Kate Brown (politician)

Infobox_State Senator
name =Kate Brown


width =
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state_senate = Oregon
district = 21st
term_start =1996
term_end =
predecessor =
successor =
state_house2 = Oregon
district2 = 13th
term_start2 =1991
term_end2 =1996
predecessor2 =
successor2 =
constituency2 =
party = Democratic
birth_date = birth date and age|1960|6|21|
birth_place =Torrejon de Ardoth, Spain
death_date =
death_place =
alma_mater = University of Colorado, Lewis and Clark College
occupation = attorney, university professor
spouse = Dan
residence = Milwaukie, Oregon
religion =

Kate Brown (born June 21 1960 in Spain), is a Democratic American politician and attorney serving in the Oregon State Senate. She is the Democratic nominee for Oregon Secretary of State in the 2008 elections.cite news|url=http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=102226&sid=1&fid=7 |title= Brown wins Secretary of State |last=Damewood |first=Andrea |work=The Register-Guard |date=2008-05-20 |accessdate=2008-05-21]

She has been Majority Leader since 2004 and is the first woman to hold that post. Brown represents Oregon's 21st senate district, which includes portions of Northeast and Southeast Portland and Milwaukie.

After a childhood spent mostly in Minnesota, Senator Brown earned a B.A. in Environmental Conservation with a certificate in Women’s Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a law degree and Certificate in Environmental Law from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College.

Brown has taught at Portland State University, and practiced family and juvenile law. She currently practices as an attorney with the Juvenile Rights Project, a non-profit corporation in Portland, providing legal services to children and families with both defense and advocacy programs.

She began her legislative career in 1991 in the Oregon House of Representatives, where she was reelected to a second term before being elected to the Senate in 1996.

In July 2007, Brown announced that she would give up her seat in the Oregon Senate to be a candidate for Oregon Secretary of State in 2008.cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1184032545221820.xml&coll=7|title=Senator joins secretary of state race|last=Kost|first=Ryan |work=The Oregonian |date=2007-07-10 |accessdate=2007-07-11] On May 20 2008, Brown won the election for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State.

Brown lives in Milwaukie, Oregon with her husband Dan and her step-children Dylan and Jessie. She identifies as bisexual and is the highest-ranking bisexual politician in the United States. [cite news|url=http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=2466 |title=Political Notebook: Bisexual, lesbian politicians stump in SF |last=Bajko|first=Matthew S. |work=Bay Area Reporter |date=2007-11-22|accessdate=2008-05-15]

Awards and distinctions

* 2004 Recipient, National Public and Community Service Award from the American Mental Health Counselors Association
* Past Chair, Council of State Governments West
*"Profiles in Courage" Award, Basic Rights Oregon
* Legislator of the Year Award, Oregon Psychological Association
* Outstanding Achievement Award, Oregon Family Support Network
* Woman of Achievement Award, Oregon Commission for Women

References

External links

* [http://www.leg.state.or.us/brown/ Oregon State Senate - Senator Kate Brown] official government website
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2990 Project Vote Smart - Senator Kate Brown (OR)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Kate Brown
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=100404 2008] Secretary of State campaign contributions
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=81714 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=63622 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=48677 2000] Senate campaign contributions
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=48197 1996] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=47941 1994] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=47725 1992] House campaign contributions
* [http://www.katebrownfororegon.com/ Kate Brown for Secretary of State] official campaign website