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Tina Kotek on Health Care

 

 


Eliminate the backlog at Oregon's health licensing boards

Now to Oregon's mental health and addiction treatment system. Last year, I identified a target of adding 465 new treatment beds by the end of 2026. There's now a public online dashboard so we can track our progress with the investments already in the pipeline. To strengthen the workforce needed to help more people, I have focused on eliminating the backlog at Oregon's health licensing boards so qualified counselors and social workers can get to work.

Ensuring that students have adequate access to behavioral health services in and out of school settings is critical to supporting children and their families. That includes specific supports for mental health and substance abuse, including targeted residential and community-based treatment capacity, and suicide prevention programming. When a young person develops an addiction, we need residential facilities that can care for them and help them manage the factors that led them to substance use.

Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature , Jan 13, 2025

We will move the needle on more recovery services

Q: Behavioral health is a top priority for you. Yet Oregon regularly ranks among the bottom states.

A: We now have the marijuana dollars flowing out into communities from Measure 110 [which allocates cannabis tax revenue to addiction treatment services]. We will move the needle on more recovery services. In terms of how we got here, it was [lack of] resources. Behavioral health services are always kind of the stepchild of the health care system. Q: Why are Oregon's outcomes for K-12 students so poor?

A: Our numbers are improving. Prior to the pandemic, graduation rates were on the rise. The key is increased accountability and transparency in how the new Student Success Act dollars are being spent. We were very specific. We want to make sure that the social, emotional well-being of students is better addressed through counselors and nurses and other folks who could be in the schools to help students be successful.

Source: Willamette Week on 2022 Oregon Gubernatorial race , Oct 20, 2021

Other governors on Health Care: Tina Kotek on other issues:
OR Gubernatorial:
Bud Pierce
Casey Kulla
Christine Drazan
Julian Bell
Kerry McQuisten
Nicholas Kristof
Paul Romero
Tobias Read
OR Senatorial:
Jason Beebe
Jo Rae Perkins
Paul Romero
Ron Wyden
Gubernatorial races 2025:
New Jersey Governor:
Virginia Governor:
    Democratic primary June 17 cancelled:
  • Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025
  • Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.)

    Republican primary June 17 cancelled:
  • Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025
  • Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot
  • Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent
  • Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited
Mayoral races 2025:
NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:
  • Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council
  • Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021.
    Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4:
  • Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent
  • Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney
  • Curtis Sliwa, Republican; CEO of the Guardian Angels

Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)
    Non-partisan general election Nov. 4:
  • Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education
  • Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997)
  • Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004)
  • James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017)
  • Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023)

Oakland CA Mayor
    Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025:
  • Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025)
  • Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election
  • Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024
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