House Majority Leader Mary Nolan Throws Support Behind Kitzhaber

House Majority Leader Mary Nolan has endorsed John Kitzhaber’s campaign to be Oregon’s next governor.

“John Kitzhaber is a tested leader. No one else comes close to matching the depth of his experience as a doctor, legislator and Governor. He brings exactly the perspective and problem-solving skills that Oregon needs during this challenging time,” said Nolan. “Just as important as his experience are John’s values and integrity. He will always do what’s in the best interest of Oregon, and will show us how we can make Oregon so much stronger when we look beyond selfish concerns.”

The endorsement from Nolan gives Kitzhaber the support of over eighty current and former elected leaders. Other legislators supporting Kitzhaber include: State Senator Alan Bates, State Senator Ginny Burdick, State Senator Jane Cease (retired), State Senator Ron Cease (retired), State Senator Tony Corcoran (retired), State Senator Chris Edwards, State Senator Mark Hass, State Senator Betsy Johnson, State Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson, State Senator Floyd Prozanski, State Senator Martha Schrader, State Senator Cliff Trow (retired), State Representative Debbie Boone, State Representative Peter Buckley, State Representative Ben Cannon, State Representative Brian Clem, State Representative Larry Galizio (retired), State Representative Sara Gelser, State Representative Chris Harker, State Representative Al King (retired), State Representative Mary McCauley Burrows (retired), State Representative Bob Pickard (retired), State Representative Tobias Read, State Representative Mike Schaufler, State Representative Jefferson Smith, State Representative Judy Stiegler, State Representative Suzanne VanOrman, and State Representative Brad Witt.

Representative Nolan is serving her fifth term as an Oregon legislator and has twice been elected by her colleagues as House Majority Leader. During her tenure, Nolan spearheaded the largest increase in education funding in recent history, achieved a dramatic increase in funding for women’s health care and family planning services and led the successful effort to expand health coverage to over 100,000 Oregonians.

Nolan is a small business owner, and has served as Chair of the NASA industry advisory council; as a consumer advocate for the Oregon Construction Contractors Board; as the Portland Environmental Services Director; and as the Chair of the Portland Private Industry Council. She joined the first class of women at Dartmouth College (three years after John Kitzhaber graduated from Dartmouth) and earned a degree in Math with High Honors.

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 for the 21st Century, the Oregon Children's Plan, the Oregon Salmon Plan, and he helped established Oregon’s Statewide Trauma System. Since leaving office in 2002, he has continued to work on health care reform, natural resource issues and energy policy, leading several nonprofit foundations and boards.