Greg Macpherson is a three-term State Representative from Oregon’s House District 38. Born in Corvallis, and raised on a dairy farm in rural Linn County, Greg is a third-generation Oregonian.

A Democrat, Greg was first elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 2002, and is currently Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for legislation protecting public safety, civil liberties, and consumer rights in Oregon.

In the House of Representatives, Greg helped develop and pass the country’s toughest restrictions on the raw material used to make meth. As a result, home meth labs in Oregon have been nearly eliminated. He passed legislation cracking down on internet sex predators. In 2003, he helped develop legislation to stabilize the state PERS system, ensuring that public employees have a secure retirement. More recently, he worked on several major bills promoting renewable energy, and crafted Measure 49, to protect farm lands and open space.

In addition to serving in the legislature, Greg has spent over 30 years as an employee benefits attorney, helping to provide health and retirement benefits to Oregon workers. His work has been recognized for excellence in the Best Lawyers in America and Oregon Super Lawyers.

As Attorney General Greg is committed to being the "People's Advocate" by:

• Promoting the personal safety of Oregonians with sensible use of criminal justice.
• Protecting the financial security of Oregonians with strong consumer protections.
• Protecting workers’ rights with passion and commitment.
• Defending the civil rights of Oregonians with vigorous litigation.
• Safeguarding Oregon's natural beauty and protecting our environmental legacy using responsible, proactive problem solving, increased law enforcement and improved communication with the public.

Read more about the issues here.

Listen to the full story here.

One of the biggest statewide races in this year's primary is the contest for Attorney General. Incumbent Hardy Myers is stepping down, and two Democrats want to replace him: State Representative Greg Macpherson, and Lewis and Clark law professor John Kroger.

This week, we're bringing you a pair of stories focusing on the candidates, and their signature issues. April Baer begins our coverage with the issue Greg Macpherson calls key.

If Greg Macpherson's elected Attorney General, he's promising to work on consumer protections and worker's rights, among other issues. But he's emphatic: sentencing policy has to be a priority.

Greg Macpherson: "All of our budgets, whether it's our school budget, our health care budget, our public safety budgets--all of those budgets are constrained because we're spending so much money building prisons, and more than doubling our prison population."

"[Macpherson] has proven himself one of the smartest, most effective and most courageous legislators in Salem. In our admittedly unscientific but eerily accurate “Good, Bad and Awful” surveys rating state lawmakers, he always scores right at the top.

...we know [Macpherson's] an outstanding legislator with integrity and the ability to find consensus. Strikes us that those are good skills to run the state’s largest law firm."

Pushing his campaign pledge to be the people's chief advocate, Greg Macpherson, one of two Democratic candidates for Attorney General, makes a stop in Coos Bay on Tuesday.

Local supporters including State Representative Arnie Roblan, Senator Joanne Verger and many others turned up for the community gathering hosted for Macpherson at Benetti's Restaurant.

His many campaign platforms include protecting Oregon's environment and consumers but there is one main issue he hopes to tackle in office.

"I think we need to beef up the consumer protection aspect of the Department of Justice. There are new threats coming at Oregonians, particularly over the Internet with identity theft. We need to make sure we are responding to these new threats."

Two legal minds vie to be Oregon attorney general

Macpherson, a pension lawyer and Lake Oswego legislator, wants to expand consumer protection and reconsider some Measure 11 mandatory minimum prison sentences that take money from education and health care. He touts his three terms in the Legislature as proof of his ability.

"I've taken tough issues, and I've worked them through," Macpherson said.

Read the full story HERE.

"Macpherson, an accomplished three-term state legislator and attorney from Lake Oswego, has the political backbone, legal temperament and thorough grounding in key Oregon issues necessary to be an outstanding attorney general. At a time when bipartisan leadership on land use law, civil rights and prison policy is crucial to Oregon’s future, Democrats shouldn’t hesitate to vote for Macpherson...

Macpherson is no slouch when it comes to addressing Oregon’s most significant drug crime: methamphetamine abuse...

That gives Macpherson an edge in this race, and it’s why Democrats should support him."

"...only one candidate – state Rep. Greg Macpherson of Lake Oswego – has the prerequisite knowledge of Oregon, its people and the institutions necessary to hold statewide office...

He knows the issues and better understands the role of Oregon’s attorney general.

Knowledge and experience are essential for the attorney general to be successful. Yes, we would like to see a more activist attorney general than Oregon has had in the past, but it is Macpherson who has developed the experience and relationships necessary to make that advocacy achieve results.

With no Republican running in the fall, whoever wins this race will be the next attorney general. We recommend that voters choose Greg Macpherson."

"[Macpherson] also served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, preparing him for the attorney general's job of dealing with the Legislature and for serving as counsel to state agencies.

...in this race, because of achievements, background and policy positions, Oregon Democrats should pick Greg Macpherson as Oregon's next attorney general."

"Democrats voting in next month’s primary will choose between a pair of impressive candidates for state attorney general. They should pick Greg Macpherson, who has at least two things to recommend him that opponent John Kroger does not. They are a focused, productive tenure in the Legislature and the support of the lawyers the next attorney general will supervise...

Macpherson is better qualified. For that reason, Democrats should vote for him."

Here is what they had to say about picking Greg:

"When House Bill 2007 made its way to the Oregon House floor, it was Rep. Greg Macpherson, D-Lake Oswego, who carried the bill to House victory, battling back almost two hours of brutal debate from equal rights opponents. Macpherson's commitment to human rights doesn't end there. His progressive work on treatment of criminals, payday loan caps and protections of the natural Oregon landscape are all vote-worthy accomplishments. Macpherson is the candidate best poised to reclaim Oregon's initiative petition process for the state and to ensure all Oregonians are equally protected and supported by our laws."

For a complete list of endorsements, click HERE.

The union representing assistant attorneys general in Oregon on Friday threw their support behind state Rep. Greg Macpherson, who is vying for the Democratic nomination to succeed their boss.

The endorsement by the Oregon Association of Justice Attorneys is a major win for Macpherson.

"Rep. Greg Macpherson has the combination of legislative experience and knowledge of Oregon government to get the job done. Rep. Macpherson, who has chaired the Oregon House Judiciary Committee, also has a deep understanding of the nature and functions of the Department of Justice," the endorsement said.

Read the full story HERE.

With the primary election rapidly approaching, it might be no surprise that political candidates are passing through Astoria to court voters. But the Clatsop County Democratic Central Committee offered a chance to compare many of the local and statewide candidates for the May 20 election.

The committee held a candidates' night Thursday, giving hopefuls a chance to spend five minutes extolling their virtues.

It was a fast-paced evening. A five-minute speech isn't much time for swaying a crowd. But voters in attendance expressed pleasure at having a chance to speak to the candidates one-on-one.

...state Rep. Greg Macpherson, had similar views on targeting the "high-level traffickers." But, he also said Measure 11, which set mandatory sentencing for certain crimes, needs to be reconsidered too.

"Since (Measure 11) was passed, our prison system has doubled," Macpherson said. "We're one of five states who spend more on prisons than on education. It takes political courage to take on Measure 11."

Read the full story HERE.

OAJA is the representative union for non-management Assistant Attorneys General in Oregon, representing approximately 250 lawyers in service at the Department of Justice. OAJA's membership has a perspective and knowledge unique in the legal and labor communities regarding the scope of work of the Department of Justice and the role of the Attorney General in state government.

"I am honored to have the endorsement of the lawyers who protect Oregonians everyday," said Greg. "To be an effective leader, this support is essential to the effectiveness of the next Attorney General. "

For a complete list of endorsements click HERE.