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Brady L. Adams
State Senate President Brady Adams
53rd President of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1997–2000
Preceded byGordon H. Smith
Succeeded byGene Derfler
Majority Leader of the Oregon State Senate
In office
1995–1997
Preceded byDick Springer
Succeeded byGene Derfler
Member of the Oregon State Senate from the 25th district
In office
1993–2000
Preceded byRon Grensky
Succeeded byJason Atkinson
Personal details
Born(1945-02-28)February 28, 1945
Vanport, Oregon, U.S.
DiedApril 6, 2015(2015-04-06) (aged 70)
Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePatricia Anderson
ProfessionBanker

Brady Leonard Adams (February 28, 1945 – April 6, 2015) was an American politician and banker from Grants Pass. He served eight years in the Oregon State Senate from 1993 through 2000. Adams was a conservative Republican who represented two Southern Oregon counties in the state senate. He was President of the Oregon State Senate during the 1997 and 1999 legislative sessions. During his time in the legislature, Adams was known for his ability to work with the state's Democratic governor as well as his peers in the state legislature. Over the years, he also served on the board of directors for more than 20 non-profit organizations.

Early life

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Adams was born on February 28, 1945, in Vanport, Oregon, a community built next to the Columbia River during World War II to provide housing for Portland's shipyard workers. He grew up in poverty. His parents were migrant workers who moved frequently. In addition, his father was an alcoholic who was often absent from the family. His unstable early years helped instill in him a drive to use education to better his position in life.[1][2][3][4]

Adams graduated from North Salem High School in 1963 and then went on to attend Portland State University. He worked his way through college, filling vending machines.[1][2][3][4] In 1965, Adams married Patricia Jean Anderson in a wedding ceremony held in Salem, Oregon.[5][6] Adams earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Portland State, graduating in 1969.[4]

Adams moved to Grants Pass in 1971, where he took a job as a loan officer at Evergreen Federal Savings and Loan. He quickly got involved in a wide variety of charitable activities and community projects, serving on the board of directors of many local non-profit groups. Over time, he proved to be a successful banker, becoming president of the Evergreen bank in 1988.[1][2][3][4]

State senator

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Adams, a conservative Republican, was first elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1992. He served in the state senate for a total of eight years, completing his last term in 2000. During his tenure in the senate, he was widely recognized as a tough negotiator who worked with Oregon's Democratic governor, John Kitzhaber, and fellow legislators to find middle-ground compromises that resolved important contemporary issues.[1][4][7][8]

In 1992, Adams had decided to run for the Oregon senate seat in District 25, representing parts of Jackson and Josephine counties in Southern Oregon. He faced Drenon Carlyle of Medford in the Republican primary while Rebecca Brown of Williams and Robert Lee of Grants Pass competed for the Democratic nomination for the seat. Adams won the Republican primary, while Brown became the Democratic nominee. In the general election, Adams easily beat Brown with a two-to-one majority; Adams received 27,376 votes against Brown's 13,904 votes.[4][9][10][11] Adams was one of five new Republican senators elected that year.[12]

Adams took his seat in the Oregon State Senate on January 11, 1993, representing District 25. He served through the 1993 regular legislative session which ended on August 5. Adams was appointed to three committees: housing and finance, business, and revenue and school finance.[13][14] During the session, he criticized the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Department for ignoring local planning commissions.[15] He opposed a bill to ban workplace smoking because he felt the penalties were too harsh.[16] He also voted against a measure to create a state sales tax.[17]

Since state senators served a four-year term, Adams did not have to run for re-election in 1994. Prior to the 1994 general election, the media reported that Adams would be a contender for a Republican leadership position when the state senate was organized for the 1995 legislative session.[18] After the election, Republicans held a 19 to 11 majority in the Oregon State Senate. When senate Republicans organized after the election, they chose Adams as the senate majority leader.[19][20]

The 1995 legislative session began on January 9 and lasted through June 10. During the session, Adams served as the majority leader, helping the President of the Senate, Gordon H. Smith, push the Republicans' legislative agenda.[20][21] Adams also served in two special sessions that followed the 1995 regular session. The first special session began on July 28 and lasted through August 4.[22] The second special session, in early 1996, lasted only two days, beginning on February 1 and adjourning the following day.[23]

President of the Senate

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In 1996, Adams ran for a second four-year term in Oregon's state senate, again representing District 25. He had no opposition in either the Republican primary or the general election, so he was easily re-elected to a second term.[24]

In the 1996 election, Republicans retained control of the state senate with a 20 to 10 majority. After the election, Republican senators selected Adams as their party leader and candidate for senate president. The 1997 session began on January 13. The following day, Adams was elected President of the Senate and sworn into office.[25][26][27] As the session got underway, Adams made senate committee assignments.[28] He also announced his legislative priorities for the session. Among other things, he said the Republican majority would focus on the state's budget process, education reform, and public financing for child care. He also said he would take action to give citizens more visibility into legislative decision making and government operations.[29]

During the 1997 legislative session, Republicans held majorities in both the Oregon House of Representatives and the state senate. As a result, the Republican agenda was incorporated into numerous bills. However, the Democratic governor, John Kitzhaber, vetoed 43 of those bills. Nevertheless, last-minute negotiation between Adams and the governor produced compromises that allowed key legislation to be passed and signed into law.[30][31] The 1997 legislative session ended on July 5 of that year.[25]

After the 1997 legislative session ended, Adams appointed senators to 15 interim committees, each committee was assigned to study a key issue and prepare draft legislation for the 1999 legislative session to consider. Adams appointed himself to the interim committee studying budget reform.[32][33]

Once again, his four-year senate term meant that Adams did not have to run for re-election prior to the 1999 legislative session. As a result, local media speculated that Adams might run for governor against the popular incumbent Democrat, John Kitzhaber. However, Adams decided not to run for governor.[34][35][36] Instead, he endorsed fellow Republican Bill Sizemore, who was ultimately defeated by Kitzhaber in the 1998 general election.[37][38]

When the 1999 legislative session began on January 13, Adams was once again elected President of the Senate. This time it was a unanimous vote, with both Republican and Democratic senators casting their votes for Adams.[39][40][41] Adams had previously announced his choices for committee chairs, so the senate got off to a quick start.[42] Adams announced that his top priority for the 1999 legislative session would be to pass a tax cut for middle-class families. Oregon's Democratic governor said he might support the tax cut depending on how the Republican legislature planned to replace the lost revenue.[43] Despite early bipartisan rhetoric, the state education budget became a major sticking point for both Republicans and Democrats, with the Republican majorities in the Senate and House facing off against the Democratic minorities and the governor. Eventually, the Republicans set the governor's budget aside and offered a new budget plan.[44][45] With the Republicans threatening to pass the state budget without any Democratic votes and the governor threatening to veto the Republican budget bill, which would have forced a special session to re-address the budget, Adams and the governor worked out a last-minute compromise that increased the education budget, ensured more accountability in the budget process, and preserved the governor's health care plan.[46][47]

When the session finally adjourned on July 5, it was the third-longest legislative session in Oregon history. Despite the partisan bickering, over 1,200 bills were passed, the most ever. While the governor imposed a record number of vetoes, Republicans countered by referring a record number of issues to the people in the form of ballot measures. Adams successfully pushed through a tax cut in the form of an expansion of the child-care credit for middle and low-income families. He also got an increase in the state's federal income tax deduction incorporated into a ballot measure and ensured that any tax surplus would be refunded directly to Oregon taxpayers.[39][48] After the session, the media highlighted Adams as the state's most capable leader, noting that he treated everyone in both parties with respect and championed compromises that were the key to getting things done in an otherwise contentious political environment.[8]

Adams continued representing senate District 25 and served as President of the Senate until his four-year term ended in 2000. After the 1999 legislative session ended, he appointed senators to serve on various interim committees to study important issues prior to the next legislative session.[49] He also served as co-chairman of the powerful Oregon Emergency Board, a statutory committee of the state legislature that functions in place of legislature when that body is out of session.[50]

Later life

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Adams could not run for re-election in 2000 due to Oregon's term-limit law that was in effect at that time. After leaving the state senate, Adams went back to his banking business in Grants Pass. He also remained active in state and local politics and supported numerous community service groups across southern Oregon.[4][51][52][53]

As president of Evergreen Federal Bank, Adams was an important business leader in Grants Pass. He was also well known around the state as a successful businessman. In 2007, he was inducted into the Oregon Bankers Hall of Fame.[1][3][54] During the economic downturn in 2008, the federal government handed out $250 million to community banks around the country. Adams was opposed to this intervention, believing that it was an unnecessary corporate welfare program. To support this view, he noted that his bank had over 2,000 outstanding loans and only 3 borrowers were behind on their payments.[55] Adams retired from Evergreen bank in 2010.[1]

Adams also used his influence to improve the Grants Pass community. He founded BearFest in 2003, an annual event that is still a part of the Grants Pass civic calendar. BearFest features whimsical fiberglass bear statues placed around the town.[1] Eventually, the bank sponsored the Evergreen Bear Hotel, which is used to store and display bear sculptures and other public artwork. It also provides space for local artists and community events. Over the years, Adams served on the board of directors for more than 20 non-profit organizations and led over 50 community projects in Grants Pass and the broader Josephine County area.[1][2][4][56] On May 12, 2005, Grants Pass celebrated Brady Adams Day.[3]

Adams suffered from Parkinson's disease in his later years. He died on April 6, 2015, in Grants Pass at the age of 70. Shortly after his death, his family held a private memorial and funeral service. Adams was interred at the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Grants Pass. A public memorial for Adams was held in Grants Pass on May 2, 2015.[1][3][4][7]

In 2016, the Oregon legislature passed a concurrent resolution recognizing Adams for his personal leadership and his many years of public service. A copy of the resolution was presented to the Adams family in March 2016.[1][4] Today, a bronze statue of Adams is the central feature at the Grants Pass riverfront park. The restoration of the city's riverfront park was one of the many civic projects he led.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Mapes, Jeff, "Brady Adams, former Oregon Senate President, Dies at 70 in Grants Pass" Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, The Oregonian/OregonLive, Portland, Oregon, April 7, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Former State Senate President Brady Adams dies" Archived June 14, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, April 7, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Iconic Oregon public servant Brady Adams dies" Archived June 14, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press report, Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon April 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "In memoriam: Brady Adams, 1945-2015" Archived January 31, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Senate Concurrent Resolution 201, Oregon Laws 2016, Oregon State Legislature, 2016 Regular Session, March 2, 2016.
  5. ^ "Patricia Anderson Wed", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, May 6, 1965, p. 18.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Miss Anderson is Married", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, May 7, 1965, p. 20.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ a b "Ex-Senate Leader Adams Dies at 70", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, April 8, 2015, p. A5.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b Aguirre, Richard R., "Session Builds, Batters Careers", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 26, 1999, p. F5.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Candidate List – Oregon Senate", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 11, 1992, p. 25.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Commissioner Quits", Albany Democrat, Albany, Oregon, September 3, 1992, p. 5.(subscription required) Archived May 24, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Legislature Results", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 4, 1992, p. 4.(subscription required) Archived May 22, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Freshman in 1993 Legislature", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 8, 1992, p. 43.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "1993 Regular Session (67th) January 11 – August 5" Archived May 25, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed April 3, 2020.
  14. ^ "Senate Chooses Committee Members", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 19, 1993, p. 16.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "LCDC Budget Clears Senate", Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Oregon, June 3, 1993, p. 4.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Senate Kills Secondhand Smoke Measure", Coos Bay World, Coos Bay, Oregon, June 23, 1993, p. 14.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "How They Voted", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, August 4, 1993, p. 2.(subscription required) Archived May 22, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Blankenbaker, Ron, "November Election Offers Some Sure Things and, many more Gambles", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, August 7, 1994, p. 3.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Legislature Picks its Leaders", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 11, 1994, p. 8.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ a b "1995 Regular Session (68th) January 9 – June 10" Archived May 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed April 3, 2020.
  21. ^ "The GOP Agenda", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 13, 1994, p. 2.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "1995 First Special Session (68th) July 28 – August 4" Archived May 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed April 3, 2020.
  23. ^ "1996 Special Session (68th) February 1–2" Archived May 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed April 3, 2020.
  24. ^ "Election Filings", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 13, 1996, p. 4.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine. This source is correct regarding Adams filing for re-election in District 25 and the fact that he was unopposed in the Republican primary; in addition, no Democrats ran for the District 25 seat in 1996; while the above source shows Doug Inman filing as a Democrat in District 25, he actually filed in District 24, as confirmed in this article on election results The World, Coos Bay, Oregon May 22, 1996, p. 1.(subscription required) Archived May 22, 2022, at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ^ a b "1997 Regular Session (69th) January 13 – July 5" Archived May 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed April 3, 2020.
  26. ^ "The Senate", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 13, 1997, p. 34.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Pageantry Frames Opening of Session", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 14, 1997, p. 1.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ "Adams Picks Senate Committees", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, December 18, 1996, p. 5.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "Adams Outlines His Goals", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 23, 1997, p. C4 (18).(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ Cain, Brad, "Tracks, Timber Fall to Kitzhaber List of Vetos", Coos Bay World, Coos Bay, Oregon, August 16, 1997, p. 3.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "Legislature Approves Tax Cut for Low-Income Oregonians", Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Oregon, July 5, 1997, p. 2.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "Senators Appointed to Interim Panels", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, June 7, 1997, p. 8.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Beggs, Charles E., "Oregon Senators Panel to Draft Own Budget Plan", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, November 11, 1997, p. 6.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ "Sizemore", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 7, 1997, p. 1-2.(subscription required) Archived May 22, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ "Sizemore Would Enliven Campaign", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 16, 1997, p. 6C.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ Cain, Brad, "Lack of GOP Competition Takes Zip Out of Election", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 2, 1998, p. A5.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ Harris, Craig, "Sizemore Outlines Campaign Platform", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 11, 1998, p. 1 & 3.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ "Action Should Define Kitzhaber Second Term", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 4, 1998, p. 6C.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ a b "1999 Regular Session (70th) January 13 – July 5" Archived May 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed April 3, 2020.
  40. ^ "State Senate Re-elects", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, November 9, 1998, p. 6.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ "Divergent Issues Converge", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, January 12, 1999, p. 4.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ "Senate Committee Chairmen Named", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, November 10, 1998, p. C4.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  43. ^ "Top Issues in the 1999 Legislature", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 10, 1999, p. 67.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  44. ^ Beggs, Charles E., "GOP Signals Higher School Aid", Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Oregon, July 1, 1999, p. 1.(subscription required) Archived May 25, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ Law, Steve, "GOP Offer Could Break Budget Jam", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 1, 1999, p. 3C.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ "Budget Bickering Stymies Legislature", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 9, 1999, p. 1.(subscription required) Archived May 24, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  47. ^ Hunsberger, Sarah and Steve Law, "GOP, Kitzhaber Reach Budget Deal", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 24, 1999, p. 1-2.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ Law, Steve, "Political Bickering Produced a Messy, Productive Session", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 29, 1999, p. F1-F2.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  49. ^ "Committees Named for Senate, House", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 5, 1999, p. 3C.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ "Community Colleges will Ask for More Money", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, April 4, 2000, p. 4.(subscription required) Archived May 30, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  51. ^ "Term Limits Shorten Path to Top", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon February 13, 2000, p. 8A.(subscription required) Archived May 27, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  52. ^ "Derfler Picked to Lead State Senate", Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Oregon, November 11, 2000, p. 2.(subscription required) Archived May 22, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  53. ^ "Kevin Mannix", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, April 24, 2006, p. 2A.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  54. ^ "Bankers Association Makes Election", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, July 31, 2007, p. 7A.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  55. ^ Appelbaum, Binyamin, "Banks Resent Government Intrusion", Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Oregon, November 11, 2008, p. 2.(subscription required) Archived May 31, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
  56. ^ Evergreen BearFest Archived June 17, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, www.evergreenfederal.bank/BearFest, Evergreen Federal Bank, Grants Pass, Oregon, accessed May 19, 2022.
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