Ben Bowman
Re-election for State Representative, 25th District
Tigard, Oregon
What was the first major issue that got you into public service as a politician?
Public education. I come from a long line of teachers and I’m a product of Tigard-Tualatin public
schools. I’ve always believed that education can transform the trajectory of people’s lives, and
improving our system motivated me to run for the school board and then the legislature.
What is the core of your platform that represents you today?
Oregon should be the best place in America to live and raise a family: with world-class schools, a clean
environment, affordable housing, sustainable infrastructure, and abundant economic opportunity, free
from racism, homophobia, and all forms of bigotry. My platform is built around achieving that vision.
What is the thing you are most proud of achieving thus far?
My proudest legislative achievement so far is the work we’ve done to improve early literacy in Oregon.
I was the chief sponsor of a bill that will substantially improve the way we teach reading in Oregon schools while investing hundreds of millions more in literacy initiatives. I also secured funding to launch the Dolly Parton Imagination Library statewide in Oregon — meaning every child in Oregon, from birth to age five, will be eligible to receive a free children’s book in the mail each month. While this wasn’t the most high-profile issue of the session, it will be a big deal to kids and parents across Oregon, and it will help a generation of kids learn to love reading. That’s a big deal, and I’m genuinely proud to have helped make it happen.
What goals do you still have to accomplish?
Next session, I will bring back a bill designed to protect physician independence and curb the takeover
of medical clinics by private equity firms and large corporations. There is an alarming trend of corporatization and consolidation in the medical field, and the consequences for patients and physicians
are severe. We need to pass legislation that ensures doctors remain in charge of patient care—not
corporate boardrooms.
I’m also focused on ensuring that all kids who need reading glasses have access to them. Over 40,000
students in Oregon need glasses but don’t have them, which can lead to learning loss, behavioral issues,
and more. Some kids spend their school years thinking they’re stupid, only to later learn that they simply can’t see. This is unacceptable. Solving this problem will require creativity and public-private partnerships, but with the help of an innovative organization called Vision to Learn, I’m confident we can get it done.
What is the highest level you want to reach before leaving public office?
I’ve wanted to serve in the legislature since I interned in the State Capitol in 2013 as a college student. I
saw firsthand how one person can make a huge impact on many, and I wanted to have that opportunity.
I have no idea how long I’ll serve in the legislature or what will come next (I was just elected two years ago), but I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent my community.
Who inspires you to keep fighting even when the battles seem too much?
I often think of Teddy Roosevelt’s famous “Man in the Arena” quote (which hangs in my office); it
reminds me that it’s always better to try and fail than to never try at all. There’s too much at stake to sit
on the sidelines.
Who is your role model from history in public service?
Tom McCall, one of the greatest Oregonians of all time. He was visionary, eccentric, inspirational,
flawed, and brilliant. I admire him because he was a larger-than-life leader who was both effective and
human. One of my favorite books is a biography of McCall, Fire at Eden’s Gate by Brent Walth, which
beautifully paints a portrait of a complicated, sometimes contradictory man who always loved Oregon.
What advice do you have for the community to help make change happen, beyond voting?
Find a way to contribute. Run for office, serve on a committee, show up to a town hall, start a local
club, testify in the legislature, contribute to a campaign you believe in, knock doors for a candidate, or
register your neighbors to vote.
