By: Alvin Wilson
Staff Writer
The presidential election isn’t the only election that will take place in 2016.
Next year, Oregon’s incumbent governor, Kate Brown, will run against some tough opposition to see who will fill ex-governor Kitzhaber’s place until 2018.
Elections will take place on Nov. 8, 2016. There are few who have declared their intention to run thus far, but much in Oregon’s political world can change in one year.
Among those who have declared their intention to run are: current governor Kate Brown (D), critical care specialist Julian Bell (D), business owner Bob Niemeyer (R), and experimental pathologist Bud Pierce (R).
Some background information about our candidates:
Kate Brown:
Katherine “Kate” Brown was born in Madrid, Spain in 1960 and raised in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1981 with a degree in Environmental Conservation, and from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in 1985 with a degree in Environmental Law.
Previously, Brown served as Oregon Secretary of State and majority leader of the Oregon State Senate. She became Oregon’s governor in February of 2015 in the wake of Kitzhaber’s resignation. For more information about Kate Brown, visit her website at: www.katebrownfororegon.com.
Julian Bell:
44-year-old Julian Bell is a medical doctor for an intensive care unit in Medford, Oregon. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College.
According to his campaign website, Bell’s priorities are promoting clean energy and combating climate change. He has volunteered for environmental organizations such as Southern Oregon Climate Action Now and Rogue Climate, and helped found a group called Hair On Fire Oregon, which helps advertise possible solutions for climate change. This is Bell’s first time running for public office. For more information about Julian Bell, visit his website at www.julianbellforgovernor2016.com.
Bob Niemeyer:
Bob Niemeyer is the owner of an engineering company. Niemeyer graduated from the University of Oregon in 1978 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1987, Niemeyer received his Professional Engineering License in Mechanical Engineering.
According to his campaign website, Niemeyer is running on the ideas of rebuilding Oregon’s independence, not living in fear, and new ways of looking at government action. Niemeyer is described as being fiscally and socially conservative. Some of Niemeyer’s campaign promises include: not being a politician, but a representative; issuing a pardon to the Oregon couple who refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding; and rewriting the state constitution within two years of taking office. This is not Niemeyer’s first attempt at running for public office. In 2014, he ran for Representative of Oregon’s first congressional district. For more information about Bob Niemeyer, visit his website at www.bobniemeyer.com.
Bud Pierce:
William “Bud” Pierce is an experimental pathologist who was raised in Southern California. Pierce graduated with a Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from UCLA in 1985, where he later returned to receive his M.D. in 1987.
Pierce spent six years of his life as a U.S. Marine. After leaving the Marines, he served as a doctor for the United States Naval Reserve. This is Pierce’s first time running for public office. According to the Statesman Journal, Pierce’s main focus is economic prosperity. Pierce’s positions are generally fiscally conservative and socially liberal. For more information about Bud Pierce, visit his website at www.budpierce.com.
There are more potential candidates who have yet to declare their intentions to run, but it is unclear how drastically the campaign field will change in the next year.
2016 is a very busy year for Oregon voters. Not only are we voting for a new president and governor, but seats in Oregon’s House of Representatives, Oregon’s State Senate and Oregon’s state-level-courts are up for election as well.
The Journal will have continued coverage of Oregon’s 2016 elections.
