Oregon: Steve Novick

In yet another installment of his series looking at possible 2010 gubernatorial candidates, the O's Jeff Mapes talks to Steve Novick. [Novick] appears ready to test his political appeal in the signature statewide contest of 2010: the race for governor. "There are a few more things that need to fall into place, but I think at this point I'm strongly inclined to do it," Novick told me this week. An announcement, he said, could come within the next month or two. I've always been a big fan of Brian Schweitzer, the Governor of Montana. Expect to hear more about Schweitzer...

Last night I schlepped myself down to Backspace in Portland to take in Brewhaha, the latest quirky and fun Bus Project voter education program. The event featured a series of throw down debates between folks representing a variety of Oregon budget issues that may see the ax fall their way. An NCAA Basketball Championship-style bracket was given to facilitate audience participation...so we Carnaced the outcomes as best we could. The venerable Steve Novick was on hand to emcee, crack jokes and provide knowledgable tidbits about the Oregon budget. The debates pitted individuals representing various sectors of the Oregon budget against...

Attorney General spokesman Jake Weigler is leaving Salem to become campaign manager for Healthy Climate Partnership, The Oregonian reported Friday.

Weigler, who managed U.S. Senate candidate Steve Novick’s Democratic primary campaign, will head the group that is looking to push Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s energy initiatives through the 2009 legislative session.

Speculation over former Gov. John Kitzhaber being appointed to president-elect Barack Obama's administration barely had enough time to die down on Wednesday before the Associated Press, KATU, and Willamette Week began questioning whether Kitzhaber might be thinking about another run for the state’s chief executive.