State of Oregon Archives: on Families & Children

Jo Rae Perkins: Supports parents' right not to vaccinate children

Knute Buehler: Create a "rapid-improvement team" for foster care

Bud Pierce: Partially support hospice/respite centers

William (Bud) Pierce: We should encourage the development of private, lightly regulated (to lower the cost), but good quality respite centers, to assist caregivers by allowing their loved ones to be safely cared for by others, allowing them to rest. We may be able to partially support theses centers, by allowing them to also serve as hospice respite sites. It may be possible to include the funding for these centers as part of "long term care" insurance plans

Kate Brown: I support policies that encourage the recruitment of more qualified workers and ongoing training so patients and family caregivers can feel assured they're receiving the best care.

Kate Brown: Child advocate with Juvenile Rights Project

Kate Brown became Oregon's governor at a difficult time for our state. From 2008 to 2015, Brown served as Oregon's Secretary of State. Brown served 17 years in the legislature, making history in 2004 as the first woman to serve as Oregon's Senate Majority Leader.

Knute Buehler: Early supporter of marriage equality for all citizens

Bud Pierce: Alleviate the scourge of sex trafficking

Monica Wehby: 2007: Ex-husband filed police report, but good friends now

Jim Grant, Wehby's ex-husband, accused Wehby of slapping him with a pad of paper during a verbal dispute, according to a Portland police report from Dec. 16, 2007. "Jim said they are currently in a divorce situation and is tired of the ongoing harassment by his wife," the police report said. "Jim said over the last year Monica has pulled his hair, slapped him and thrown items at him. Jim said he had been violent with her in the past."

Wehby denied touching him with the pad of paper, according to the report. She told police that Grant had been physical with her in the past and that she had documented it with her doctors.

[When asked about] any major issues from her divorce that opponents might dig up, Wehby responded, "No, we live four houses apart. And we're good friends."

Monica Wehby: 2013: Ex-boyfriend filed police report, but now regrets it

Wehby was questioned by a police officer on April 3, 2013. Miller, the wealthy owner of a timber company, had been romantically involved with Wehby but their relationship was ending at that time, they both say now. Wehby was not arrested in the incident.

Miller has helped fund radio and billboard ads slamming one of Wehby's rivals for the Senate nomination, state Rep. James Conger. Miller has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years backing GOP candidates in Oregon.

Wehby said she was unaware that a police report had been filed over the 2013 incident and downplayed the episode. Miller said he now regrets calling the police on Wehby. The couple had dated for about two years, but broke up in 2013. Miller, divorced with 4 children, said they remain friendly.

Jason Conger: Rated 79% by Oregon Stand for Children

Organization description: "Stand for Children is a leading voice for Oregon's children. We bring together people from all walks of life--parents, grandparents, people who work with children, and others who care about the next generation--in order to make children a top political priority. Since 1999, Stand for Children has championed countless policy and budget choices across ten states that continue to benefit millions of children today. For the organization's first 13 years, members in Stand states and chapters worked independently to identify local challenges facing children, and to advocate for effective solutions. In 2012, to ensure that we are maximizing our collective impact, we decided to develop a shared viewpoint on how to accomplish our mission and to prioritize strategies that have proven effective in closing the achievement gap. "What We Stand For" is that shared point of view.

John Kitzhaber: Invest in children in early years to prevent tragic failures

If there were a disease that affected this many children we would view it as an epidemic. We would muster our resources and meet the challenge aggressively. There would be no question. Well, this is an epidemic -- and its course is just as deadly sure -- not from an infectious agent, but from drugs or alcohol or violence. from neglect and indifference.

This tragedy is due, in large part, to our failure to make adequate investments in our children in their earliest years. As a consequence, we pay for their failure, instead of benefiting from their success. We know who these children are long before they get into trouble. And we know the kinds of programs and supports that are effective in keeping them on the path to success.

Winona LaDuke: Gore and Bush endorse a myth of the American family