[April 30th, 2008]

Suzanne VanOrman

Tattoo she'd get: Her father had Felix the Cat, and her 44-year-old son has Garfield, but VanOrman eschews tattoos. If forced, she would submit to getting one dot of blue ink on her right arm.

WW endorsed VanOrman in 2006 when she tried to unseat Rep. Patti Smith (R-Corbett). She lost, but she’s back again.

VanOrman, a longtime Head Start educator from Hood River, called herself “Doña Quixote” two years ago. This time, with Smith out of the race, we think VanOrman could do more than tilt at windmills. We think she can win, and we’re excited about her promise to bring health care to more Oregonians.

Her opponent, Steve Richkind, calls himself a “people’s lawyer.” We don’t doubt his sincerity. He represented David Simmons, who’s gotten some ink for being prosecuted in Deschutes County for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old when he was 18, even though the grand jury in the case failed to indict him. But we doubt how much Richkind could get done in the Legislature, given that he failed to meet the most basic test for any candidate—making the deadline for submitting a Voters’ Pamphlet statement.

Richkind also says education is one of the top issues facing state government. Which makes VanOrman, the educator, a natural choice.

Video of WW endorsement interview (thanks to Portland Community Media)