Plan for homelessness sets Kotek apart, OSU professor says
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon State University political science professor Christopher Stout says there's a key difference having Kotek as governor versus another term of Kate Brown.
Stout says although Brown focused on homelessness, it's the largest difference between the two administrations.
That's because he says the pandemic changed homelessness in Oregon, making a strong and long plan necessary.
"Given that it's the focus of individuals in the state and that Kotek ran on this particular issue, that she's going to focus a lot more on this issue than did Kate Brown. Tina Kotek didn't want to be seen as a third term of Kate Brown, and so she wanted to strike a tone of independence that she's different from Kate Brown."
Stout adds it made sense for Kotek set herself apart from Brown because voters wouldn't have likely elected Brown for a another term.
