[October 15th, 2008]

Tobias Read

In his first term last session representing Beaverton, Tobias Read—a Nike footwear developer—dabbled in efforts to improve the state’s university system, tackle “sustainability” and address bike safety.

You can fault him for lacking focus. But he’s learned and says that if re-elected, he wants to concentrate on higher education. Our “Good, Bad and Awful” survey in 2007 revealed Read had more work to do to stand out in a crowd of four other rookies that we said then made him look like the “fifth hitter on a championship team.”

Voters would do well to give him that chance. Read’s Republican opponent is Michael DeVietro, a 22-year-old PSU student.