Five Things You Didn't Know About Tobias Read

State Rep. Tobias Read (D-Beaverton) is the Democratic nominee for Oregon treasurer. The tallest man in the Legislature at 6-foot-7, Read, 41, is running against Republican Jeff Gudman and independent Chris Telfer in the race to succeed current Treasurer Ted Wheeler.

Here's what you need to know about Read.

1. He was once mistaken for Peyton Manning.

That was as an undergrad at Willamette University in Salem, where the Montana-born Read got his bachelor's degree in 1997.

2. He worked for Sheryl Sandberg.

From 1999 to 2001, Read was an aide to former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. His immediate boss: now-Facebook chief operating officer Sandberg. She leaned in to give his campaign $5,000 this year.

3. He helped start an Uber for airplanes.

When he returned to Oregon in 2003, Read worked for a Salem startup called SkyTaxi, which aimed to connect small planes and airports for commuters. It tanked.

4. He tried to build bridges.

A business-friendly Democrat, Read was a leading promoter of the Columbia River Crossing, the ill-fated $4 billion highway project between Portland and the 'Couv.

5. His favorite drink is an Arnold Palmer.

The late golf great's signature iced tea and lemonade beverage is one of Read's many ties to sports—he developed children's sneakers at Nike.

Willamette Week