Secretary of State Kate Brown to succeed Kitzhaber

Oregonians, say hello to your new governor: Kate Brown,Oregon Secretary of State.

She’s held that position since 2008, although she’s been working in the Legislature since the early 90s. Brown served several terms in the House of Representatives until she was elected to the Senate, where she spent time as Majority Leader.

Like Gov. John Kitzhaber, Brown is a Democrat.

“She’s delightful to work with she’s smart, she’s a very very accomplished person,” OSU-Cascades Political Science Professor James Foster told NewsChannel 21 Friday.

Foster said he’s worked with Brown in the past. He does not expect any big changes to the government under her leadership.

“She’s aligned with Kitzhaber in terms of his policy agenda,” Foster said.

Foster said he thinks Brown will largely leave Kitzhaber’s $18.6 billion proposed budget alone. He said he expects big priorities likely will be education and transportation funding, as well as carbon emission reduction.

“I don’t necessarily think she’ll be a caretaker or place holder. I think she’ll be active and work with the legislature,” Foster said.

Brown is expected to serve as governor until the next election in 2016. She’ll have to run for the position if she wants to finish out the remainder of Kitzhaber’s term.

Brown also will be the first openly bisexual governor in U.S. history.