James Manning on running for secretary of state, top issues, what’s going right

KOIN 6 News contacted candidates who are running for Oregon secretary of state in 2024, asking them to respond to these questions:

• Why are you running for secretary of state? If elected, what would be your top priorities?

• What is your prior government/civic experience?

• Sometimes, the secretary of state has to decide whether to remove candidates from the ballot. How would you have handled the decision whether to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot and the decision to remove 2022 gubernatorial candidate Nick Kristoff?

• In 2023, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade joined the nationwide #TrustedInfo2024 campaign to increase trust in election officials amid the spread of misinformation surrounding elections and voter information. If elected, how would you build trust in Oregon elections?

• A Reed College study, published in 2023, found county election offices in Oregon are struggling to retain and recruit workers amid a “toxic” political landscape, inadequate funding, and a rapidly changing workload. How will you support Oregon election workers?

• What do you think is going right in the secretary of state’s office? How would you build on it?

• What changes do you want to bring to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office?

James Manning is running as a Democrat. Here are his responses.

Why are you running for secretary of state? If elected, what would be your top priorities?

I am a public servant running to restore trust and integrity in the Office of Secretary of State. I will defend our democracy, preserve Vote by Mail, and ensure our Elections workers are protected and Oregon’s data is secure.

As I have in the U.S. Army Office of the Assistant Inspector General, I will use the power of the audit to provide a transparent accounting of our departments, divisions, agencies, state-run programs.

And as a member of the State Land Board, Oregonians can count on me to ensure our public lands, waterways, and state forests are not for sale. That’s why I have earned the exclusive endorsements of Congressman Peter DeFazio, the Sierra Club, and 350 Salem OR – my commitment to preserving our precious natural resources for future generations is unwavering.

What is your prior government/civic experience?

Two terms, Oregon State Senator (Senate President Pro Tempore); Commissioner, Eugene Water Electric Board; Commissioner, Oregon Commission on Black Affairs.

Sometimes, the secretary of state has to decide whether to remove candidates from the ballot. How would you have handled the decision whether to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot and the decision to remove 2022 gubernatorial candidate Nick Kristoff?

Secretary LaVonne Griffin-Valade appropriately ruled; I, too, would listen to the courts and adhere to the rule of law.

Considering the Oregon Constitution clearly states residency requirements for gubernatorial candidates (they must live in the state for three years before an election), Secretary Shemia Fagan made an appropriate call as well.

In 2023, Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade joined the nationwide #TrustedInfo2024 campaign to increase trust in election officials amid the spread of misinformation surrounding elections and voter information. If elected, how would you build trust in Oregon elections?

The presumptive Republican nominee, my senate colleague Dennis Linthicum, has a history of denying election results and he longs to take us back to the days of waiting in long lines and voter suppression. As Secretary of State, I will combat misinformation and disinformation tactics online, in printed materials, and in every arena in which the office operates. In particular, I will make cybersecurity and data protection a top priority. I will expand Automatic Voter Registration for eligible college and university students, and I will protect Vote-by-Mail. And I will work with the Elections Division and County Clerks to achieve consistency in policy and practice, providing critical funding for vital voter outreach and information for all 36 county elections offices.

A Reed College study, published in 2023, found county election offices in Oregon are struggling to retain and recruit workers amid a “toxic” political landscape, inadequate funding, and a rapidly changing workload. How will you support Oregon election workers?

These troubling points are among the many reasons why I have requested of the Senate President a package of $5-10 million to bolster security, training, and retention of Elections workers throughout Oregon’s 36 counties.

What do you think is going right in the secretary of state’s office? How would you build on it?

Oregon boasts the highest voter turnout in the nation. I am excited to preserve, protect, and expand our systems of participation for eligible voters that allow for an informed electorate to vote by mail, utilize paid postage, and register online or through Automatic Voter Registration such as Motor Voter and OHA. However, as mentioned earlier, AVR can and should be expanded to bring in thousands of eligible college-age university students who may not be on the rolls through OMV and OHA.

What changes do you want to bring to the Oregon Secretary of State’s office?

I want to restore trust and integrity to the office. As a public servant, not a politician, I am running for Secretary of State, not Governor.

I will conduct sensing sessions and 36-county listening sessions to gauge the temperature of the workforce while reaching out to all corners of the state through a 36-county SOS tour.

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