Betsy Johnson, a nonaffiliated candidate for governor, addresses supporters before turning in signatures to qualify for the ballot on Aug. 16, 2022. "I think I am offering at least a middle place to talk about it. Shes tough. She is running as the peoples candidate, though her campaign is largely fueled by some of Oregons richest citizens. Betsy Johnson served in the Oregon House and Senate for more than 20 years, retiring as Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee in 2021 to run for governor as an unaffiliated candidate, loyal only to the people of Oregon. aggravated assault and abusive behavior. When she made the move to Salem, Johnson was already familiar with the political landscape. As a life-long gun owner and gun rights advocate, she believes she is uniquely suited to bring people together to find compromise and practical solutions without having a polarized conversation. Twin Cities R!SE is an innovative anti-poverty organization that provides long-term job training and . Oregon governor candidate Betsy Johnson on the big questions, Unaffiliated Oregon governor candidate Betsy Johnson qualifies for November ballot, In a push to make the November ballot, Betsy Johnson sizes up her audience. I agreed to help Betty and Ernest's parents (I don't remember their names) for two reasons #1: I love cats and #2: they had cable and air . If so (this should be easily enough determinable through Port of St. Helens records) that would mean the bill didnt affect the value of the property being sold. The audience pressed her to address her stance on guns and at one point, Johnson said, "The style of gun doesn't dictate the lethality," which was met with booing from the crowd. At the time, Oregon didnt test for the disease. Betsy herself represented the United States in the world helicopter championships in Vitebsk, USSR in 1978. Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV) in San Jose pointed to scientific research linking elevated blood lead Republican Christine Drazan and Democrat Tina Kotek appear locked in a tight race. Two of the three candidates for Oregon governor this year have turned over their tax returns at WWs request. She has slammed Oregons largest city, Portland, as filthy, crime ridden and too tolerant of homelessness, and said she hears a clarion call by members of the Greater Idaho movement that Oregon is headed in the wrong direction. This website uses cookies. Johnson is "a millionaire with an extensive stock portfolio thanks to family inheritance whose income includes large but unspecified capital gains and dividends" [Portland, OR] - Former state senator and conservative gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson is facing widespread criticism this week for refusing to release her tax returns and hiding potential conflicts of interest that [] - Husband. That move would effectively cede power to Republicans if Democrats maintain control of both legislative chambers. The bill said The Oregon Department of Aviation shall establish a pilot program at up to three rural airports to encourage development of through the fence operations designed to promote economic development by creating family wage jobs, by increasing local tax bases and by increasing financial support for rural airports. Scappoose was later chosen for one of those projects, which would seem to enhance the value of the land around the airport, such as the land Johnson and her husband were selling. Betsy Johnson, an independent candidate for governor of Oregon, wears wildly oversized glasses and campaigns at homey events billed as " Beers With Betsy .". Example video title will go here for this video, PORTLAND, Ore. Over the years, when people would encourage then-Oregon state Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose to run for governor, she says her comeback line was always, "I'd rather throw myself in a wood chipper.". Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Betsy Johnson (Democratic Party) was a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing District 16.She assumed office in 2007. Solomon notes that neither the Drazans nor Kotek and Wilson reported any significant investment income, relying almost entirely on their paychecks. Boyle pointed to the example of the never-used Wapato Jail. In the past, the National Rifle Association gave her an "A" rating. (The deal closed early in 2005, so it should have shown up on forms in 2006.). They would not be easily spun. on this issue, He points to evidence from multiple levels international, national, state, city, Her father, the late Sam Johnson, was a member of the House of Representatives from Redmond. There has been one major exception, of course: Candidate and then President Donald Trump refused to turn over his tax returns in 2016 and again in 2020. The senator used her seat on the budget-writing committee in Salem to carve out the money needed to pay for the testing and sent it to the Oregon Health Authority. When asked what grade the NRA might give her now with her new positions on gun control, Johnson said she doesn't care. "Her donation list reads like a whos who of Oregons wealthy families; $250,000 from the Pape Group, $125,000 from Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle and money from the shipping company Sause Bros. And Johnson did formally declare a conflict of interest when voting on the bill. Afterwards he served as mayor of Redmond on the eastern side of the Cascades and died in office in 1984. While Betsy has given up her party affiliation, her bedrock values have not changed. She doesnt believe Oregon would elect a governor who opposes abortion access. Betsy Johnson & Tina Kotek doubled Oregon's state budget in 10 years from $57.7 billion in 2011 to $112.8 billion in 2021 as the chair of Ways & Means and Speaker of the House (Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office). Betsey Johnson's Betsey: A Memoir. The current status quo of the majority in Salem telling the rest of Oregon how they are going to live their lives or how they are going to run their business is unacceptable, Johnson said. As governor, I expect to start with the top (with agency heads) and to set a tone of serve the customer.. The core support for Betsy Johnson, the unaffiliated candidate for governor in the election, was almost surely a lot different six months ago than it was when the ballots were cast. Tracy Honl, Oregon Republican Party National Committeewoman. This week she also picked up an endorsement from former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Who knew in August 2006 when I agreed to cat sit for my partner's co-worker's two cats that my TV-watching and diva- stalking life would be changed forever. Discover Betsy Johnson's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "The past week alone has shown that Betsy Johnson's rhetoric and record will crumble under the weight and scrutiny of the general election. Betsy Johnson's Oregon Campaign Donations. And the ten shootings over the Memorial Day weekend. Political maverick. His real estate company gave her campaign $100,000 earlier this month." There was another reason: Those developments were of long standing. In a new ad, Democrats attack independent Betsy Johnson over her support for gun rights. We . Johnson sat alone at a table in the middle of the room, only rarely glancing at a notepad as, for 20 minutes or so, she ran through the history of the property and her familys involvement with it. As a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Betsy brings to Vigilant an extensive and diverse knowledge of accountancy. Johnson is a gun owner and vocal gun rights advocate. Montgomery said she understands that Johnson came up in a time when men dominated state politics. I paid virtually no attention to her, she said. She has deep connections, long friendships and understands the politics and the dynamics in the building better than most. Editors note: This is part of our series profiling the three major candidates for governor, Republican Christine Drazan, Democrat Tina Kotek and unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson. On the other side of the debate, Rep. Brian Clem, a Democrat from Salem, was trying to help the Lundgrens by pushing legislation to help them develop elsewhere. And I think competence is important here, said former state Sen. Mark Haas, a Beaverton Democrat who is supporting Johnson. Rachel Armitage was selected to fill Oregon's open Senate District 16 seat. As noted earlier, this isnt intended to be exculpatory, particularly; we dont think we have enough information to settle on many conclusions. Aaron Hanlon, 2018, The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. . Betsy Johnson, who is running as an independent candidate for Oregon governor, is pictured outside her campaign office in downtown Portland earlier this month. If we look at todays elected officials in our state, they are not leading on the topics that people want action on. In a statement Thursday, she called the news a momentous day for Oregon.. facility. Oregon Sen. Johnson's Aviation Business Emits Toxic Pollutants Linked to Increased Crime. lock up all the kids who have turned into criminals.". 2022 by Howie Klein. All rights reserved (About Us). On the eve of one of Oregon's most consequential elections in decades, the people have shown the Bet-Signal on the State Capitol. Paul Gronke, a professor of political science at Reed College, says such transparency has been the standard for at least 50 years. Betsy Johnson served in the Oregon House and Senate for more than 20 years, retiring as Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee in 2021 to run for governor as an unaffiliated candidate, loyal only to the people of Oregon. Johnson simply didnt see the issue, telling Montgomery at the time that unless Kruse threw her down in the hallway and made passionate love to her, nobody would care. "It wasn't TEDx. 2022 by Howie Klein. Tim Boyle, the CEO of Columbia Sportswear and a Johnson supporter, said he is backing Johnson in part because shes decisive. Johnson and her husband are gun collectors and own a machine gun, an automatic firearm. I knew Betsy wasnt a big fan, but to actively go after us was pretty mean spirited.. Its disappointing to hear that Betsy Johnson is unwilling to release her returns, he says. poor academic achievement, abnormal psychology and behavior in adolescence, and higher incidence of "Oregon cannot succeed if Portland fails, and Portland right now by every measure is failing," Johnson said. It's not the wood chipper, but Johnson has thrown herself into the ring in the three-way race for Oregon governor. If elected, she said she would not sign any major bill or budget into law without bipartisan support. our thanks to Pamplin Media and the News Times for printing it. The project came with plenty of controversy, from those that worried that it was costly to operate and had too many barriers for entry. Johnson wouldn't commit to supporting a ban on semi-automatic weapons or a ban on high capacity magazines, but said she was open to having a discussion. Her father encouraged both Johnson and her sister to fly, and she learned to do so at an early age. Local politicians struggled for years to figure out what to do with the empty jail, which was built in 2003. She was previously married to Jeffrey Oliviere from 1981 to 1984, and to John Cale, Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter, and record producer from 1968 to1969. The more serious issue has to do with Senate Bill 680, which Johnson proposed (she was the only named sponsor) and which had to do with rural airports. she's not yet fully qualified to be on the ballot. ", Drum further states "We can either get rid of the remaining lead, or we can wait 20 years and then at societal and political factors that contribute to criminal behavior and then look at the extent Vallas, who took 35% of the vote, and Johnson, who obtained 20.2% of the vote, will head to an April 4 runoff . Plus, Prusak had several health care bills she cared a lot about in Johnsons committee. Gov. Problem with that analysis is that Johnson said, and no one in the local crowd contradicted her the Scappoose airport already had, for many years, an established through the fence policy had reinstated it specifically twice this decade, and had it in place before that so that the new state would would not affect business practices there. SALEM - The plane banked high above Central Oregon's Metolius River, giving state Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, a sweeping view of the winding blue ribbon below and the green patchwork Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Republican Christine Drazans anti-abortion stance is too far right, she says, while Democrat Tina Kotek is too soft on homeless people camping on public property. PORTLAND, Ore. Over the years, when people would encourage then-Oregon state Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose to run for governor, she says her comeback line . September 8, 2022 | General, Oregon, RGA News. She left office on December 15, 2021. What this suggests is that if Johnson is truly committed to addressing violent crime, she can start . On a more recent sunny Saturday, Johnson made the rounds at an ice cream social held in her honor at a park in St. Helens, Oregon. Johnson also reported receiving a $100,000 campaign contribution from Columbia Sportswear CEO Timothy Boyle and a $125,000 donation from Schnitzer Properties LLC in the past few weeks, two of more than a dozen six-figure individual donations she has racked up so far. That meant she didn't go through the primary process; instead, her campaign must collect close to 24,000 signatures by the end of August to get on the November ballot. She said she'd prioritize measurable outcomes, accountability and a trauma-informed, data driven system. Global, which has an oil terminal in Johnsons former Senate district, has given her campaign $160,000. She is doing a good enough job destroying her . Theres too much complexity in this case to reach a snap conclusion. But as soon as Montgomery was pulled in to the #metoo reckoning that rocked the state Capitol in 2019, Montgomery said Johnsons support disappeared. Administration and State Department of Aviation handouts while ignoring environmental impacts. RELATED: A 'potential' candidate? She made that filing only after the Oregonian brought it to her attention, and on that she admits I am culpable. A proposed Oregon bill would provide the deep blue state's homeless population $1,000 per month that recipients could use at their own discretion. The first month testing was available, a newborn tested positive. She sat on a variety of boards, including the Port of St. Helens board. Polling has suggested she could siphon more votes from the Democratic candidate, Kotek, potentially putting a Republican in the governors mansion for the first time since the 1980s. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. It concerned through the fence business that is, allowing businesses to move planes through the security fences so as to use them more easily for commerce. Johnsons dispute with the Lundgrens goes back years. Search and browse yearbooks online! Beware: Wealthy Families Conservative Shill Betsy Johnson Is Running For Oregon Governor, A clear special interests candidate, she's. Drazans shows that she and her husband own a beach house in Lincoln County but nothing else. Betsy has described herself as an equal opportunity pisser-offer. In her 2018 re-election, Betsy not only earned the Democratic Party nomination, but also the Republican and Independent Party nominations through write-in votes. At the time, Montgomery thought she would finish law school and work in the state Capitol as a policy researcher. In addition to serving in the legislature, Betsy has served on the boards of numerous local, regional, and national organizations, including the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Foundation, Doernbecher Childrens Hospital, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) Foundation, and the High Desert Museum in Bend. exploited and exposed to lead, noise, and other toxins as a result of the aircraft fueling up and One of his two daughters, Betsy Johnson, inherited his . Actual Democrats struggle to get even a third of the vote there but Johnson, who is anything but a real Democrat, won with 62%. Her father, the late Sam Johnson, was a member of the House of Representatives from Redmond. Given Johnson's history of being a major polluter, it should come as no surprise that her voting Her parents gave their property at the headwaters of the Metolius to the United States Forest Service. She has been married thrice. Updated: Sep 30, 2022 / 06:12 AM PDT. As Oregon continues to contend with the pandemic, health care workforce shortages, and the impending loss of Oregon Health Plan coverage for hundreds of thousands of people, the state's next governor will have no shortage of health care crises to tackle. Photo credit: Kaylee Domzalski, OPB. She's drawing . 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Her bill died. Email: Contact@betsyjohnson.info. aviation activity at the Scappoose Airpark and other Oregon airports. especially the flight students, many from Hillsboro Aero Academy, engaged in training at this The Drazans did not provide the schedules to the returns that would show itemized deductions, but Solomon says the amount they claimed was normal. And Tulsa. Her father, the late Sam Johnson, was a member of the House of Representatives from Redmond. She believes only Oregonians - not the broken political parties - can rescue our state from the failures of Kate Brown, Ted Wheeler and Tina Kotek. In September 1993, Betsy was selected as Manager of the Aeronautics Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation, a position she held until her resignation in September 1998. When asked about Montgomery, Johnsons was indifferent. She likes to see herself as standing up for the little guy, as we all should, Dembrow said. campaign to date is a Massachusetts-based petroleum corporation, Global Companies, which gave Willamette Week article, the second largest contributor to Senator Johnson's gubernatorial Betsy Johnson, an unaffiliated candidate for governor, addresses supporters before turning in signatures to qualify for the ballot in August 2022. [2] Her mother, Becky Johnson, has served on numerous State Boards, including the State Board of Higher Education and the Teachers Standards and . Info. The third, former state Sen. Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose), who is running unaffiliated with any party, declined to do so. State Sen. Betsy Johnson, of Warren, announced Thursday on her Facebook page that she is running for Oregon Governor, "as an independent leader unaffiliated with any party and loyal only . Theres nothing unusual or surprising in either of the returns, Solomon says. Prior to her tenure in the state legislature she served on the Port of St. Helens board and worked in . Then she paused. We don't have a system. Both of her parents were civically engaged; her father was a lawmaker and also served as the mayor of Redmond. We watched the talk shows, we read the paper, had breakfast, did domestic stuff like put the laundry in, she said of her life before she resigned from the Legislature to run for governor. As a life-long gun owner and gun rights advocate, Johnson calls herself uniquely qualified to help find a compromise on gun control. Only she said it in a more colorful, Johnson-esque style: They must have a picture of Brian with a goat, Prusak recalls Johnson telling her. Three of themBoeing, Global Partners (an oil transportation company) and Weyerhaeuserhave extensive operations in the state. No bill necessary. The land deal was seemingly unrelated to what was happening with Camp Sherman, but it came at the same time and contributed to more unflattering media coverage of Johnson, then a state senator. Betsy Johnson (Illustration by Mick Hangland-Skill / Photo by Danny Fulgencio). She told me all the reasons I should oppose this bill, Prusak said. The decisions he might make in office could affect his wealth.. She also is known for doing a cartwheel ending in a split at the end of her fashion shows. Unaffiliated candidate for governor Betsy Johnson talks with bar and restaurant owners about issues they have faced in downtown Portland, Oct. 17, 2022. I see the definition of a legislator as an advocate. (Koteks SEI contains no information not on her tax returns. A simple newborn screening could detect the disease and allow medical professionals to treat a child before they are symptomatic. She grew up around the figures who loom large in Oregons history books. Her familys actual profit, she indicated, was somewhere south of $50,000, less than half what the headlines indicate. One agency in particular the timber heiress was known to battle: the Department of Environmental Quality. Sen. Michael Dembrow, a Portland Democrat, served with Johnson in the Senate for years and said she has a hard time listening. Betsy believes that whether you are voting for governor or running for governor, you continue to have a constitutional right to privacy, which most people value.. Thus if Johnson truly wants to reduce crime, she could begin by decreasing fossil-fuel burning We'll send you a newsletter with what you need to know every week. Johnson and her husband, John Helm, have been in business at the Scappoose area and nearby for a long time, for a quarter-century and more, much of it involved with the airport. That form shows Johnson's husband has ownership stake in five different companies, and that she has trusts and a large investment portfolio of stocks - and some of them have . Betsy Johnson Declines. At this point in the crisis, he said, any solution should be welcome. who was a Democrat . Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Betsy JohnsonDemocrats in Oregon have long enjoyed party dominance and an absence of viable opposition. Oregon gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson at her campaign office in Portland, June 28, 2022 (KOIN) Oregon gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson at her campaign office in Portland, June 28, 2022 . At one point, Montgomery went to see Johnson. ( KGW) Oregon Gov. Their joint gross income was considerably higher, averaging $375,325 a year for the past three years. "We are in the process of setting up what we call Betsy Brigades all over the state. Johnson's campaign hasn't been all smooth sailing. A licensed commercial pilot of both fixed and rotor-wing aircraft, she founded Transwestern Helicopters, Inc., in 1978. Betsy Johnson's campaign to run for governor in 2022 without any party affiliation flexed its fundraising muscle on Thursday, filing a state report that it has $2.3 million on hand for the 2022 race. Independent gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson waves to crowds at the Pendleton Round-Up in September 2022. Our state Legislature played an aggressive role in defunding DEQ and that was under her leadership as Ways and Means co-chair, Peveto said. The former Democratic state senator has been barnstorming the state in her nonaffiliated bid for Oregon governor and has a sales pitch for every crowd. Johnson fought the development; it would have dramatically changed the area where she still owns a home and more than 100 acres along the Metolius River. Anne Montgomery was a law student when she worked in Kruses office. We've got petitions out in people's hands right now. "I just couldn't do it anymore. Citovic went to Salem and fought to add spinal muscular atrophy to a list of required newborn screenings. Johnson was a guest on this week's episode of "Straight Talk" to discuss why she's running for governor and her position on issues important to Oregonians, including gun safety measures. Although Johnson's campaign has been running ads for months, she's not yet fully qualified to be on the ballot. Johnson vehemently opposed a 2019 bill that would have curbed carbon emissions through a cap and trade system. Sen. Johnson and her husband, John Helm own Transwestern Aviation, a company based at the Scappoose Airpark in Columbia County. She has been married to Brian Reynolds since 1997. Nov 02, 2022 03:30pm. Sam Johnson was a wealthy conservative Republican politician from central Oregon, who served 7 terms in the state legislature, representing Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties. The signature gathering started June 1.