Tag Archive for 'secretary of state kate brown'

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

Spread the word – Beware of business registration scams!

Published on January 27, 2012 in Corporation, Headlines and Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , , .
Peter Threlkel, Director of Corporation Division

Peter Threlkel, Director of Secretary of State Corporation Division, speaks with KATU about the scam

Thank you to KATU news for helping us get the word out about a possible Business Registration scam in the Salem area.

Our Corporations office received more than 600 calls in the last week. Corporation Director Peter Threlkel spoke with reporter Kerry Tomlinson on Friday about our efforts to educate  the public and our cooperation with the Department of Justice to help shut the down the scam.

For more information about the scam, read about the Corporate Regulatory Committee Annual Report scam and also Business Alert – Possible Deceptive Business Annual Report Notice Mailing on the Oregon Secretary of State site.

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

Bing Video: Oregon makes voting accessible with iPad

Published on November 20, 2011 in Elections, Headlines, Secretary Brown, Special Elections and Special Primary. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

MSNBC featured the success of Oregon’s pilot program making iPads accessible to voters with disabilities in the first congressional district. Oregon Secretary Kate Brown and Lori Steele, Chairman and CEO of Everyone Counts, Inc were both interviewed by MSNBC’s Craig Melvin.

Secretary Brown shared her optimism about the pilot and explained that the second phase will kick off in January with the General Election. After the General election, officials will gather information from those who used the iPad - disability groups and county elections crews - to decide if the technology will be implemented statewide.

Watch the video: Oregon tests voting by iPad

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 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.”