Senator Ginny Burdick
D-District 18 – SW Portland & Tigard
S-309 - State Capitol
Salem, OR  97301
(503) 986-1718 

News Release
For Immediate Release: February 10, 2003
Contact: Sen. Ginny Burdick (503) 986-1718

SENATOR GINNY BURDICK ELECTED DEPUTY
DEMOCRATIC LEADER

SALEM – State senator Ginny Burdick has been chosen Deputy Democratic Leader in the Senate for the 2003 legislative session in a unanimous vote of her colleagues.

As Deputy Democratic Leader, Burdick will represent the senate Democratic caucus and preside over caucus meetings when the Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. Kate Brown, is not available.  Burdick will also be responsible for assisting the Democratic Whip during senate floor sessions and assume floor leadership and vote counting duties when the Whip is unavailable.

“I’m looking forward to working with my Democratic colleagues as well as with the Republican leadership to make this a productive session for all Oregonians,” said Burdick, D-Portland. 

“With a 15-15 split in the Senate, we have a unique opportunity to work together on education, economic development, public safety, environmental protection, and programs to help children and vulnerable adults,” Burdick said.

Burdick is a communications consultant in Portland, specializing in crisis management.

“Creating jobs, reforming PERS, and balancing the budget will make this a very challenging session,” said Brown. “Having Senator Burdick’s leadership skills and

experience will be extremely valuable to our caucus and to the entire Legislature.”

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As Deputy Democratic Leader, Burdick will also be involved in negotiations, as she was when Democrats and Republicans worked out a power sharing agreement after the November election produced a tie in the Senate.

Brown said Burdick was instrumental in the success of those negotiations.  “Without her communications skills and her knowledge of the process, we might still be at the table,” she said.

Burdick represents Tigard and most of Southwest Portland.  She was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and re-elected in 2000.

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