PORTLAND -- U.S. Senator-elect Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) is not wasting any time before diving into his new role.
Merkley stopped by the Mark Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University Thursday morning to thank his family, friends and supporters before he and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland) were scheduled to meet with local officials to discuss solutions to address the economic crisis in Oregon.
“I think it would be pretty darn understandable if Jeff and Mary wanted to a take a week off, but Jeff decided we got to get to work right away. We’re going to start this morning getting the economy back on track,” Wyden said of the pair’s plan to meet with Portland Mayor Sam Adams to work on transportation improvements to help build the economy. “We’ve got a concrete strategy to put people back to work. Get it? Concrete?”
The morning belonged to Merkley, who found out late last night that after a year of an intense, uphill campaign, he beat out incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) for what had been one of the most hotly-contested Senate seats in the country.
Smith called to concede shortly before Merkley, his wife Mary Sorteberg, and his mother appeared before the media.
“He was extremely gracious,” Merkley said of his discussion with Smith. “He noted what an honor it was to serve in the Senate for this state, and he offered his help and his staff to ease the transition.”
Merkley was tearey-eyed at points when he thanked his family and talked of his father, who passed away last year. He also thanked his staff for all its hours of hard work.
“They understood they would dedicate a year of their life to the unlikely chance of unseating an incumbent Senator,” Merkley said. “But no campaign goes forward without an extraordinary staff.”
Merkley then talked briefly about the issues he would focus on in the Senate, including ending the Iraq war, healthcare, education, energy, and global warming.
He also committed to participating in a public town hall in every Oregon county, which was a challenge he had extended to Smith during the campaign.
“It is my goal to work with citizens across this state,” Merkley said. “These issues are the same whether you live in rural or urban Oregon, and whether you have an R or a D next to your name.”
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