Oregon State Sen. Vicki Walker resigned from her seat Sunday to become chair of the Oregon Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision. Gov. Ted Kulongoski appointed Walker, a Eugene Democrat, to the state parole board Thursday, shortly before she announced her resignation.
On the parole board, Walker will make more than $97,000 per year, a considerably larger amount than what she made as senator. Some skeptics have said this appointment could be a favor from Kulongoski, thanking Walker from stepping down from the 2006 Oregon governor’s race.
Instead of an interview panel made up of state officials, usually used to assign a new candidate to the parole board, Gov. Kulongoski appointed Walker himself. Kulongoski’s spokesperson, Anna Richter Taylor, said the governor often receives advice from interview panels but keeps the search open for others.
Possible candidates for her successor in the senate seat are Democratic State Reps. Chris Edwards and Nancy Nathanson, both currently active in Walker’s district.
“I’m very interested in the possibility of representing our region in the Senate,” Nathanson announced in a press release Thursday. “It would be a new opportunity to promote ideas that I’ve worked hard on in the past, and had success with.” Edwards did not respond to the Emerald’s requests for comment.
Edwards has held the legislative position for two years, while Nathanson has been involved since 2006.
Walker has more than 25 years of experience in the state government, and has filled her Senate seat since 2002. In the 2006 election for the Senate, she ran against former Eugene mayor Jim Torrey, which led to a rocky and somewhat controversial race, spiked with misleading campaign ads.
Torrey supports Walker’s assignment to the parole board, predicting great success for her future in the chair. “She is a tenacious and hard-working woman,” Torrey said. “Although I may not always agree with her, I see her doing a great job on the board.” Torrey said he believes her choice to resign was solely based on a need for change, as well as a great opportunity to move up to another position.
In addition, Torrey said he doesn’t see himself running for the Senate opening she leaves behind, as he is not a Democrat and also is a strong supporter of Nathanson.
In her resignation letter, Walker attested to her legislative style by quoting suffragette Susan B. Anthony: “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation.”
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