OREGON — Portland’s Mary King, a progressive economist, professor, union leader and committed advocate for more investment in our children and communities, announced her campaign for Oregon State Treasurer today. She is backed by the Working Families Party, a progressive political party that uses fusion voting to elect leaders who are committed to fighting for all Oregonians, not just the wealthy few. 

“We’re already experiencing climate change impacts, too many Oregonian families are struggling to get by and we’re shortchanging our young people,” said Mary King. I’m running for Treasurer because I know we can do more to fight climate change, invest in good union jobs and working families, and ensure that our teachers and all public employees can retire with dignity, based on investments in a greener, more inclusive local economy. From starting a State Bank to fighting to better fund all kinds of education and training, childcare, housing, and health care, we can make a better future for all of Oregon.”

A PhD economist with deep ties to community-based social and economic justice organizations, King has spent her life looking at Oregon’s economy not from the perspective of big corporations, but from the situations of working families, single mothers and the multiracial working class that keep the economy running.  She knows the power of public investments to reduce poverty, create opportunity and transform our communities and economy for the better.

As a community activist, King has drawn on her economics training to help win a universal preschool program in Multnomah County that will be a national model, as well as several statewide victories, for paid family leave, paid sick days, higher minimum wages and the first state law in the country to take on abusive work scheduling practices. While Mary was President of the PSU-AAUP, fed-up PSU faculty, librarians and student advisors authorized a strike for the first time in their history.  With the strong support of students, other unions and the community, they were able to push the out-of-touch administration toward a more student-centered budget and academic priorities.

As Treasurer, Mary will fight to

• Phase out the $53 billion Oregon has invested in “corporate raider” private equity, which profits off of Oregonians and other Americans by buying up housing, raising rents, increasing evictions, and strip-mining vital sectors like retail, childcare, and healthcare,
• Take advantage of federal dollars to help start up a state bank to support students, farmers, small businesses and the development of new green businesses,
• Manage the state forests to slow climate change, letting the trees grow and selling carbon credits to support rural schools, and
• Divest from fossil fuels, arms manufacturers, and countries violating international law, investing instead in Oregon and Oregonians.

You can read more about Mary and her platform here.

“Many Oregonians strongly support more public investment to improve the lives of working people, combat climate change, and create a just transition to an inclusive, green economy,” said Annie Narjano-Rivera, State Director of Oregon WFP. “The State Treasurer has the power to do all of these things and more, and this year, we have a unique opportunity to elect a champion for the environment and for working people to this seat.”

King has been endorsed by the Working Families Party; the Pacific Green Party, United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 555 and the American Federation of Teachers-Oregon.

“Budgets and investments are a reflection of our values, and every dollar should uplift working families, not corporate interests,” said Reyna Lopez, Chair of Oregon WFP. “Mary King has proven leadership and will prioritize the well-being of the multiracial working class, because a just economy starts with fairness for all.” 

The Working Families Party is the grassroots political party of the multi-racial working class, fighting for a nation that cares for all of us. Over the past twenty-six years, it has elected thousands of progressive leaders at every level of government in states across the country.