John Kitzhaber was that rarest of politicians–a visionary. He shared the stage with the Dalai Lama in Portland; he courageously imposed a moratorium on the death penalty; his training as a physician informed his tireless work for access to health care for Oregonians; he returned from Bhutan convinced that human wellbeing and happiness should be measured by metrics other than consumption and unsustainable development. That being said, however, I am convinced that Kate Brown will be a worthy successor and a perfect match for our increasingly progressive state.