Election 2022: Patterson, Moore-Green compete for Oregon Senate District 10

Two experienced local legislators will face each other in the race to represent Oregon Senate District 10 in the November election.

Sen. Deb Patterson, D-Salem, and Rep. Raquel Moore-Green, R-Salem, both feel they have the experience, knowledge and passion to best serve Senate District 10, which includes parts of Salem, Monmouth and Independence.

If re-elected, incumbent Patterson — who joined the Senate via special election in 2020 — said she will focus on affordable healthcare, funding and support for K-12 schools and higher education, and investments in housing and wrap-around services for those who are homeless or housing insecure.

Support for local businesses, climate action, reproductive rights and "common sense gun laws" are also among her priorities.

Challenger Moore-Green said she wants to "bring balance to the Senate," as well as ensure legislation that will improve educational standards, support law enforcement and reduce the tax and regulation burdens on local businesses.

Government accountability, affordable healthcare and protecting small and private farms, fisheries and dairies from continued regulation are also among her priorities.

Patterson draws on her background

Patterson, 66, is an ordained clergywoman in the United Church of Christ, currently serving a rural congregational church in the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Prior to her return to active ministry, she was the executive director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center, according to her legislative biography. She has also served on a variety of governing boards for health and human service organizations, including hospitals, transitional housing, residential care and community-based services.

Patterson holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music, a Master of Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and master's and doctoral degrees from Eden Theological Seminary, according to her bio.

She is married and is the mother of two young adults.

Patterson is largely running on her personal and professional experiences and success as a senator. Her background in healthcare is also a large part of her campaign.

Having directed an international health organization for over a decade, Patterson said, she has seen first-hand how other countries provide lower-cost, quality care to all. So, when former-President Donald Trump started rolling back protections for the Affordable Care Act, that's when Patterson decided to run for state Senate.

"I felt it was really important that we have elected officials representing us who wanted to fight for affordable, quality healthcare and the other things that are needed ... when you strive to have an equitable society," she said.

During her time in the Oregon Senate, Patterson, among other things, sponsored legislation that put in transparency measures and staffing ratios for long-term care workers. She also helped lead Senate Bill 844, which put together a pharmaceutical drug affordability review board.

"Big Pharma spent $2 million to try to kill that bill," she said. "And as a freshman Senator, getting that across the finish line was huge."

Patterson also supported historic investments in K-12 education and legislation to lower class sizes.

"We must do more to give our children a head start, to support strong community schools that respect and reflect the diversity of Oregon and to make college and vocational training more accessible for everyone," she said.

Patterson said she's supported legislative funding for homeless resources, mental health services and affordable housing.

"Homelessness and housing insecurity are often a vicious cycle and so having these wrap-around services is critical to keeping folks off the streets," she said.

Patterson has focused on small businesses in her campaign as well, saying she envisions a future where "each working person can join a union and where critical services like child care, housing, long-term care, and a secure retirement are affordable." She's supported legislation to bring Oregon to 100% clean energy by 2030, she said, and she supported legislation that invested in wildfire prevention and protection.

Patterson said she supports investments into public transportation, access to gender-affirming care, birth control and abortion, and what she describes as "common sense gun safety laws," such as universal background checks and safe storage laws.

On your ballot: Read more about the candidates and measures on your ballot

Patterson has some legislative concepts already prepared for the upcoming session, which include investments in the public health workforce, removing barriers for people in homeless shelters with pets or service animals, insurance coverage requirements for invitro fertilization and additional PERS access for eligible police and fire retirees.

Among others, Patterson has been endorsed by AFT-Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, Moms Demand Action, the Oregon Education Association, PCUN and the Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon.

Patterson's campaign in 2022 has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in combined cash donations from the Cigna Corp Employee PAC, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, SSF, UnitedHealth Group PAC, the United Food and Commercial Workers Int'l Union AFL-CIO FED and other out-of-state contributors.

According to 2022 campaign filing records with the Oregon Secretary of State, Patterson's campaign reported about $656,118 in contributions and $606,759 in expenditures, as of Oct. 14. Friends of Deb Patterson has a balance of $97,150 from the previous year.

Moore-Green seeks balance

Moore-Green, 67, has served in the Oregon House of Representatives for three years now, representing Salem's House District 19.

Similar to Patterson, she had a less traditional path to office. Moore-Green was first appointed to the role in 2019 and was then elected in 2020.

"As the first Republican of direct Puerto Rican heritage to be elected to the Oregon State House of Representatives, I am uniquely positioned to navigate multiple traditions, customs and approaches to the many issues currently facing all Oregonians," she states in her biography.

Moore-Green participates in and supports many aspects of the local community, she said, including the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Business Alliance, Union Gospel Mission and the Salem Police Foundation. She previously volunteered with the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, which has since dissolved, serving as the volunteer coordinator for the annual fun run Awesome 3000 for six years.

Born and raised in California, Moore-Green has lived in Salem for nearly 30 years with her husband. They have three children and 13 grandchildren.

Moore-Green sees the move from the House of Representatives as an "opportunity to restore balance" to the Senate.

"The effect of a lopsided House and Senate over the last several years has resulted in lower educational standards for our children, a rise in crime, and both small and large businesses struggling," she said.

The Bring Balance to Salem PAC gave Moore-Green's campaign a $166,000 cash contribution and a $107,100 in-kind contribution this month.

The new political action committee is largely funded by timber and construction groups. Nike founder Phil Knight is the largest contributor to the PAC, according to campaign filing records, having given two $1 million cash contributions in 2022.

Moore-Green participated in 2020 when Republicans walked out of the Oregon Capitol to block the passage of a greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill. In a debate at the Salem City Club, Moore-Green defended the action.

"Every tool that we have in our tool belt should be used," she said. "There were 1000s upon 1000s upon 1000s ... of Oregonians who wanted to vote on cap-and-trade. They were not given that opportunity."

Among other things, Moore-Green is advocating for additional funding for law enforcement officers, as well as support for services that address mental health issues, alcohol abuse and drug addiction, and provide job skill training. And she wants to protect small and private farms, fisheries and dairies from continued regulation.

Regarding education, Moore-Green argued Oregon's recent lower graduation standards fail to equip students for the real world.

Senate Bill 744 in 2021, in part, directed Oregon's education department to review existing requirements for earning each of the state's diplomas and alternative certificates. It also temporarily suspended the requirement for students to demonstrate proficiency in the state's nine "Essential Skills," which include the ability to read and comprehend a variety of texts, write clearly and accurately, and apply mathematics in a variety of settings.

Moore-Green voted against the Senate bill; Patterson voted in favor of it.

Findings from the Oregon Department of Education's review were published in a report this September.

It's not yet known if the findings will lead to the state changing its graduation requirements. But they do point to inequities in Oregon's current system and assert Oregon’s high school diploma credit requirements are among the most demanding in the country.

Though Oregon's numbers have generally risen over the years — and graduation rates serve as only one data point for understanding student success — the state historically ranks in the bottom five in the nation.

"We need comprehensive education that's rigorous, transparent, and inclusive of parental input," Moore-Green said.

Concerning climate change, Moore-Green is aware of the push for zero-emission initiatives. But she wants to make sure the state is "going green" in a coordinated manner that pays attention to cost.

"Everybody's utility bills are going up," she said to the Statesman Journal. "So, how can we do that in a cost-effective manner? How can we do that so, if there are jobs to be created, they're Oregon jobs?"

In terms of legislative concepts being prepared for 2023, Moore-Green pointed to her plans to reintroduce House Bill 2179 from the 2021 session. "As Oregon moves forward with infrastructure for electric vehicles," she said, "we need to make available rebates for farm tractors and farm equipment and other heavy-duty vehicles."

Among others, Moore-Green has been endorsed by the Jackie Winters Leadership PAC, the Oregon Farm Bureau, Sheriffs of Oregon and the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce.

Friends of Raquel Moore-Green in 2022 has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in combined cash donations from the Johnson & Johnson Corporate Political Fund, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, Astellas Pharma US, Inc., the PNW Pharma PAC, Koch Industries, Inc. and other out-of-state contributors.

According to 2022 campaign filing records with the Oregon Secretary of State, Moore-Green's campaign reported about $1,261,833 in contributions and $1,115,611 in expenditures, as of Oct. 14. Friends of Raquel Moore-Green has a balance of about $172,837 from the previous year.

Natalie Pate covers education for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at npate@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6745. Follow her on Twitter @NataliePateGwin.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Election 2022: Patterson, Moore-Green compete for Senate District 10