Archive for the 'Headlines' Category

Page 2 of 3

Sec Brown Launches Pilot to Make Voting More Accessible

Published on November 2, 2011 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases, Road Trips, Secretary Brown, Special Elections, Special Primary and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .
County Clerk Maeve Grimes exploring voting assistive device with Sec Brown

County Clerk Maeve Grimes exploring voting assistive device with Secretary Brown

On Tuesday, Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown concluded her tour of all five Oregon counties taking part in the November 8 special primary election. These five counties are part of a pilot project lead by the Secretary of State’s Elections Division. With a goal of making voting more accessible to those with disabilities, each of the counties were given a portable computer or iPad. The applications available on the iPad can assist Oregon voters with limited visibility or other issues causing them difficulty filling out their mail-in ballots.

In Washington County, Deborah Houghton a resident at an assisted living facility found the iPad helpful because she couldn’t read the fine print on her ballot. Members of Washington County’s Voter Assistance Team brought the iPad to Deborah. Using the screen to make the print larger Deborah was able to read the voter’s guide and the ballot for herself and vote. “This is so much better,” said Deborah. “I’ll be back in January to use the iPad again.”

If the pilot proves successful, the state elections office will make iPad’s available to all 36 counties. “I won my first race for the Oregon House of Representatives by seven votes,” said Secretary Brown. “I know how important every vote is and as your Secretary of State I am working hard to make voting more accessible to all eligible Oregonians

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
andrea.l.cantu-schomus@state.or.us
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

Sec Brown and Sen Courtney honor Oregon’s longest serving employee

Published on October 28, 2011 in Archives, Headlines and Secretary Brown. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Secretary of State Kate Brown and Senate President Peter Courtney spoke at the unveiling of a special memorial plaque for Cecil L. Edwards. The plaque commemorates his service as perhaps Oregon’s longest serving employee. Cecil started working in Oregon in 1933 as a floor secretary and became the Chief of Staff to Governor Charles Sprague, Chief Clerk of the Oregon House, Secretary of the Senate, and finally Historian of the Oregon Senate. In addition, then-Secretary of State Norma Paulus dedicated the Oregon Blue Book to Cecil in 1983. Photos: http://ow.ly/7cwEJ

Sec Brown Describes Vision for Future to PolitiCorps Fellows

Published on October 21, 2011 in Headlines, Press Releases and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

PolitiCorps Year of Service Luncheon, 10/21/2011

Secretary of State Kate Brown spoke today to The Bus Project’s PolitiCorps Year of Service Fellows about her ideas for the future of Oregon.

The Bus Project’s PolitiCorps Fellowship attracts some of the smartest and most effective young organizers from across the country for a ten-week intensive leadership training. PolitiCorps Fellows are college seniors or recent graduates who have demonstrated a commitment to progressive values and a deep interest in forward-thinking public policy and the political process. They come from every state in the nation, and from a wide variety of experiential and cultural backgrounds. The Year of Service Fellows dedicate at least one year to work for the public interest in Oregon.

Sec Brown Presents Awards to Living Legends at Bus Project Event

Published on October 17, 2011 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases and Secretary Brown. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The Bus Project Wheelies Awards, 10/10/2011

Secretary Brown at Bus Project Wheelies AwardsSecretary of State Kate Brown was honored to present the Legend Award at this year’s Bus Project Wheelies Award show. Secretary Brown has been affiliated with the Bus Project for years in no small part because their grassroots work registering young Oregonians to vote is crucial to democracy in this great state.  

The Wheelies Awards recognize leaders, volunteers, organizations and businesses which are changing Oregon for the better. This year the Legend Award went to all living former Secretaries of State for their efforts to make Oregonians some of the most active and engaged citizens in the nation. According to Secretary Brown, “Oregon has been blessed with Secretaries of State who believe democracy should be for everybody, voting should be accessible and every vote must be counted.”

This year Secretary Brown and Joe Smith, former Umatilla County District Attorney, presented the Legend Award to Norma Paulus, Barbara Roberts, Phil Kiesling, and Bill Bradbury.

Norma Paulus, who served from 1977 to 1985, was the first woman in Oregon to win election to statewide office and protect the security of Oregon’s voting by stopping the followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh from stealing a local election.

Barbara Roberts, who served from 1985 to 1991, passed election reforms and worked closely with county clerks throughout Oregon to create ADA-accessible polling places.

Phil Kiesling, who served from 1991 to 1999, was Oregon’s knight in shining armor for vote by mail.

And Bill Bradbury, who served 1999-2009, increased elections transparency by hosting ORESTAR reporting for campaign spending and contributions.

Secretary Brown Speaks at Nike/Oregon Community Foundation Event

Published on October 15, 2011 in Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , .
kate-brown-at-nike-employee-grant-fund-10-12-2011-sml

Secretary of State Kate Brown joined Patrice Thramer, Nike’s Director of Sustainable Business and Innovation, and Kathleen Cornett, the Oregon Community Foundation VP for Grants and Programs, to present the Nike Employee Grant Fund’s contribution back to the Portland metropolitan area. This year, 27 non-profits and schools are sharing the Nike Employee Grand Fund gift of $300,000.

Most of the $300,000 is going to projects that relate to sports or physical fitness. However, significant grants also go to long-term investment in the environment and the health and well-being of children and families. “These 27 organizations and their programs embody the kind of community-building efforts that are vital for creating a strong, healthy Oregon,” said Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown. The foundation has provided more than $500,000 in support since its start in 2010.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of State Kate Brown quoted Studs Terkel: “Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say:  This is my community, and it is my responsibility to make it better.”

Secretary Brown Leads Effort to Create Online One-Stop-Shop for Business

Published on October 7, 2011 in Corporation, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 9 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Secretary of State Kate Brown is leading the effort to develop Oregon’s Central Business Registry which provides an online one-stop-shop for those looking to do business in our great state. This online system will enable entrepreneurs to create a business and comply with all state and federal regulations. The goal of this online registry is to save time and money as well as create jobs in Oregon.

Addressing members of the Salem City Club today, Secretary Brown described how the Oregon Central Business Registry will enhance the ease of doing business.

Secretary Brown to Detail Innovative Ideas for Education

Published on October 7, 2011 in Audits, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .
SPED Design Lab Presentation
Friday October 7, 9:00AM-10:00AM
Eugene Hilton Conference Center

Secretary of State Kate Brown is the first Secretary of State in the nation to sponsor a design lab in her role as the Auditor of Public Funds. A design lab fosters creativity and innovation to run programs more efficiently and effectively. She will present on some breakthrough ideas for delivering special education services and meeting customer expectations at the 2011 Fall Conference for Special Education Administration.

According to Secretary Brown, “I want an education system where every child can shine.”

Sec Brown to OR Education Association, “Your vote is your voice”

Published on October 3, 2011 in Elections, Headlines, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

I’m so delighted to meet with retired members of the Oregon Education Association in Salem today. I have the deepest respect for these folks because for years they had one of the most important jobs in the world; they were teachers. As times get tough and budgets continue to shrink, I share with them the passion that keeps me excited to work in state government. As Oregon’s chief elections officer, I have made it my mission to engage Oregonians in the political process. I ran for Secretary of State because I truly believe we can make the lives of Oregonians better through the ballot box. Your vote is your voice.

Sec Brown Honors OR Army National Guard 1186 Military Police Company at Mobilization Ceremony

Published on October 2, 2011 in Headlines, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Secretary Brown joined families, other elected officials, and military leaders at the mobilization ceremony honoring  Oregon Army National Guard’s 1186 Military Police company. The company is deploying to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Video, photos, and article at  http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20111002/UPDATE/111002003/Ceremony-honors-Oregon-soldiers-set-deploy-Afghanistan

Sec of State Faults Commission for the Blind for Fiscal Irresponsibility

Published on September 28, 2011 in Audits, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Salem – A new report released by auditors on Wednesday found that the Oregon Commission for the Blind had not adequately addressed problems identified in a 2009 audit, which were similar to problems identified in a series of audits dating back to 1995. The report contradicted some of the agency’s responses about steps taken, when the agency responded to the Legislature in January 2010 and the auditors in November 2010.

“These problems have gone on far too long. Members of the Commission for the Blind need to hold their staff accountable,” Secretary of State Kate Brown said.

Auditors found that services in some cases were still being provided to ineligible individuals, vending revenue was not effectively tracked, and contracting improvements have not been made to its Business Enterprise Program. Auditors also came across new issues during their review, such as fleet vehicle usage, questionable spending, and compensation discrepancies for five managers.

“There are many clients out there who need assistance and this Commission must stretch its dollars wherever possible,” Audits Director Gary Blackmer said. “These are not complicated issues. All government agencies are responsible for using government resources effectively and efficiently.”

The report, including the agency response, can be found in the Audits section of the Oregon Secretary of State website.