Measure would seat younger lawmakers.Byline: REBECCA NOLAN NOLAN Nascom Operational LAN The Register-GuardAt age 18, Oregonians can vote, serve in the military, pay taxes and buy cigarettes, but they can't run for a seat in the state Legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: Across the state, 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds can run for school boards and city councils. They can campaign to become secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, state schools superintendent or labor commissioner. But they cannot vie for the title of representative or senator in Salem until they turn 21. If voters approve ballot Measure 17 on the Nov. 5 ballot, that will change. Young men and women will be eligible to run against their elders in the statehouse state·house also state house n. A building in which a state legislature holds sessions; a state capitol. statehouse Noun NZ a rented house built by the government Noun 1. . But approval isn't likely to bring a youth revolution to state government, said Jake Oken-Berg, leader of the "Yes on 17" campaign. "It does not mean the state Legislature will be flooded with 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds," Oken-Berg said. "It just gives them a right to run for office, and gives voters the chance to vote for the most qualified candidate." Oken-Berg knows what he's talking about. At age 20, he gave Portland Mayor Vera Katz Vera Katz (born August 3 1933) was the 45th mayor of Portland, Oregon. She served from January 1993 until January 2005. She was elected in 1992 and was re-elected in 1996 and 2000. In 2004 she did not stand for re-election. a run for her money during the 2000 mayoral primary. With his "Jake for Mayor" campaign, he took 27 percent of the vote and nearly forced a runoff. But Measure 17 is someone else's brainchild. Secretary of State Bill Bradbury Bill Bradbury (born 1949) is the Secretary of State for the U.S. state of Oregon. Bradbury, a Democrat, previously served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, and ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Senator Gordon Smith in 2002. introduced a bill after a student at Portland Community College approached him during a meeting and questioned the current age requirement for legislators. The Legislature in turn overwhelmingly approved a bill referring the constitutional amendment to voters. Neither Oken-Berg nor Bradbury claims that the average 18-year-old would make a great legislator LEGISLATOR. One who makes laws. 2. In order to make good laws, it is necessary to understand those which are in force; the legislator ought therefore, to be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge of the laws of his country, their advantages and defects; to , but both believe they should have the opportunity to run. "Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of 18-year-olds shouldn't get anywhere near the state Legislature," Oken-Berg said. "But 99.9 percent of 45-year-olds shouldn't get near the Legislature, either. "Having a diversity of viewpoints never hurt anything," he said. The measure has been endorsed by former Oregon Govs. Mark Hatfield Mark Odom Hatfield (born July 12, 1922) is a former United States Senator and Governor of Oregon. He is a member of the Republican Party. Biography Hatfield was born in Dallas, Oregon,[1] , Vic Atiyeh, Neil Goldschmidt Neil Edward Goldschmidt (born June 16, 1940) is a former politician and businessman from the U.S. state of Oregon and a member of the Democratic Party. He served as mayor of Portland (1973 - 1979), as United States Secretary of Transportation (1979 - 1981), and as Governor of and Barbara Roberts Barbara K. Roberts (born on December 21, 1936 in Corvallis, Oregon) is a Democratic politician. She served as Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995, the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to that office. . Currently, 17 states - including Washington, California For the town formerly called Washington, in Yolo County, California, see . Washington is an unincorporated community located in Nevada County, California. Washington is located on the banks of the South Fork of The Yuba River and has a population of approximately two hundred , Idaho and Montana - allow people 18 and over to run for state legislatures, and several 18- to 20-year-olds have been elected to those statehouses. The only organized opposition to Measure 17 comes from Parents Education Association, an Oregon group that looks at public policy from a biblical perspective. The group cites Old Testament law, which emphasizes maturity, age and wisdom, and considers a person a child until age 20. New Testament law warns against novices being put in positions of leadership. And Proverbs Proverbs, book of the Bible. It is a collection of sayings, many of them moral maxims, in no special order. The teaching is of a practical nature; it does not dwell on the salvation-historical traditions of Israel, but is individual and universal based on the warns teens against the temptations of women, wine and song - temptations that fill the halls of power in Salem, the group said. The low-budget "Yes on 17" campaign has visited colleges, county fairs and media outlets across the state to try to win over the voting public with its message of equal opportunity and consistency in age minimums for state candidates. "The main point is that in this state, we have a big problem: A lot of young people, and people of all ages, aren't engaged" in politics, Oken-Berg said. "If we can find anyone who wants to take a shot at getting involved, we should give them that opportunity, regardless of their age." MEASURE 17 What it does: Amends Oregon Constitution The Oregon Constitution is a U.S. state constitution, the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon. It was ratified on November 9, 1857, and took effect when Oregon achieved statehood on February 14, 1859. Differences from U.S. to lower the minimum age requirement to serve as a state legislator from 21 years to 18 years. Supporters: Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, four former governors, most state legislators. Arguments for: People age 18 can run for most other positions in state and local government. They pay taxes, serve in the military and vote on issues and candidates. Campaign contact: (503) 223-2264; info@yeson17.com; www.yeson17.com Opponents: Parents Education Association. Arguments against: Measure violates Old Testament and New Testament laws against putting novices in positions of leadership. Campaign contact: (503) 263-8337; ElderDT@aol.com; www.peapac.org. CAPTION(S): COMING SATURDAY Measure 18 corrects a 1997 measure that inadvertently prohibited some tax districts from establishing a tax base. |
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