Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, Eileen Brady, and Others Endorse John Kitzhaber for Oregon Governor

Portland, OR – Some of Oregon’s biggest names are weighing in on the Oregon Governor’s race, and they are standing with John Kitzhaber. At the Ecotrust Building today in Northwest Portland, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, New Seasons Market Co-Owner Eileen Brady, and other prominent Oregonians announced their support for John Kitzhaber to be Oregon’s next Governor.

Also announcing their endorsement of Kitzhaber were several prominent state and local officials, including State Treasurer Ben Westlund, Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo, former Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, and former Portland Mayor Vera Katz.

“I’m supporting John Kitzhaber for Governor because he understands the challenges facing Oregon and knows what it will take to meet them,” said Attorney General Kroger. “He’ll provide the leadership we need to make the tough choices that will protect our future, tomorrow and for the long term.”

“We need John Kitzhaber as Oregon’s next Governor,” said Brady. “As someone with a background in health care, business, sustainability, and feeding Oregon, I believe John is the best person we could possibly have right now to lead our state boldly into the future.”

In receiving support from Kroger, Brady, and other prominent Oregonians, Governor Kitzhaber immediately adds tremendous expertise to his campaign. From Kroger’s background in law enforcement to Brady’s success in health policy, building sustainable business, and regional food economies, Governor Kitzhaber is building a team for Oregon’s future.

Kitzhaber intends to use his run for Governor to recruit everyday Oregonians into the discussion of how we move Oregon forward, including fixing and properly funding our education system, developing the jobs of the future inside Oregon’s borders, reforming our broken health care system to focus on making people healthier while making the system more affordable, and protecting our state’s natural beauty.

The pace and amount of grassroots support for the campaign has been unprecedented. In the short time since Kitzhaber launched his Facebook presence, over 8,200 members of the social networking site have signed up to support him, a record number nearly triple that of any other Oregon political figure. This support is emblematic of where the strength of Kitzhaber’s campaign will be: not just the prominent elected and community leaders represented by today’s endorsers, but thousands of Oregonians who will make weighing in on Oregon’s future a part of their day-to-day life.

“I believe Oregon’s best days still lie ahead,” said Kitzhaber. “Every state in the nation is facing similar challenges, but more than any other state Oregon has the capacity to move beyond them. I am proud to be joined by Attorney General Kroger, Eileen Brady, and many more as we build a coalition and a campaign for Oregon’s future.”

John Kitzhaber is a former two-term Governor of Oregon. An emergency room physician from Roseburg by trade, he has also served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the Oregon Senate President. In his career he enacted many progressive reforms, including the Oregon Health Plan, the Oregon Education Act, the Oregon Children's Plan, and the Oregon Salmon Plan. Since leaving office in 2002, he has continued to work on health care reform, leading several nonprofit foundations and boards.