I may have a new hero.
For the last three weeks, I have been working my way through Fire at Heaven’s Gate, a biography of Tom McCall, Oregon governor from 1967-1975. I am not done, but it is a compelling read. Living in Oregon I see his legacy every day. It’s not a “cradle to the grave” biography, with no narrative peaks—it focused on his political life and there’s lots of drama. It may be fair to say the subject drew drama to himself, but it was also the era. As I read through his list of accomplishments, I find myself muttering “this man was a republican” over and over and wondering how we have shifted so far away from these values.
While in office (and I am not done) the man supported:
· Protecting Oregon beaches and public access
· Cleaning up the Willamette river by regulating pulp mills
· Keeping poison gas from being stored in the state (and transported by rail through the state)
· The Bottle Bill
· DEQ
· Air and Water pollution restrictions on industry, even if it meant that the industry might locate in another state.
· A Land Use process that put citizen involvement as Goal One and focused on protecting farmland from suburban sprawl.
· Publicly speaking about his son’s struggles with drug addiction.
On Earth Day, he said “It’s obvious that a change in attitude is vital, and the first desirable change would be the realization that the problem of environment and pollution is not the other fellow’s, but the responsibility of everyone.”
