Kitzhaber will run again for Ore. governor

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Political analyst Jim Moore said Kitzhaber’s entry into the race will likely give pause to DeFazio and two other Democrats looking at the race — former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury and state Rep. Brian Clem of Salem.

‘‘I think Kitzhaber’s announcement will clear the field on the Democratic side,’’ said Moore, who teaches political science at Pacific University in Forest Grove.

Kitzhaber, 62, gained a reputation as a defender of the environment and an advocate of expanded health care for the needy during his years as governor.

In his campaign announcement, Kitzhaber said solving problems such as a growing number of uninsured Oregonians and the struggling economy ‘‘will require a new civility and a willingness to move beyond partisanship and stakeholder politics.’’

‘‘I think I bring to this campaign a set of ideas, experiences and perspectives that can be very helpful during this time of crisis, when we’ve got so many people out of work and families being crushed by health care and energy costs,’’ Kitzhaber said in an interview.

He served in the Legislature 14 years, including eight years as president of the Oregon Senate, where he was the chief author of legislation that transformed a traditional Medicaid program into a broader Oregon Health Plan to cover more working poor Oregonians. He was elected governor in 1994 and re-elected in 1998 by the largest margin for a governor in 48 years. Since leaving office he has been a leading advocate of change in health care — but also passed up earlier races for U.S. senator and his old office four years ago. He may have given election rivals some ammunition when, shortly before he left office in January 2003, he said the state had become ‘‘ungovernable’’ because excessive partisanship was standing in the way of solutions to problems like lack of access to health care.

One big factor in that was during his eight years as governor, Kitzhaber had to deal with Republicans who were running the Legislature. Democrats now control both the House and Senate.

Kitzhaber said Wednesday ‘‘there’s no question’’ he felt stymied by the political gridlock that was gripping Salem at the time.

‘‘You know, I’ll bet you that any sane person would have been frustrated as well,’’ he said. ‘‘But I believe Oregon definitely is governable. Oregon is ready for change.’’

Oregon Republican Chairman Bob Tiernan said Kitzhaber only represents ‘‘more of the same’’ of Democratic tax-and-spend policies that have hurt Oregon’s economy.

‘‘Oregonians want a new direction; new ideas for our state, and that won’t include John Kitzhaber as governor again,’’ Tiernan said.

Moore, the political analyst, said Republicans are going to have a tough time trying to recapture the governor’s office next year.

Oregon hasn’t had a GOP governor since the 1980s, he said, and last year Oregon turned a stronger shade of political blue with Democrats now holding a 230,000-voter registration edge over Republicans.

‘‘The Republicans will have an uphill battle, no matter who they nominate,’’ Moore said.

Kitzhaber is a strong supporter of President Obama and earlier this year was mentioned as a possible candidate for two different Cabinet posts in the Obama administration — interior secretary or health and human services chief.