Editorial: Oregon prosperity needs to work for everyone
Published 10:30 am Monday, February 2, 2026
It was smart politics for Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek to invite former Republican state Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend to be her chief prosperity officer.
For Oregon, it’s an only-Nixon-could-go-to-China kind of move. By bringing on a conservative Republican to her prosperity team, it’s a signal that her commitment to enhancing business prosperity is not going to sit neatly in Oregon’s conventional, partisan lines. Kotek is open to ideas.
We know people may be suspicious of Kotek’s effort because it’s an election year and because she was one of the drivers behind Oregon’s corporate activity tax. In this legislative session and the months to come, she has a chance to quiet some doubters.
Kotek selected an impressive group of Oregonians for her prosperity council to “help build the next decade of economic growth in Oregon. With actionable steps and a shared vision, we can and will create an economy that works for everyone.” They will be going around the state and gathering feedback from stakeholders. They are going to be looking at incentives and obstacles to business. They are going to be looking at new ways Oregon could create more good-paying jobs.
It’s not going to be a process completely open to the public, as summed up in this statement from the governor’s office about it: “The Council is an advisory body to the Governor, and their charge does not constitute a public meeting. However, press will be invited to attend select meetings.”
It’s not clear which meeting will be open to the public or the media. We asked last week if the upcoming meeting in Bend would be open to the media. We were told there will be some sort of media opportunity.
We know government loves to hold meetings like this with business in relative secrecy. It enables the discussions to be more candid. Accountability is nullified.
An economy that works for everyone can only be created by a process that is open to everyone. And this prosperity council work may not be.
