Town Where You Live
Dallas Oregon
Your Experience/Qualifications
Occupation: Farmer, Forester, Small Business Owner, Citizen Legislator (State Senator) Background: Aviation, forestry, ranching, dairy farming, construction, international business, military, humanitarian & veteran foundation. Education: BS WOSC. MBA OSU.
County
Polk
Term
Four Year
Oregon funds are not meeting their goals nor improving the deficit position. Nor are the funds performing even near to the market for some reason. It is not a matter of reform but a matter of research, review and changing the portfolio to improve returns and sustainability.
PERS participants and recipients have requested the funds be invested to maximize investment returns. Proven investments in environmental holdings that meet this requirement should be considered when fiscally sustainable and viable.
Diversify into more Oregon based businesses and holdings reducing international risks such as seen in Europe at this time.
Contact Phone
503-780-1524
Campaign Phone (public)
503-780-1524
Town Where You Live
Lake Oswego
Your Experience/Qualifications
Jeff Gudman is a second-generation Oregonian who chose to return to Oregon after finishing his formal education: a B.A. in Economics from Pomona College and a Masters of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Jeff has amassed decades of experience investing and budgeting in the public, private and non-profit sectors. He has 8 years of service on Lake Oswego City Council, where his focus was on infrastructure planning.
County
Clackamas
Term
4 years
Term Expires
2028
Contrary to most political campaigns, I have not been shy about my plans and agenda for the office. My campaign has distributed, both digitally and in hard-copy, my Platform for Oregon'a Financial Future, which examines in depth a number of reforms and projects I plan to implement as State Treasurer. Among them, in brief, are:
Encouraging Kicker Reinvestment - providing broad based and consensus recommendations to the Legislature
Property Tax Reform to Incentivize Housing - Rebalancing property tax formulas
Developing Prioritization Criteria for our Debt Capacity - seeking the best use of funds
Investment Transparency
For additional depth and information on any of these items (and others), check out my platform at www.JeffGudman.org
When Oregon holds and investment, we have an opportunity to promote our values in the corporate governance of that entity. I propose the following actions:
Create a syndicate of like minded institutional investors to ensure our holdings are meaningfully and prudently planning to move past fossil fuel reliance. I believe it is better to bring our values to bear in boardrooms.
Daylight the financial risks of climate change by including a climate change risk factor in the State's bond issuances.
Examine the possible increased use of Oregon's trust lands with regard to leveraging climate-friendly opportunities. For example, selling carbon credits for forestlands or increasing opportunities for constructing solar arrays in rangelands.
My first and primary priority is to protect PERS funds. In August 2021 I wrote about strengthening PERS by adding additional funds to the investments. In the current context that means injecting additional funds into the PERS fund now, in order to help control liabilities and employer contribution rates.
If I wrong, and the system is in the process of long term healing, the injection of funds now will reduce future contributions anyway. If I'm right, this change will avoid some of the potential substantial increases
Pension reform isn't a black and white issue. Our public employees deserve a retirement system they can count on. Contributions into that system are part of what we as taxpayers need to pay if we want quality services.
Contact Phone
971-599-1716
Campaign Phone (public)
971-599-1716
Town Where You Live
Portland
Your Experience/Qualifications
As a family physician, working mother of young adults, and experienced legislator with years of responsibility as the chief budget writer of the state, I understand the importance of financial security for every Oregonian. As a State Senator since 2011 and Budget Co-Chair for the last three biennia, I have developed the ability to build coalitions of support and cultivate bipartisan relationships across a wide spectrum of stakeholders and issues.
County
Multnomah
The answer is twofold: supporting the strength of our state investments, and lifting up Oregonians’ financial security to enhance their economic well being. On the state side, I’ll protect our credit rating by improving the strength of our pension while investing according to Oregon values. To improve Oregonian’s fiscal strength, I will expand Oregon Saves, create a voluntary savings program to help Oregonians prepare for emergencies, and increase the use of 529 plans for the vast majority of Oregon children to save for higher education. I also plan to partner with unions, faith communities, and other interested stakeholders to enhance financial literacy. Our state is strongest when everyone has the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
As Treasurer, I’ll act decisively to address climate change and mitigate climate-related risk. I strongly believe our state’s portfolio should be invested according to Oregon values – this past session I chief sponsored the COAL Act, divesting Oregon from $1 billion in coal investments. I’m committed to moving Oregon’s investment portfolio to net-zero carbon emissions while maintaining fiduciary responsibility. I’m deeply appreciative of Treasurer Tobias Read for putting this goal in place, and I’m interested in finding ways to speed up the timeline. I’ll also strengthen our portfolio against indirect climate risk to ensure worker pensions are protected, and I’ll use our strength as an investor to push brown companies to be greener.
Oregonians who dedicate their careers to public service deserve a quality retirement. I don’t believe there should be further changes to current benefits. I’m grateful for the endorsements I’ve received from unions representing municipal workers, health care workers, fire fighters, teachers, and many others in the public and private sectors – they know that as Treasurer, protecting and growing our state pension fund will be my top priority. I will make smart investments based on Oregon values, increase transparency in Oregon’s shareholder voting, increase worker engagement in where we decide to invest their money, and set stronger guidelines on environmental, social, and corporate governance reforms for the companies in our portfolio.
