| Press Release |
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| April 21, 2004 |
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Governor Creates Office of Rural Policy
(John Day, OR) - During a meeting of the Eastern Oregon Rural Alliance in John Day, Governor Ted Kulongoski today signed an executive order creating a new Office of Rural Policy.
"Oregon is a state of great economic and geographic diversity - and I believe that our diversity should unite us, not divide us," said the Governor. "Government must meet the needs of all communities, both urban and rural. The new Office of Rural Policy will assist the state in better understanding the unique needs and issues of rural Oregon."
The Office of Rural Policy will be located in the Governor´s Office in partnership with the Department of Administrative Services. The office will coordinate the formulation of rural policy for the state and will serve as a clearing house for the collection and dissemination of information about issues that are of special interest to rural Oregon. The office will also serve as a liaison between elected officials in rural Oregon, the executive branch and the state legislature.
The executive order also directs the directors of 12 state departments to identify at least one individual as a Rural Policy Liaison who will work directly with the Office of Rural Policy.
The Governor emphasized that the state must address the particular hardship rural communities are facing during the current economic downturn.
"Although all of Oregon is challenged by a sluggish economy, poverty and hunger, rural Oregon is even more deeply affected because the natural resource base that has been the foundation of rural Oregon´s economy has changed dramatically over the past two decades," the Governor wrote in the executive order. "Oregon´s drive to economic and social prosperity must include all areas of our state, including rural Oregon."
The executive order also creates a 14-person Rural Policy Advisory Committee. The Governor will appoint ten of the advisory committee members representing the rural diversity of Oregon. Interested parties should contact Suzy Miller, (503) 378-4385.
In addition, the Senate President will appoint one state senator from each party and the Speaker of the House will appoint one state representative from each party.
The text of the Governor´s executive order is attached.
Executive Order: Office of Rural Policy
Contact:
Mary Ellen Glynn, (503) 378-6496
Marian Hammond, (503) 378-6169
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