Three experienced Republicans are challenging long-time Democrats for the open statewide offices of Oregon secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer. These positions have no incumbent running for reelection.
Attorney General: Will Lathrop
Will Lathrop is an experienced prosecutor running against former Oregon Speaker of the House Dan Rayfield. Lathrop responded to the following questions posed by the Oregon Eagle.
1. How can electing a Republican AG rather than another Democrat help balance things in Salem and make Oregon a better place to live?
“Oregonians are most concerned about crime, drug trafficking and public safety. These are non-partisan issues. My leadership will focus on problem-solving and enforcing Oregon’s laws to keep our communities safe.
As attorney general, I am going to protect children from abuse, combat drug trafficking and crime, and curb public corruption in Oregon. We can’t keep electing the same politicians and expect different results. I am confident that together, we can fix this.”
2. Why should voters elect Will Lathrop rather than Dan Rayfield as Oregon’s next attorney general?
“I’m a public servant, an experienced prosecutor and a victims advocate – not a politician.
“As child sex-abuse prosecutor for nine years, I served as a deputy district attorney in Yamhill County and in Marion County’s Special Victims Unit. I prosecuted homicides, domestic violence, human trafficking and drug trafficking cases, but focused on protecting children from sexual abuse and holding pedophiles accountable.
“I was then recruited to the National District Attorneys Association to modernize law enforcement practices to protect crime victims across the nation.
“In 2014, I joined a global human rights organization in Uganda to protect widows and orphans from violence. I then was promoted to lead the West Africa anti-human trafficking operation in Ghana where I led a large multinational team to rescue children from forced labor and prosecute child traffickers.
“With local, national and international law enforcement experience, I am uniquely qualified to lead our Department of Justice.”
The Oregon Eagle did not receive a response from Dan Rayfield.
Secretary of State: Dennis Linthicum
Dennis Linthicum has been an Oregon state senator for eight years. He is running against Oregon Treasurer Tobias Reed. Linthicum responded to the following questions posed by the Oregon Eagle.
1. How can electing a Republican secretary of state rather than another Democrat help balance things in Salem and make Oregon a better place to live?
“The prevailing single-sided perspective within the halls of government has created many of the problems facing Oregonians – housing, crime, drug, alcohol abuse and inflation. Without alternative views, without competition or innovation, the public has been shuttled into an era where big-media control and marketing carries more weight than truth or common sense.
“Oregon deserves an independent and thoughtful individual when it comes to its chief auditor, chief elections officer and land-use board member. The Secretary of State office can fulfill these obligations only if it remains independent of the prevailing single-party mindset that has tarnished the office under the current administration.
“Transparency and genuine empathy for divergent perspectives is missing. The office seems to prioritize the majority party’s narrative over its fiduciary responsibility. This has caused the public’s perception and trust in the electoral process to be severely degraded. I will diligently work to repair this image while focusing on the integrity of our free, easily accessible and fair electoral processes.”
2. Why should voters elect Dennis Linthicum rather than Tobias Read as Oregon’s next secretary of state?
“I respectfully request your vote because I have the management and technical skills, combined with an analytical skepticism which is required to strengthen the Secretary of State’s office without harming the constitutional safeguards which protect the public from a wayward bureaucratic empire.
“Meanwhile, my opponent is a card-carrying majority-party bureaucrat. He would likely allow the prevailing weaponization of elections, land-use policy and sustainability regimes against all Oregonians.
“Additionally, any person which expresses their concerns, grievances, or free-speech which is contrary to the administration’s actions or policy directions will be censored and surveilled under MDM rules. MDM is Mis-, Dis- and Mal-information, which is a capricious and arbitrary categorization of words deemed “good or bad.” Personal records of private citizens who have used “bad words” will be forwarded to the FBI for further investigations. By continuing this clear and unconstitutional censorship, my opponent would strip the ordinary citizen of his guaranteed civil and human liberties.”
The Oregon Eagle did not receive a response from Tobias Reed.
Treasurer: Brian Boquist
State Sen. Brian Boquist currently serves as the vice-chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Finance and Revenue. He is running against Democrat state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner who has served on Senate budget committees for 12 years, including six as the Senate co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee. According to the Oregon 2023-25 Budget Highlights report, “… the total funds budget grew at an average rate of 19.2% [per year] between 2013-15 and 2021-23.”
Brian Boquist responded to the following questions posed by the Oregon Eagle.
1. How can electing a Republican treasurer rather than another Democrat help balance things in Salem and make Oregon a better place to live?
“A Republican treasurer will open the books so we can use hidden reserve funds to balance the budget. A Republican treasurer will direct deposits to Oregon credit unions and banks to set up collateral for inexpensive new home loans.
A Republican treasurer will invest in Oregon bonds for infrastructure and road bonds to save interest. A Republican Treasurer will take actions on the Oregon Land Board to protect Oregon businesses and families.”
2. Why should voters elect Brian Boquist rather than Elizabeth Steiner as Oregon’s next treasurer?
“Steiner promises status quo of the same five decades of Democrat control that has grown state government five-plus fold while Oregonians suffer and cannot pay rent, mortgages, utilities, groceries, etc. Are you better off now than last year?
“Steiner, from 2013 to 2023 as a Ways and Means Committee member and co-chair, grew Oregon’s budget from $60 billion to $125 billion. Did your salary double in the past 10 years?”
The Oregon Eagle did not receive a response from Elizabeth Steiner.
Source: Oregon 2023-25 Budget Highlights, page 10.
Richard Emmons is the Publisher and Editor of the Oregon Eagle.
Note: This article originally appeared in the October-November 2024 Oregon Eagle. This article may be republished online or in print provided full attribution is given.