2015's Notable Leaders
Scores only tell part of the story, especially this year. We give these awards to the legislators who vote the right way AND take a leadership role when it comes to protecting our environment.
Environmental Champion of the Year
Rep. Peter Buckley (D-Ashland)
This award often goes to the chair of a natural resources committee. We made an exception for this passionate advocate for wilderness, wildlife, and climate action. For the last decade, Rep. Buckley has been a strong, steadfast voice for our natural legacy, whether it’s on the floor of the House, as Ways and Means Co-Chair, or behind closed doors. Rep. Buckley brings both a quick mind and a full heart to his work at the Capitol; his ability to inspire other legislators to do the same makes him a true environmental champion.
Dynamic Duo
To say that removing the sunset on the Clean Fuels Program was tough is an understatement. Both new to chairing the energy committees in their chambers, Sen. Edwards and Rep. Vega Pederson got up to speed – and fast – on dense policy caught up in a years-long battle. Both became powerful voices of truth against oil industry misinformation. Both were also leaders on other issues – Edwards on the Toxic-Free Kids Act and Vega Pederson on clean air.
Perseverance Award
Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer (D-Portland)
For four years, Rep. Keny-Guyer did more than just sponsor the Toxic-Free Kids Act. She studied and refined the policy. She brought together coalition members. She lobbied other legislators. She went toe-to-toe with the chemical industry - and finally she won. There are bill sponsors, and there are bill champions. Rep. Keny-Guyer, along with her co-sponsor Sen. Chris Edwards, was a bill champion. Because of their tenacity, Oregon kids will now be protected from harmful chemicals in their toys and other products.
Rising Stars
When freshman legislators care enough about an issue to successfully take the reins, you know that they are special. Along with Reps. Paul Holvey and Peter Buckley, Reps. Lininger and Helm were instrumental in bringing together their colleagues to take bold positions on environmental issues as a group. Rep. Lininger was courageous in leading on legislation to protect rural Oregonians from aerial pesticide spraying. Rep. Helm brought rationality to emotional issues around land use and wildlife. Meanwhile, as an all-around impressive co-chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Rep. Rayfield pulled stakeholders together to find compromise on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fee package.
 Rep. Ann Lininger (D-Lake Oswego) |
 Rep. Ken Helm (D-Beaverton) |
 Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) |
Innovators of the Year
 Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton)Rep. Read has been approaching environmental policy with a unique perspective for years, working to develop a pilot program that allowed some solar panel owners to sell their power back to the grid in 2009. In that same spirit, he introduced not one but two creative bills this session – one that would have moved Oregon away from coal power and toward cleaner alternatives by 2025 and another that would have encouraged conservation on public lands. |  Sen. Michael Dembrow (D-Portland)Sen. Dembrow spent the interim before session as Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. In that time, he developed a unique and collaborative approach to tackling tough environmental problems. By bringing together diverse groups, he moved Oregon closer to addressing diesel pollution, reducing health impacts from aerial pesticide application, and developing a better way to consider the environmental impacts of big projects. |
Defender of the Year
