Can Gov. Kate Brown Sell Oregonians On Her Vision For The State?

When Gov. Kate Brown was first swept into office by scandal, she benefited from comparisons to the man she was replacing, Gov. John Kitzhaber.

Reporters often characterized Kitzhaber as a lone wolf, a policy wonk, private.

Brown was different.

Shortly after Brown succeeded Kitzhaber, the New York Times wrote a glowing profile, noting her verve set her apart from her predecessor. She breezed through the Capitol hallways offering unsolicited “hellos” to people — greeting them by their first names. She hosted BBQs at Mahonia Hall, the governor’s mansion. When a member of the press corps had his first baby, the governor wrote a handwritten congratulatory note.

In other words, Brown was friendly, personable, accessible.

Read more: https://www.opb.org/news/article/kate-brown-oregon-governor-2018-race-democrat/