Interesting....

OK, let's see what her views on issues are.

What does she think of what St. Treasurer Westlund has talked about regarding the instability of Oregon's tax system, need for kicker reform, need for initiative reform (also talked about by the Public Comm. on the Legislature) with control on out of state money?

Speaking of PCOL, what does she think about their other proposals http://landru.leg.state.or.us/pcol

""They want a woman," said Strader, who has discussed the idea with various political personalities, including Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler."

OK, DS, have a long talk with former Gov. Barbara Roberts. Do you have her knowledge of state issues? Do you have her candor and toughness? Are you willing to discuss the budget/tax reform proposal she talked about in her oral history interview on The Oregon Channel?

Why should anyone outside the Metro area support a Washington County comm.?

Has she visited the rest of the state? Talking with BO's own Paulie would be a good first step.

What strengths does DS bring to race which Rep. Clem does not have?

Aside from name ID and fundraising, what does DS see as her weaknesses?

Carol Shea Porter was on a panel at Netroots Nation televised on CSPAN.

She said she ran with very little money, no polls, just friends helping her. Does DS think that could be a model for legislative elections in Oregon?

What, if any, are her views on campaign finance reform?

A serious candidate can answer those questions.

I would not vote for anyone coming out of OSEIA these days. It is my understanding that they operate outside their integrity as easily as breathing, and could not in good conscience support anyone from that organization.

I'll take Peter DeFazio any day. Why?

1. He has his own spine, and uses it.
2. He has his own mind, and uses it.
3. He is not looking for oligarchic backing, and is decidedly not an empty suit.
4. He operates squarely within his integrity, how refreshing.
5. Many many more reasons... I don't know: Experience?

Nice try Pacific Power, et. al., but I don't think so. You'll have to reach into your toolbox for the next corporate tool to foist.

And just why is Strader NOT just another typical corporate Democrat, groomed and handpicked by the power elite who use the DPO as their own personal tool? Just two years ago from the O article:

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Business background: Graduated from Hillsboro High School. Attended Portland State University but has not graduated. Worked for Nike; Ryka, a women's athletic shoe company; and as a partner in a political strategy firm.

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Toting a laptop, answering calls on a Blackberry and driving a BMW, she seems the perfect representative for the young, affluent families in her district.

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Commissioner Andy Duyck, who at 47 is the closest to her in age, says Strader has impressed him. They come from different parties --Strader is a Democrat, Duyck a Republican --but they often find common, almost Libertarian, ground on issues the nonpartisan board tackles.

And when and why did her new found interest in gaining state elected office after just two years on the Washington County Commission arise? Again from the mid-2008 article:

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Strader still keeps close tabs on the Legislature but says she has no interest in running for a House or Senate seat.

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She, like the other commissioners, talks about the importance of collaboration.

But it sounds different coming from Strader.

"It does take a village --or a lot of Des," she says, with customary aplomb.

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"They want a woman," said Strader, who has discussed the idea with various political personalities, including Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler.

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Sorry, this is one lifetime Democrat who needs to see more than the less than inspiring role in public service she's presented so far. And I sure need to see far more credible backers than just the smug, self-serving, idiosyncratically regressive, elitist Democratic establishment of the PDX-Salem axis who apparently are most excited by what's in her genes.

2010 could shape up to be a very difficult year for the DPO as circumstances cause the long needed debate over what the values should be that define the soul of the Democratic Party come to the fore. The false argument of vote for the candidate who chose the "D" label, regardless if whether or not it was just out of cynical political calculations, lost any remaining viability once the Republican Party become the provence of nutjobs, and Republican-lites corporate Democrats started betraying the values that made us the true party of the people.

Interesting in that she will have to develop some pretty good speaking points in order to avoid the confusion with another little known woman. This one, mayor of Wasilla who became governor.

I'm just saying that beside being a woman, she apears to lack any other serious background and/or experience. I checked and there is little "there" there.

Not to say a non professional politician might be a good thing, but jumping the line of the state democratic party is going to cause some serious bad ju-ju.

More power to her! If she can bridge the usual constituencies, and bring out young voters, so much the better. In my view, corporate doesn't necessarily equal evil.

Would she have to show up to work as Governor?

Check her attendance record for her Washington County Commission Seat.

As director of the Oregegon Solar Energy Industry Association, I assume she was among the huge majority of the board of that organization that voted in favor of the final version of HB3039, which has recently been signed into law by the governor. On the other hand, the rank-and-file solar installers and other small businesspersons in the industry who didn't happen to be on the board were polled separately and voted overwhelmingly against the legislation as the bill in its final version is a massive giveaway to the big utilities and is not strong enough in its support of individual homeowners and small businesses putting solar arrays on their buildings.

I'm guessing she's another Democrat who is under the influence of PGE. Nothing new there.

Just what we need - more solar electric at 10 times the cost of our current electricity.

Just another progressive that doesn't care how many low income people she hurts with her proposals.

Just another progressive that doesn't care how many low income people she hurts with her proposals.

Jamie - Judging from her record and precisely the point you raise about her apparent lack of demonstrated concern for low income people, she's no progressive. So be honest with the language.

Various signs along with the new upcoming $20 million solar highway project in West Linn her industry appears to be similar to the Oregon Biotech Industry.

If you know what I mean?

She's unqualified, but that's never stopped anyone. It'll lower the unemployed by one.

Maybe the OHSU tram can be converted to solar with a propeller to capture the wind.

Lord help the State of Oregon!!! She would never get my vote!! I am a fifth generation Oregonian and love Oregon, but if she got elected I would seriously consider leaving this state!!

If you're looking for a Democratic, female, young county commissioner Desari is certainly not the first choice I'd have. Look at Lynn Peterson - as chair of Clackamas County she's orchestrated a sea change in their politics, the make up of the board, and since she represents more rural areas I think she'd be more well-liked statewide. I don't think either of them are ready for that race, but talking about Desari instead of Lynn is just asinine.

Not to get too off topic...and I know he's not running this cycle, but was just wondering what the left's opinion is of Scott Bruun as a potential GOP candidate for governor down the road...do u think he'd be a formidable candidate? Seems to me that the GOP's only shot at state-wide office would be an appealing moderate (in the form of Gordon Smith)..thoughts? Bruun seems to be that kind of candidate...

JJ--I am not representative of "the left", as I have belonged to both major parties and also been NAV at some time in my life. But I may represent ordinary voters more than those who have been straight party activists for all their lives.

Scott Bruun is the sort of intelligent Republican that the Republicans will have to run if they want to be taken seriously.

Like Max Williams. Like Westlund back in the days he was a Republican.

Screaming RINO at someone who appeals to more than 30% of the voters is the way to have a very narrow party which loses lots of elections.

GOP has to decide if they are the party of "pleasing the base" or if they have finally decided they want to win back the folks who admired Atiyeh, supported Ford in 1976, or for that matter, even supported the 2000 version of McCain.

As long as the GOP is the anti-tax, "we'll decide your moral values for you because you can't make those decisions for yourselves", "tough on crime no new taxes", party which thinks gimmicks pay for government services; as long as the GOP doesn't understand the anger at the shallowness of both candidates in 2006, and doesn't understand the power of those voters (20-30% in many counties) not registered in major parties, the GOP deserves to lose.

But 2006 was also a lesson in why we need 2 INTELLIGENT candidates running for major office like Gov.

If "an intelligent candidate can't get past the GOP primary", how many of the over 500,000 yes voters on M.65 last year do you suppose will support a candidate who satisfies the GOP "base" and attacks everyone else?

We need common sense, experienced, solution-oriented major candidates who can engage in dialogue with ordinary citizens.

Desari Strader is having some serious delusions of grandeur here. Two and half years as a county commissioner, and now a run for Governor? Puhleeease.

And Scott Bruun is NOT a moderate Republican. He TALKS like a moderate, but he ACTS and VOTES like a typical far right conservative.

Can anyone say Sarah Palin? As in not qualified and sorta looks like her?

The comments above do little to further democracy and discourse. Someone from outside Blue Oregon's top 50 list might run for Gov? Sacre bleu!

Let's make anonymous postings challenging her integrity.

Let's further the myth that only very experienced politicos can win an election for state-wide-office.

Let's make assumptions and assertions about the candidate's beliefs.

And above all, let's not get to know her. Let's not listen to her vision, ideas and beliefs.

That's the type of junk that makes people hate politics. It's also the type of self-serving political crap that prevents us from getting the best candidates with the best ideas.

Wouldn't it be better to encourage the candidate to throw her hat in the ring, and listen, with an open mind, as to why she wants to run?

I neither support nor oppose this candidate. However, I am interested in what she has to say.

Having spoke to Ms. Strader on a number of occassions and as a constituent I can ensure all readers that she is indeed as immature and vapid as she appears. She views leadership as a way to aquiring personal power- as seen by her support of the N Bethany development. Her alliances fall squarely with corporate entities and developers to the detriment of residents.

Definately a Dem to Sarah Palin.

Strader does not deserve to be re-elected to Washington County Commission, let alone the highest office in the state. Delve skin-deep into her personal, professional and academic life and you will find a suit that is emptier than Sarah Palin's.

She doesn't even show up at her day job. Too busy being recruited for Governor I guess:

http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=123621333408921300

HOw can she drive a BMW and be one of us? That car is a symbol of the elitest right-wing. She better get her butt into a Prius, or better yet, a bicycle. There is no way she can appeal to me by driving an oppressive, gas-guzzling BMW. She is NOT one of us!!

I agree with Steve R above,that an outsider, and someone not on the "Blue Oregon top 50" (sacre bleu) might have a lot to offer. Clearly as a state we've tapped out the same old, same old pool in the short run...

Given that, though, I think Steve Shields is strong candidate, with maturity and experience, just not in politics directly, but he's been on the business side of many commissions and activities as an HP executive.

He's serious about the job. He's spent the last 6 months traveling the state, listening to mayors, state agencies, and people from all over Oregon. Listening. Isn't that refreshing. No Agenda, no campaigning, no public relations stunts.

He's a native Oregonian. He grew up in rural lane county, and has both timber and high tech experience. He's got both Leadership abilities and political courage to tackle the tough problems we face in Oregon, especially related to Economic Vitality and Educational Support and state funding. He's a fresh face, but I think once folks get to know him, they'll see that he's a very capable, honest, servant-leader sort of guy who can make a real difference.

" He's got both Leadership abilities and political courage to tackle the tough problems we face in Oregon,..."

Examples? Where has he demonstrated political leadership (speaking out on a tough issue, building a coalition)?

What does he believe are the top 3 tough issues in Oregon?

Does he know what St. Treasurer Westlund has said are the 3 reasons Oregon doesn't have a better credit rating than it has?

Does he share the "Oregon Values" stated by Westlund in a speech to a Democratic audience in Salem?

In what ways does he agree / disagree with Brian Clem?

From what I read of his website, Steve seems to be pretty much a blank slate.

Sorry, but "a very capable, honest, servant-leader sort of guy who can make a real difference." is awfully vague.

Another question:

Has Steve studied the work of the Public Comm. on the Legislature?

Or does that report not matter because he has his own ideas which he might one day share with the general public?