MARCH 17. 2006
lUStiOUt 17
northwest
Passion Guides Candidacy
Concern for society's vulnerable populations drives lesbian in campaign race
ina Kotek is running for office again. Not
chairwoman for the Governor’s Medicaid Advisory
one to give up after a narrow loss in the Committee, she fought to hold the line on cuts in
2004 primary to state Rep. Chip Shields,
the Oregon Health Plan. She also fought to keep
D-Portland (she came in second for the
open 13 school-based health centers in Multnomah
District 43 seat with 45 percent of the
County, including three in her district: Roosevelt
vote), the energetic 39-year-old is running for
the School and Portsmouth and George middle
High
House of Representatives seat in District 44 schools.
being
vacated hy Gary Hansen.
She also helped push through several bills in
As of March 2, Kotek became the first
the Legislature, including two that provided sum
Democrat to file for the seat in the primary election
mer food programs to kids eligible for free meals
with 440 signatures. She notes that in keeping with
during the schixil year and another that made fixxl
her belief in grassroots politics, she qualified by
stamps more accessible to the needy. In addition,
obtaining signatures d<x>r to door rather than pay she helped form the One Voice for Child Care
ing a filing fee. Kotek will have two male
Coalition and stopped a huge reduction in the
Democratic opponents in Jim Robison and Mark
child care assistance program.
Kirchmeier and a Republican opponent, Jay
Kotek is running “because 1 don’t feel state
Kushner, in the traditionally Democratic district.
government has been doing enough for folks in my
Kotek says she comes at politics from a history
district.” She says she has strong ideas about
of personal activism and a policy advocacy perspec government. “I feel that government has a respon
tive. She traces her direct political involvement to
sibility to take care of our most vulnerable citi
her graduate student days at University of zens.” She also believes government should
Washington in the mid-1990s. She was surprised
provide a balance to corporate interests in kxiking
when she and her female partner applied for mar after the needs of its citizens.
ried student housing but were denied. With two
Kotek says she sees hunger, child care and
male students, Kotek organized a campus organiza
health care as the most important issues. “One out
tion called the Coalition for Domestic Partner
of every four kids in my district lives in poverty,”
Equality to change what seemed unfair.
she notes. Kotek believes there is more poverty
After several years that included protest
because people’s income is not keeping up with the
cost of living in Portland. For example, housing and
marches outside the Board of Regents as well as
resolutions proposed and passed by the student
utilities have gone up. She believes there are fewer
government, the university changed its policy to
family-wage jobs that can support a middle-class
include domestic partners. This meant domestic
lifestyle. She notes a growing gap between the
partners could qualify not only for student housing
haves and have-nots in the state. The candidate
but for student insurance and access to facilities
believes “the tax system supports large corporations
the university had previously granted only to
at the expense of average Oregonians who are
married students.
working hard but struggling to make ends meet.”
Kotek’s political goals include making health
Passion for the disadvantaged is what continues
care more accessible and reviewing budget and tax
to drive Kotek. For the past five years, she has
issues to reduce loopholes, including tax breaks
worked as a public policy advocate. She is on leave
that help large businesses at the expense of small
from her job as policy director for Children First for
businesses such as those in her district. For exam
Oregon, a position that has directly involved her as
ple, she points out that of 117,000 children in the
an advocate in the state legislative process. Prior to
state without health care, 70,000 are eligible for
this job, she worked as a public policy advocate for
the Oregon Health Plan, but because of adminis
the Oregon Food Bank.
trative issues and lack of outreach, these kids
In these jobs, she was involved in three regular
aren’t getting the services they deserve. She also
and five special legislative sessions. As the co
MARTY DAVIS
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Tina Kotek approaches politics from an activist's perspective.
notes that adults who lack health insurance have
a direct impact on their children. She predicts,
“Health care will be the No. 1 issue in the next
legislative session.”
Kotek also feels that equal treatment for all cit
izens is an important goal. She would like to see
Oregon pass a nondiscrimination legislation that
includes sexual orientation and gender identity
similar to the bill that recently passed in
Washington. Kotek notes that her district voted no
on Measure 36. She thinks that by being a lesbian
in the Legislature, she can be a “human face”
representing the sexual minorities community. She
notes that state Sen. Kate Brown, D-Portland,
a self-described bisexual, is the only member of the
queer community now in the Legislature.
Kotek describes her district as diverse.
District 44 mostly lies between Interstate 5 and St.
Johns but spills over into Northeast Portland,
including the airport and Hayden Island. Some
residents have spent their lives in the Rose City.
Neighborhoods like St. Johns, Kenton,
Coventry
Cycle f /Works
Interstate and University of Portland have deep
working-class roots. In the past five years, an influx
of newcomers has brought fresh energy, businesses
and ideas to the district. But gentrification has also
contributed to rising housing prices and more
economic pressure for some.
The district has a significant sexual minority
component. Kotek lives in Kenton with her
partner, Aimee, and their dog, Maya.
Even this early in the race, Kotek has already
been endorsed by Brown and former Gov. Barbara
Roberts as well as the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
and Basic Rights Oregon. She has also been
endorsed by County Commissioners Serena Cruz
Walsh and Lisa Naito and state Rep. Carolyn
Tomei, D-Milwaukie. ®
For more information about T1NA KOTEK visit
www. votetina. com.
J ack T urteltaub is a Portland psychotherapist and
free-lance writer.
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