SEPTEMBER 2007: AROUND THE STATE
Deckert is prepared to stick out his chin
ON OCT. 1, Beaverton Democratic state senator Ryan Deckert
takes over at the Oregon Business Association.
Thirty-six-year-old Deckert is replacing retiring president
Lynn Lundquist, who has led the group since 2000. How will a
young Democrat — and the one-time chair of the Senate
Finance and Revenue Committee — help boost the
OBA’s influence in the current political climate? We
hunted Deckert down while he was vacationing in New England and
asked him about the future.
Is your definition of success
different as a senator as opposed to as a lobbyist? I
don’t know if see myself as a lobbyist. To me, the No. 1
task I have is to get as much unanimity as possible as to where
we’re headed. It’s about getting consensus among
business leaders, then getting that voice to the capitol.
What was your least favorite
part of the last session? The partisanship. We did
better than in the 1990s. But there’s so much coming out
of Washington that I’m afraid is infecting us again.
Can you change that
partisanship now that you’re on this side of the
fence? That’s what OBA was so good at this last
session with the rainy day fund. They led with their chin and
got a lot of consensus in the business community. Something
like that allows political courage [on the part of
politicians].
You’re, shall we say,
young-looking. Has that been a help or a hindrance in state
politics? It’s been good and bad. When I first got
here it was a hindrance. I got tired of people trying to hand
me their briefcase. But it’s like being a minority or a
woman in politics, sometimes being different can help get your
message across.
You haven’t started
yet, but what’s the most misunderstood part of being a
lobbyist? You tell me. I think of a lobbyist as someone
who tries to get special favors for one group or business.
We’re looking at broader
issues.
ABRAHAM HYATT
Have an opinion? E-mail feedback@oregonbusiness.com
