SALEM — The state’s economic recovery has been “uneven,” the governor said Tuesday, and more needs to be done to help rural Oregonians.

It’s a theme the Democratic leader also touched on Monday in his annual State of the State speech, emphasizing the importance of not leaving rural Oregon behind as the economy starts to pick up.

“(The recovery has) been very spotty, and we haven’t really gotten the bang we wanted … particularly, for rural Oregon,” Gov. John Kitzhaber told a room of reporters and editors from around the state.

While promising more help for rural Oregon is in the works, the governor also pointed out that there have been significant achievements in the past two years worth mentioning.

He pointed to Facebook and Apple locating their data centers in Prineville and the push to have more shovel-ready industrial land available for development in rural Oregon.

Kitzhaber also noted his new efforts to ensure federal forests are being managed. And, he said, the groundwork has been laid to strike a deal on what was a contentious topic last legislative session: drawing more water from the Columbia River.

“I do believe we’ll be getting more irrigated agriculture in Eastern Oregon,” he said.

The governor promised an “intentional strategy” to bring jobs throughout the state, adding it’s “going to be a very high priority.”

Kitzhaber’s comments came on the heels of Senate Republican Leader Ted Ferrioli, who represents portions of Deschutes and Jefferson counties, remarking that rural Oregonians have “absolutely (been) left out of the equation” when it comes to more jobs and an economic recovery.

Along with the governor, legislative leaders offered a preview Tuesday of topics that will likely be discussed this session. Lawmakers were sworn in on Monday, but the session doesn’t start in earnest until Feb. 4.

Both House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, and Senate Majority Leader, Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland, said they are looking at tweaking legislation that requires lenders to sit down with a mediator and homeowner before foreclosing. The law, coupled with an appellate court decision striking down the electronic registry system banks rely on, has pushed nearly all foreclosures into the court system. The governor is also pushing for reforms to the state’s employee pension system and changes to the way criminals are sentenced.

Regarding changes to the state’s Public Employees Retirement System, Democrats were cautious, while House Republican Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, said the governor has proposed “sensible solution(s).”

The governor also said he supports banning guns in schools and limiting high-capacity magazines. Although lawmakers were unsure how the gun debate would play out in the upcoming session, many agreed the state’s mental health resources need to be part of the equation.