Rep. Barton will kick some serious ass. He's whip smart and a great campaigner, and he has a big political future for him. As noted, he kicked out the disaster Linda Flores, in an incredible bruising race, in 2008.

Of course, the R's will go hard, so we have to work hard to keep this key Senate seat. Barton's the man to get it done - with our help.

Our North Clackamas Stand for Children chapter was thrilled when he won HD 51 and I think he will be a great voice in the Senate. Rep Barton was always available to any questions or concerns we had. He showed courage and leadership . You would be hard pressed to find a harder working legislator or one more accessible.

Don't get me wrong, I like the direction Mr. Barton was taking during the last session, but I sure do miss watching Linda Flores not paying employment taxes year after year and authoring such policy-rich bills correcting the number of times the Pledge of Allegiance is recited in school.

She also had her legislative wages garnisheed and had her car repossessed when she couldn’t make payments.

(insert fiscal conservative joke here)

The added bonus of course was every 2 years she received WW lowest rating among her peers.

Right-Wingnuttery at it's finest.

Well, we HAVE been worried about the youth vote!

Daaaady! I wanna be senator!

Brent's been a stellar Bus Project volunteer and board member and is an incredibly hard-working candidate. He's gonna kick major butt as he runs for SD 26. It's a tough seat and it reminds all us publicly interested types how much we're all gonna have to do to keep a forward-thinking legislature.

He sure had some shady votes in session. Trading votes with Ferrioli? F Brent Barton.

I've known Brent for over a year now, and I've been impressed with his work ethic and his thoughtfulness. During the legislative session, he brought an open-minded approach to issues. I think he had a good first session, and would make a great State Senator for that district.

Best of luck, Brent!

Anyone who questions whether Barton is strong on the environment would be wise to remember who he replaced - Rep. Linda Flores.

Over three terms, Flores had a 17% lifetime score from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. In 2003 she scored a 4% - that is, on 25 out of 26 bills she voted against protecting Oregon's the environment.

Barton's 81% in 2009 - voting pro-environment 17 of 21 bills - means he's a huge improvement for the environment. (Only four Representatives - Cannon, Greenlick, Harker, and Kahl, did better than 19 of 21).

Put another way, if voting on 21 bills, Flores would have voted right 3 or 4 times on average, or voted right just once at her worst. Barton did so 17 times.

Barton's district isn't Northeast Portland - it's the middle of a political war zone.

Do I wish all legislators voted pro-environment all the time? Sure. Do I think it's great for the environment that Barton is a Representative, instead of Flores? Hell yes.

As usual, Evan Manvel speaks the truth.

And: my comment was a comment on his youthful LOOKS. Whatever that "daaaddy" thing was about, I wasn't. People have to start somewhere, and a body in the trenches beats an internet poster-body in a chair somewhere.

I have to say I am a bit concerned about the optics of headlines like, “Barton, with 50k from dad, jumps into Senate race.”

As a PCP in Chuck Shield’s former district, I have been thinking a bit about the fact that so many folks are marginalized in Oregon politics and why it is that the changing demographics of our state have yet to alter the political makeup (and thereby the political priorities) of the Oregon legislature.

I can’t help but worry about what a young Oregonian in high school (particularly a person of color and/or limited means) would think about politics, if they read this article and learned that their elected representative just moved to the district and had his dad write him a check larger than the annual salary of most Oregonians.

This is a serious issue of distributional justice that I wished was addressed more often. However, Representative Barton can help jumpstart the conversation. Here is how:

Return the money!

With all the advantages Rep. Barton has been blessed with, I hope he would consider running on a more level playing field.

Of course I meant Chip Shields! Fasting all day is not good for typo-free blog posts!

Noah, about this: "I can’t help but worry about what a young Oregonian in high school (particularly a person of color and/or limited means) would think about politics, if they read this article and learned that their elected representative just moved to the district and had his dad write him a check larger than the annual salary of most Oregonians. "

I believe the answer is not telling one candidate to unilaterally disarm. As I recall, before Rick won that seat, it was a very heated race where someone had attacked Rick so personally that he ran an ad saying "disagree with me all you want, but don't impune my integrity" and made reference to his work on broadcast TV.

Money makes airing such ads possible.

Whatever I may think of Barton's voting record (there were votes I did not like), I believe it would be better to tell Brent to advocate for campaign finance reform than to demand he give back the money.

We owe gratitude to Brent for defeating Linda Flores. She was one of those arrogant "better than anyone else" types who made even Karen Minnis look good.

BUT, making campaign finance reform part of the debate would help all across the state. Where, for instance, do Brent and the other candidates stand on the "Use of Candidate Funds" proposal made by the Public Comm. on the Legislature?

THAT debate would be worth a lot more than telling someone to send back a check---an action which doesn't by itself help any candidate in other parts of the state.

What is a PCP? Means one thing in my world, sure it's not the same thing here.

Carla - we know you did a lot of work on the Metolius, and everyone's thrilled that it passed.

But to note, Barton also scored better than Metsger (75%) - so he would be an improvement not only against a Republican, but against the person currently holding the seat.

And given the district and the Republicans, it's very likely he'll be running against a Flores-like opponent.

Jealousy is an ugly thing in humans.

I have three words for ya: Campaign Finance Reform.

RW, I was a pct. person in the 1980s. I refuse to say I was a PCP because to me it sounds like a bad drug from the 1960s.

Jack, you deserve the Safire award for appropriately excellent use of wit and sarcasm.

PCP = Precinct Committee Person I believe.

Matt, I'm on the Lane County Bus Project's Steering Committee, and I'm sure I'll be knocking on doors for Brent next year. I wasn't sure about the Metolius bill, so that doesn't concern me, but this district is perhaps the most marginal senate district, so its important we fight to get the best person elected. Brent only has a few years on me, but he's been a great legislator so far for his constituents and the state.

Everyone fought hard to turn East County blue last election and we know that the Rs will be trying to take back those seats in 2010. Brent has done well in the House and I think he'd be a fine state senator. There isn't a politician alive, including those who directly represent me, with whom I agree on every vote. I will do whatever I can to help him and to help whoever from the Democratic Party runs for his seat in HD51; however, as District Leader for the Democratic Party for Nick Kahl's district, my primary focus will necessarily have to be in HD49.

I hope that people who live in "safe" districts will come to East County and help in all the campaigns out here in 2010---help us keep East County BLUE!

<h2>One correction: Metsger only voted on 20 bills, as the LNG Fast Track bill (HB 3058) didn't come up for a vote in the Senate. He voted pro-environment 15 of 20 votes. Barton voted pro-environment on that bill. Apologies - hadn't had my coffee yet.</h2>