Deborah Kafoury runs for county board
Multnomah - The former Oregon House Democratic leader touts her Salem connections
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 ARTHUR GREGG SULZBERGER The Oregonian
Former Oregon House Democratic Leader Deborah Kafoury announced her candidacy Monday for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, touting her legislative experience and progressive politics.
Kafoury served three terms in the Legislature before resigning in 2004 after she moved out of her district. From 2001 until her departure, she served as leader of the House Democrats, then the minority party.
This year, the county board -- home to two former state legislators -- has groused about the lack of support that the county received from Salem. A breakfast that the county hosted last week for local legislators was attended by only three of the 30-member delegation.
"One of the areas I think I can be most helpful is through my legislative experience," Kafoury said. "I have a lot of good relationships with legislative leaders."
Since leaving office, Kafoury has spent her time raising her three young children and volunteering. Kafoury, 40, serves as a board chair for Transition Projects Inc., a nonprofit that runs Portland's homeless shelters.
The name recognition Kafoury brings to the race isn't only her own. Her mother, Gretchen Kafoury, was a longtime political leader who served stints in the state Legislature, the Portland City Council and the county Board of Commissioners. Her father, Steve Kafoury, also served in the Legislature, and a host of other Kafourys are involved in politics.
"Public service is in our blood," she said.
Kafoury said she shares the progressive Democratic politics of current Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey and would continue her work to get money to fix Willamette River bridges as well as focusing on homeless and housing issues and more state money for county programs.
Kafoury said she decided to run for the nonpartisan seat in July when Rojo de Steffey said she wouldn't seek another term. The District 1 seat, which includes the west side of Portland, is one of three vacant slots on the county board attracting a growing number of candidates.
Though Kafoury filed her paperwork last week, she held off on an announcement until Monday as she courted endorsements "to scare off other competitors," she said, half-jokingly.
Her early supporters include County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, Portland City Commissioner Erik Sten, neighborhood activist Amanda Fritz and JoAnn Bowman, executive director of Oregon Action.
The District 1 race already has a declared candidate, Wes Soderback, a retired merchant marine making his third run for the county board.
The primary is in May.
Arthur Sulzberger: 503-221-8330; arthursulzberger @news.oregonian.com
©2007 The Oregonian
