Steve Novick

Infobox Politician
name = Steve Novick

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birth_date = birth date and age|1963|2|8
birth_place = Newark, N.J.
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party = Democratic
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occupation = Political activist
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alma_mater=University of Oregon
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Steven Novick (born February 8, 1963) is a long-time political activist, former environmental lawyer and candidate for the United States Senate. He ran for the Democratic Party's nomination in 2008 for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Gordon Smith in the U.S. state of Oregon, but narrowly lost to Oregon House speaker Jeff Merkley.cite news
last=Walsh
first=Edward
title=Merkley scores chance to take on Smith
work=The Oregonian
url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1211352909172240.xml&coll=7
date=2008-05-21
accessdate=2008-05-21]

Early life

Novick was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1963. His parents, a waitress and a union organizer, moved his family to Cottage Grove, Oregon, in 1973.

Novick was born with significant physical disabilities which include a missing left hand and missing fibula bones in his legs. As a result he uses a hook prosthesis and stands approximately 4'9" tall.cite news
last=Duin
first=Steve
title=An original takes aim at Gordon Smith
url=http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf?/base/news/117695313124480.xml&coll=7
work=The Oregonian
date=2007-04-19
accessdate=2007-04-26] His unusual physicality has prompted him to use the slogan "The Fighter with the Hard Left Hook." His levity about his physical stature has drawn both positive and negative reviews from the press.cite news
title=Primary down to one
work=Ashland Daily Tidings
date= September 20 2007
url=http://www.dailytidings.com/2007/0920/stories/0920_edit_senate.php]

In 1977, after low funding caused Novick's junior high school to close, he enrolled at the University of Oregon. After graduating at age 18, he attended Harvard Law School, earning a law degree at age 21.cite web|url=http://novickforsenate.org/about_steve|title=About Steve|accessdate=2008-01-31|publisher=NovickForSenate.org]

Career

Novick is an attorney and former U.S. Department of Justice litigator. He spent nearly ten years arguing on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), culminating in the Love Canal case, on which he served as lead counsel. Returning to Oregon, Novick worked as policy director for Tom Bruggere's 1996 Senate bid. He then served as chief of staff to the Democrats in the Oregon State Senate from 1997 to 1999.

Subsequently, he was Executive Director of the Center for Constructive Citizen Action, which spearheaded the fight against Bill Sizemore's Measure 91, which would have cut the State budget for schools, health care and public safety by more than 20%.Fact|date=January 2008

In 2002, Novick was policy director for Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski in his first, successful campaign for the governorship. From 2004 to 2006, he worked for Citizens for Oregon's Future, an organization dedicated to providing taxpayers useful, reliable information on tax and budget issues. In 2005, Novick developed a "balance the state budget" classroom exercise for high school students, which was used by social studies teachers in Creswell, Springfield, Salem and Portland.Fact|date=October 2007

Beginning in 1999, Novick turned his attention to the Oregon Lottery's payments to retailers, which he contended were illegally high. He and other education advocates brought a successful lawsuit challenging the lottery's payment, and redirected millions of dollars to Oregon public schools.cite court|litigants = Wolf v. Oregon Lottery Commission|court = Court of Appeals of the State of Oregon|date = December 13 2006 |vol=A125420|url=http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/A125420.htm]

enate candidacy

Novick announced his candidacy for the Senate on April 18 2007, after publishing a lengthy critique of Gordon Smith's record in "Willamette Week".cite news
title=If I ran
last=Novick
first=Steve
work=Willamette Week
url=http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3312/8503/
date=2007-01-31
accessdate=2007-05-06]

On July 1 2007, Novick announced that he had raised $190,000 in contributions during the first ten weeks of his campaign and was adding two paid campaign staff members.cite press release|url=http://url=www.novickforsenate.com/novick-u-s-senate-raises-190-000-second-quarter-announces-new-campaign-staff-0|title=Novick for U.S. Senate raises $190,000 in second quarter, announces new campaign staff|publisher=NovickForSenate.org|accessdate=2008-01-31]

By the end of 2007, Federal Election Commission records showed that Novick had raised a total of $563,000 from 2100 donors, with an average donation of $258. At the time of filing, he had $293,000 on hand.cite web|url=http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/01/senate-08-end-o.html|publisher=BlueOregon.com|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=Senate '08: End-of-year money numbers]

On January 11 2008, Novick released his first TV ad, a 30-second biographical spot that parodied the famous game show "To Tell the Truth". The ad was produced and created by the firm of Eichenbaum & Associates, which also created the ads used in Wisconsin U.S. Senator Russ Feingold's three successful statewide campaigns.cite web|url=http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=55737&sid=4&fid=1|title=Ad campaign emphasizes candidate’s uniqueness|last=Steves|first=David|work=Register-Guard|accessdate=2008-01-31]

Novick ended up with 41% of the vote in the Democratic primary, finishing a close second to Jeff Merkley. He has pledged to support Merkley in the general election.

Political positions

Novick spoke against the Iraq War in 2003, calling it "an oil grab and public-relations gimmick, sold on false pretenses, which is now producing $4 billion a month's worth of chaos."cite news
title=A strong left hook
work=Willamette Week
url=http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=4188
date=2003-08-06]

He accused Gordon Smith of changing his stance on illegal immigration to appease conservative voters. Novick stated, "It shows that he’s willing to do what it takes to get reelected. And if doing what it takes means punishing innocent children and turning against his previous so-called moderation on immigration, that’s what he will do."cite news|url=http://news.opb.org/article/sen-smiths-immigration-vote-draws-scrutiny/|title=Sen. Smith's Immigration Vote Draws Scrutiny|last=Fogarty|first=Colin|publisher=OPB.org|accessdate=2008-01-31]

Novick has advocated for the removal of the cap on Social Security taxes for income above $100,000. He has stated that borrowing against the Federal retirement program has threatened the program's longevity and solvency.cite news|url=http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=74796&sid=1&fid=1|title= Senate Democratic hopefuls fall to sniping|last=Steves|first=David|publisher=registerguard.com|accessdate=2008-03-27]

References

External links

* [http://www.novickforsenate.com/ Steve Novick for U.S. Senate] (official campaign site)
* [http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2008/3/10/20244/9796/Diary/Steve-Novick-takes-a-short-hook-shot Steve Novick interview] on The Young Turks (talk show)