Archive for the 'Press Releases' Category

Secretary of State Auditors Find School Funding Error

Published on February 7, 2012 in Press Releases, Secretary Brown, Social Media and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Press Release

Secretary of State Auditors Find School Funding Error
State distributed too much of the Common Schools Fund to schools

Salem – A state audit released on Tuesday found that the Department of State Lands distributed about $75.7 million of the principal of the Common School Fund, along with investment earnings in the 2001-2007 period. The Oregon Constitution only allows earnings on the principal to be distributed. The principal was about $830 million last June. The auditors recommend more detailed accounting of the funds.

“The State Land Board wants to ensure our decisions comply with the Constitutional restrictions on these funds, and the Department has changed its accounting methods to avoid these inadvertent reductions,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. The Constitution creates the State Land Board, comprised of the Secretary of State, Governor, and Treasurer.

The Common School Fund was created at statehood with the purpose of generating income from state lands for school funding. Unclaimed property was included later by statute, with its earnings also designated for schools. The State Land Board distributed about $90 million to $100 million in each of the last three biennia for K-12 school funding.

“More detailed accounting would ensure that the restricted funds are clearly identified,” said Gary Blackmer, Audits Director. The Common School Fund principal can be restored in future years from investment earnings, he added.

The report, including the agency response, can be found at www.sos.state.or.us/audits.

For more information, contact:

Andrea Cantu-Schomus
Communications Director
Oregon Secretary of State
503-986-2368
503-507-0082

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Presidential candidates to appear on Oregon’s presidential primary ballot

Published on February 7, 2012 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown, Social Media and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Press Release
Salem, Oregon

SALEM – Secretary Brown has determined which Democratic and Republican presidential candidates qualify for Oregon’s presidential primary ballot in May. The sole Democratic candidate on the ballot is President Barack Obama. Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum will all appear on the Republican ballot.

“I want Oregonians to have ample time to educate themselves on the candidates,” says Secretary of State Kate Brown. “I encourage all eligible Oregonians to participate in the political process. Your vote is your voice and all Oregonians deserve to be heard.”

There are two ways for presidential candidates to be included on the ballot in Oregon. The most common is at the Secretary of State’s sole discretion, if the candidate is a figure nationally recognized by the news media. Candidates not chosen in this manner can be included by submitting a nominating petition filed with the Secretary of State, after gathering valid signatures from 1,000 registered voters in each of the Oregon’s five congressional districts.

Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in Oregon’s presidential primary elections. The last day to register in order to be eligible to vote is Tuesday, April 24, 2012.

For more information, contact:
Andrea Cantu-Schomus
503-989-2368

Secretary Brown says both parties should open primaries to non-affiliated voters

Published on February 6, 2012 in Elections, Headlines, Press Releases and Secretary Brown. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

PRESS RELEASE

SALEM – Secretary Brown applauds the decision by the Republican Party to partially open its primary to non-affiliated voters in May. The Republican Party submitted their request early Monday morning. While the request only includes three statewide races, Secretary Brown encourages both the Republicans and the Democrats to include all partisan races. Oregon currently has more than 420,000 non-affiliated voters registered in the state.

“More than a fifth or one-in-five voters in Oregon are registered non-affiliated,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “Allowing these voters to cast a ballot in the May primaries would give a large part of our electorate a voice. It is my mission as your Chief Elections Officer to engage more Oregonians in the political process.”

Secretary Brown is working with her elections team to determine how to accommodate the Republican’s request. She expects to release details within the week.

For more information, please contact 
Andrea Cantu-Schomus
503-989-2368

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown unveils online Civics Toolkit

Published on January 9, 2012 in Elections, HAVA, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Press Release

SALEM – Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown recently unveiled a new online Civics Tool Kit. The civic education curriculum was developed through a collaboration of efforts by local professors, teachers and Oregon elections staff. The goal is to provide a beginners guide to civics with an Oregon centric view that anyone can access and use.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Tells McNary High School Students About New Civics Toolkit

Secretary Brown talks civics with McNary High School students

According to the most recent national civics examination, fewer than half of American eighth graders know the purpose of the Bill of Rights. In addition, only one in 10 demonstrated acceptable knowledge of the checks and balances among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

“Democracies can only be sustained by citizens who have the basic knowledge, skills and dispositions – I think our online Civic Toolkit can help,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “As your Secretary of State and Oregon’s chief elections officer, it is my duty to engage Oregonians in the political process.”

The toolkit is made up of 10 lessons that cover everything from your rights and responsibilities as a good citizen, the history of voting in Oregon and what you need to know before you register to vote in our great state.

You can find the online Civics Toolkit by logging onto Oregon’s Secretary of State website (Elections Division), clicking on Voter Resources then Civics Toolkit or go directly to: http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/pages/voterresources/civics-toolkit/index.html.

Secretary Brown unveils Civics Toolkit at local high schools

Published on January 6, 2012 in Elections, HAVA, Headlines, Press Releases, Secretary Brown and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Talks Civics at West Salem High School

Secretary Brown rolls out the new online Civics Toolkit

After more than two weeks off for the holidays, students welcomed Secretary Brown to their Government classes to talk civics. The secretary unveiled the online Civics Toolkit developed by her staff, local teachers and professors. Students got a first look at the 10 online lessons which cover everything from how to be a good citizen to how to register to vote. Secretary Brown encouraged students to get involved in the political process and reminded the teens that here in Oregon you can register to vote when you are 17 years old.

Reflecting on the day, Brown observed: “These students were sharp. Many had a great knowledge of Oregon and its government. We hope they find the Civics Toolkit online, learn it and share it. Special thanks to teachers Jason Whiteley and Doug Parker for opening up their classroom. These guys do an excellent job!”

You don’t need to be a teacher or student to take advantage of it. The Civics Toolkit is on the Secretary of State website at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/pages/voterresources/civics-toolkit/index.html. Everyone is welcome to download these free resources and bone up on elections civics.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown Tells McNary High School Students About New Civics Toolkit

Secretary Brown visits McNary High School to talk civics

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 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.