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Kathleen O'Brien

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Kathleen O'Brien
Image of Kathleen O'Brien

Education

High school

Billings Senior High School

Bachelor's

Oregon State University, 1977

Law

University of Oregon School of Law, 1980

Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Kathleen O'Brien was a 2016 Democratic candidate for District 21 of the Oregon State Senate.[1] O'Brien withdrew before the Democratic primary.

O'Brien was a 2014 Democratic candidate for District 42 of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Biography

O'Brien earned her bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in 1977 and her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1980. Her professional experience includes working as an adoption lawyer at Kathleen O'Brien Attorney at Law since 2007.[2]

Campaign themes

2014

O'Brien's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[3]

Working People

  • Excerpt: "Too many talented people are stuck with low-paying jobs, or need to create their own job, while big corporations seem to get whatever they want from the legislature. It is time for state government to focus more energy on Oregon's local businesses and our wonderful creative communities. We applaud low-footprint heroes!"

Education and Recreation for People

  • Excerpt: "Our children must have the opportunity to learn not just math and science, but also art, music, history, and physical recreation! Our schools will truly succeed only when they are meeting both left-brain and right-brain needs of every child. As your legislator, I’ll be a champion for our kids – ensuring they get access to a quality education."
  • Excerpt: "Successful schools begin with adequate funding – we can’t keep asking teachers to do more with less. I will oppose tax breaks for big corporations that are robbing our schools of needed funds."

Environment/Energy People

  • Excerpt: "I support alternative energy innovation. We need to use the unique resources and values of Oregon to preserve our position as a renewable energy role model for the world."
  • Excerpt: "Let's maximize incentives for solar, wind, and wave power. We need freedom from fossil fuels that poison our air and water and threaten the planet."
  • Excerpt: "I oppose letting Oregon become a supplier to feed Asia’s addiction to fossil fuels. No coal or oil trains through Oregon! No LNG exports that will require new pipelines across our state."

Civil Rights; LGBTQ and Equality

  • Excerpt: "I strongly support fully protecting the civil rights of every citizen, including the freedom to marry and the right to non-discrimination in the provision of services."

Increase Wages/Alleviate Poverty and Addiction

  • Excerpt: "I support the 15 Now campaign to establish a $15 minimum wage. The benefits of higher wages will flow to needed social programs through increased payroll taxes, so those without jobs also benefit. We are a progressive community and must reduce homelessness and serious problems of addiction and distress."

Elections

2016

See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016. Incumbent Diane Rosenbaum (D) did not seek re-election.

Kathleen Taylor defeated James Ofsink and Josh Howard in the Oregon State Senate District 21 general election.[4][5]

Oregon State Senate, District 21 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kathleen Taylor 77.05% 54,520
     Progressive James Ofsink 14.68% 10,390
     Libertarian Josh Howard 8.27% 5,852
Total Votes 70,762
Source: Oregon Secretary of State


Kathleen Taylor defeated John Sweeney in the Oregon State Senate District 21 Democratic primary.[6][7]

Oregon State Senate, District 21 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kathleen Taylor 89.41% 27,686
     Democratic John Sweeney 10.59% 3,278
Total Votes 30,964



2014

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014. Rob Nosse defeated John Sweeney, Kathleen O'Brien, Dan Shaw, Don Gavitte and Teddy Keizer in the Democratic primary. Nosse also ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Bruce Alexander Knight ran as a Libertarian candidate. Nosse defeated Knight in the general election.[8][9][10]

Oregon House of Representatives District 42, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngRob Nosse Incumbent 90.6% 26,321
     Libertarian Bruce A. Knight 8.6% 2,493
     None Miscellaneous 0.8% 225
Total Votes 29,039
Oregon House of Representatives, District 42 Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRob Nosse 49% 5,190
Teddy Keizer 35.5% 3,764
Don Gavitte 7.6% 810
Kathleen O'Brien 6.5% 685
John Sweeney 0.8% 83
Dan Shaw 0.6% 66
Total Votes 10,598

Endorsements

2014

In 2014, O'Brien's endorsements included the following:[11]

  • Hon. Lisa Naito
  • Hon. Tony Van Vliet
  • Bob Van Brocklin
  • Carmen Balas
  • Evelyn Lewis, mother of 10
  • Fred Stewart
  • Bob Joondeph, Executive Director, Disability Rights Oregon
  • Former Oregon Women Lawyers President Helle Rode
  • Former Oregon Women Lawyers President Heather Weigler
  • Former Oregon State Bar President Mark Johnson Roberts

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
O'Brien and her husband have two children.[11]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term "Kathleen + O'Brien + Oregon"

See also

External links

Footnotes


Current members of the Oregon State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Rob Wagner
Majority Leader:Kayse Jama
Minority Leader:Daniel Bonham
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
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District 5
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District 7
District 8
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District 10
District 11
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District 14
District 15
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District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
Mark Meek (D)
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
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Todd Nash (R)
District 30
Democratic Party (18)
Republican Party (12)