The people of Bend and Oregon House District 54 are in a unique position of trust. You have the ability to send to the Oregon Legislature a man whose work there would extend beyond the borders of your district and into lives of every citizen of our state. Knute Buehler brings a singular array of positive qualities to an arena sadly committed to the status quo. Year after year we’ve seen a state where unemployment and quality of education continue to me mired in mediocrity — our fellow citizens inhibited in search for a better life by laws and regulations better designed for government longevity than individual growth.

In times past, we in Oregon have had the benefit of some very good leadership, as governors, U.S. senators and as legislators. As a young man, I had the good fortune to meet and observe Tom McCall and later Victor Atiyeh as they bucked the existing trend and caused some great things to happen here. My interest in our state leaders really began with these two, and since then I’ve seen good ones, from both parties, come and go. The good ones, at every level, made those good things happen without resorting to pressure from organized power groups and by working with people of other views to achieve progress. In my view, blind submission to what a given politician thinks people want to hear, rather than acting on true ideals, is both cause and effect in our present situation.

Let me tell you what I know about Buehler. His entire adult life has been about achievement, achievements for which he has not sought credit and which have benefited people in all walks of life and from domestic to many other areas of the country and the world. The several philanthropic groups of which he’s an integral part have, in a low-key way, enhanced educational opportunities for many young people and encouraged personal growth and freedom to develop, without regard for ethnicity or gender. I have seen a man run through the rigors of a statewide election campaign, listening and responding to every point of view imaginable, calmly discussing, never demanding, never condescending. I’ve seen Buehler before supporting groups throughout the state and before hostile groups, perhaps most especially here in Multnomah County where I live — no matter which type of group, the message is the same, that of seeking a better way for the people of our state to prosper and grow. During an interview for public television, he had every opportunity to pander to a listenership that wanted to hear benign thoughts — Buehler’s thoughts were the same clear, honest responses that he would have given to the most avid supporter. I submit, that is the kind of integrity rare among those seeking public office.

And when the election results showed Buehler’s loss to the well-entrenched incumbent, there were no recriminations or whining, despite the inevitable hurt. And now two years later, you and all of us in Oregon are fortunate to have another opportunity for this man to work on our behalf. Perhaps it’s because of his life as a medical doctor, but his approach, whether to patients or constituents, is quite simply, “do what is best for them.”

From what I’ve been able to read and observe, Buehler’s opponent seems like a nice enough guy, but there are lots of nice guys around. Oregon needs leaders who can see better ways than the status quo, who can think, discuss and find solutions rather than make noise and follow the prevailing party line. Bend and Oregon deserve Buehler. I urge your vote.

— Brent Norman lives in Portland.