics and democracy. We toured Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s estate), and afterward, we talked about the mixed legacy of Jefferson, the political ethics of the time and today, and the lasting impacts of slavery and the Native American genocide.
We discussed the complicated relationship between Jefferson and John Adams, who were enemies, political rivals, and ultimately true friends (and who miraculously died on the same day–on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence). We debated case studies, talked about modern ethical dilemmas and how to best navigate them, and heard from guest speakers (and each other). It was a packed and meaningful agenda.
Here’s my high-level takeaway/evolving thesis statement (I hope this doesn’t sound hyperbolic or flowery): The health of our Republic is seriously strained, in part because of escalating polarization and partisanship (and contempt for one another, as Arthur Brooks describes it) driven by isolation, self-sorting, media echo chambers, and poor leadership. The way we (all of us) will successfully navigate this moment in American history is by managing our political differences with mutual respect and genuine friendships with those on “opposing sides” who operate in good faith. On an individual level, authenticity, vulnerability, and humility are three keys to transcending divisiveness.
None of that is earth-shattering or revolutionary, but it is both important to understand and hard to actually do.
Despite significant ideological differences, I was left with genuine admiration and respect for these “emerging leaders” across the country and genuinely grateful for the opportunity.
Here was the assigned reading list for the program, in case you’re interested:
- Love Your Enemies by Arthur Brooks
- The Collaboration Blind Spot by Lisa Kwan
- Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
- The Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
Standing in front of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia
QPO-Yulon Signing Ceremony
The Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (essentially the Taiwanese Consulate) invited me to attend the signing ceremony and ribbon-cutting of Yulon Motors, a Taiwanese company, and QPO Energy, a battery and energy storage company based in Oregon. QPO has partnered with Yulon to relocate part of their battery manufacturing from China to Tualatin. The factory will employ up to 400 people and shows that Oregon is benefiting from the post-pandemic supply chain reshuffling away from China.
Ribbon cutting ceremony with state and local leaders, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, and executives from Yulon Motors and QPO Energy
Op-Ed in Tigard Life
You may have seen my op-ed in this month’s edition of Tigard Life. If not, it is pictured below, and here’s a link. I summarized the legislative highlights that are particularly important for the Tigard area.
My Op-Ed in Tigard Life
See me at my upcoming constituent events!
This Saturday, July 29th, I’ll be hosting a town hall with Senator Aaron Woods and Rep. Courtney Neron. We’ll be talking about the Session’s legislative highlights and what they mean for our community. We’ll be taking questions! We hope to see you there!
Town Hall with Senator Woods and Rep. Neron
11 AM on Saturday, July 29th
King City Civic Association
15245 SW 116th Ave, Portland, OR 97224
Next month, I’m holding a constituent coffee at Symposium Coffee. You’re invited! I’ll start with an overview of the 2023 Session and what it will mean for Tigard. We’ll then open up the floor for questions–anything I’m unable to answer, we will follow up with afterward.
Constituent Coffee
1 PM on Sunday, August 27th
Symposium Coffee
12345 SW Main St, Tigard, OR 97223
Thanks for reading,
Ben Bowman
Oregon State Representative
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