November 2022 Candidates: Governor

Listed below are candidates for Governor of Oregon who will be on voters’ ballots in the 2022 General Election. All the candidates were asked the same questions and given the same opportunities to provide information about themselves.

Most of this information is copied from the VOTE411 website of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Candidates have until Election Day to add their information to this website. Another way to easily compare  candidates running for the same position is to visit VOTE411.org.

Candidates for Oregon Governor– Candidate Information

Christine Drazan, Republican

Christine Drazan has not answered the questions on Vote411.org yet. However, she and three other gubernatorial candidates submitted information for the Oregon Voter’s Pamphlet. Their information is printed on pages 34 and 35. The information below is copied from the Voters’ Pamphlet.

    • Web Site: www.christinefororegon.com
    • Experience/Qualifications Occupation: Former State Representative; Oregon Cultural Advocacy Coalition; Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association; Clackamas County Planning Commission; Canby School District 
Betsy Johnson, Nonaffiliated
Tina Kotek, Democrat, Working Families
R. Leon Noble, Libertarian
    • Web Site: http://setOregonfree.com
    • Town: Newport
    • Experience/Qualifications: I am an Entrepreneur who operates several companies in Oregon ranging from Transportation and Logistics, to producing events, to welding and fabrication. I have been part of building bridges and roads, farming, timber, tech, industry, and concerts, often working for others. Equivalent descriptions range from President and CEO, to management, to grunt. My experience with government is long and diverse from being a citizen navigating the system, to running for office, to being a local volunteer,
    • Facebook: http://facebook.com/NobleforOregon
    • Campaign Twitter Handle: @Noble4ORGov2022
Donice Noelle Smith, Constitution
    • Campaign Phone (public): 541-530-4718
    • Web Site: http://donicesmithfororegon.com
    • Town: Douglas County
    • Experience/Qualifications: 35 years in Armed Forces. Medical/EMT/Nurse International Radio/Host/Broadcaster- Journalist/Author/ Instructor/teaching

Candidates’ Answers to LWV Questions

1.What are the three most pressing issues you see facing Oregon, and how would you prioritize and address them in the 2023 budget?

Christine Drazan: Candidate has not yet responded.

Betsy Johnson: Our biggest problem is political extremism leading to dysfunction in the ability of government and its leaders to lead and solve problems like homelessness. The first step is to elect an independent governor loyal only to the people. I’ll demand bipartisan support for budgets, legislation, and appointments. I’ll lead with the best ideas from both parties. More voices will be heard, no matter your politics or zip code. The state budget will reflect this governing and leadership philosophy.

Tina Kotek: Oregon is facing major challenges. I’ll be a force for positive change and deliver results. As Governor, I will: take on our homelessness crisis by increasing street outreach teams, expanding managed shelters, improving access to mental health services, and building more housing; deliver on our promise to expand access to addiction treatment and recovery services statewide; and fight climate change and create good-paying jobs in clean energy.

R Leon Noble: Our budget has become ridiculously large and fails to return the investment the people have given into it. I intend to cut the budget to the bare minimum and make each department systematically justify every single penny and asset. Restoring the people is the first and last step to a free society. This means reducing the taxation load on the public so that they can drive the economic growth of the State, which is defined in Article I, Section 1 of our State Constitution as the people.
Donice Noelle Smith: Inflation/Cost of Gas and Food/medications Assure there is not price gouging at the Pump- This is affecting Transportation and Food Prices. We should be paying what was contracted (For one year) months ago. Election Integrity and Lack of: We need to get back to One Day Elections- We believe that mail in voting is where our problems began. One person, With ID and One ballot. Only under special circumstances for Mail In voting. We need to be as a State FULLY in charge of our Natural Resources

2. What should be the state’s role in addressing women’s right to privacy in reproductive health decisions?

Christine Drazan: Candidate has not yet responded.

Betsy Johnson: I am pro-choice – it is a bedrock value for me and for Oregon. As Oregon’s independent governor, I will make sure Oregon remains a pro-choice state and I will oppose efforts to weaken state laws regarding access to reproductive health care services for all Oregon women.
Tina Kotek: Reproductive freedom is under attack in every state. As Governor, I will defend and expand access to reproductive health care. I am the only candidate that Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon trusts to defend your right to make your own health decisions. In contrast, voters should know that Christine Drazan sponsored bills that would have created new criminal liability for doctors who perform abortions and Betsy Johnson voted against helping patients keep their reproductive health choices private.
R Leon Noble: Any government that would tell a person what they can do with their bodies fails to meet the basic roles of government: to protect the rights of the people. There should be no government interest in anything that remotely infringes on the individual rights to privacy and bodily autonomy. Reproductive health decisions should be between the patients and their healthcare providers. Government has no place regulating people’s bodies.
Donice Noelle Smith: The Federal Government needs to stay out of it. The State should be involved in providing privacy when it comes to Using Birth control methods; but not in the state of Oregon having Taxpayers being forced to pay for abortions; & especially out of state/ non Oregonians being provided hotels,(housing), Abortions, childcare and other Miscel

3. What is your philosophy on the use of executive orders?

Christine Drazan: Candidate has not yet responded.

Betsy Johnson: The governor’s executive order authority should focus on responding to crises and acting in a timely way in concert with legislative intent, not to thwart it. Executive orders should be used with humility. The abuse of executive orders breeds division and distrust. I believe Governor Brown has abused her authority and Oregon is more divided as a result. As governor, I will seek bipartisan support for legislation, budgets and appointments – bringing people together rather than pushing them apart.
Tina Kotek: I will use every tool available to tackle our biggest challenges, including our homelessness crisis, gun violence epidemic, and threats to our environment. I will work with legislators on policy changes, set a clear vision with my budget proposals, and use executive orders strategically to get things done. For example, I intend to issue an executive order to increase the pace and scale of housing production statewide, with a focus on financing housing that’s affordable for middle class families.
R Leon Noble: Executive orders have been misused. While I am not familiar with all the orders that have been issued, I only know of one that has been properly used in the past 30 years: the moratorium on capital punishment and I would still work towards codifying that in our laws. Government should not be in the business of killing people. Regardless, the Governor is the executive of the state. That role is to operate the functions of the state government, not legislate from the backfield.
Donice Noelle Smith: I believe that Governors and others using executive orders has been abused and misused. Especially for NON emergency issues that were corporate (or financially lucrative) or politically motivated. It must be a Major state emergency(like a Cascadia event)/Tidal wave, earthquake….or other natural disaster.