View source for Jeff Golden

{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox officeholder
|name        = Jeff Golden
|image       = JeffGolden.png
|caption = Golden in 2019
|state_senate= Oregon State
|district    = [[Oregon's 3rd Senate district|3rd]]
|term_start  = January 14, 2019
|term_end    = 
|predecessor = [[Alan DeBoer]]
|successor   = 
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1950|4|24}} 
|birth_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
|death_date  =
|death_place =
|party       = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse      = Catherine Shaw <small>(1979–1994)</small>
|children    = 2
|residence   = [[Oregon]], U.S.
|alma_mater  = [[Harvard University]]
|profession  = Radio personality, author, politician
|signature=Jeff Golden Signature.jpg
|website     = 
}}
'''Jeffrey Simon Golden''' (born April 24, 1950) is a political activist, radio personality, politician, and author from [[Southern Oregon]]. His commentary and political leaning are [[Progressivism|progressive]]. He is the producer and host of the regional [[PBS]] series [http://www.immensepossibilities.org Immense Possibilities]. In 2018, he was elected to the [[Oregon State Senate]], representing District 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-2018-official-results.pdf|title=November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes|publisher=[[Oregon Secretary of State]]|access-date=December 19, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215022220/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-2018-official-results.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Golden was born in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], the second of four children born to Lane and Jack Golden. His siblings include KC Golden, Policy Director for the [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]] based Climate Change Advocacy group Climate Solutions;<ref>{{cite web |title=KC Golden |work=About Us |publisher=Climate Solutions |year=2007 |url=http://www.climatesolutions.org/?s=staff |format=Website |access-date=December 21, 2008 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174417/http://www.climatesolutions.org/?s=staff |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael Golden, a tribal judge in [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]], [[California]]; and Jesse Golden. Jeff grew up in [[Beverly Hills]], [[California]], and graduated from [[Beverly Hills High School]] in 1968 as the [[Student Body President]] and at the top of his class.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

Golden attended [[Harvard University]] as a Harvard National Scholar, a [[scholarship]] program established in honor of Harvard’s 300th anniversary with the goal of encouraging and enabling a small number of the best students from across the nation to attend the university.<ref>[https://college.harvard.edu/about/mission-vision-history/history-financial-aid History of Financial Aid] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531194233/https://college.harvard.edu/about/mission-vision-history/history-financial-aid |date=May 31, 2022 }}, ''[[Harvard College]]'', 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.</ref> At college, Golden was active in efforts in [[opposition to the Vietnam War]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} In May 1970, he tried to join the [[Venceremos Brigade]], but was turned down.<ref name="watermelon">{{cite book |last=Golden |first=Jeffrey |title=Watermelon Summer: A Journal |publisher=[[Lippincott Williams & Wilkins]] |year=1971 |location=[[Philadelphia]] |url=http://www.antiqbook.com/boox/bibman/25564.shtml |isbn=0-397-00770-1 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-date=December 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201011103/http://www.antiqbook.com/boox/bibman/25564.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead, Golden volunteered with northern students to support the work of Featherfield Farm, the first ever sharecroppers' cooperative, created under the Georgia Council on Human Relations in Southwest [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref>{{cite web
  | last=Paschall
  | first=Eliza K.
  | title=Georgia Council on Human Relations files, 1966-1968, Box 10 (folders 8-11)
  | work=Eliza K. Paschall papers, 1932-1988
  | publisher=[[Emory University|Emory University Libraries]]
  | date=1966–1968
  | url=http://marbl.library.emory.edu/FindingAids/content.php?el=c01&id=paschall532_100348
  | archive-url=https://archive.today/20070627055601/http://marbl.library.emory.edu/FindingAids/content.php?el=c01&id=paschall532_100348
  | url-status=dead
  | archive-date=June 27, 2007
  | format=Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
  | access-date=December 21, 2008}}</ref> The experience inspired Golden to leave Harvard and try to build a sustainable life on a plot of land in rural [[Southern Oregon]], an experience chronicled in Golden's first published book, ''Watermelon Summer: A Journal''.<ref name="watermelon"/>

In the early 1970s, Golden worked as a river guide for American River Touring Association. Golden and his then girlfriend Catherine Shaw were featured in the 1978 documentary film ''Riverdogs'' by fellow Harvard alumnus Robb Moss.<ref name="harvard">{{cite web |title=Robb Moss |work=Department of Visual and Environmental Studies |publisher=[[Harvard University]] |url=http://www.ves.fas.harvard.edu/moss.html |format=Website |access-date=December 21, 2008 |archive-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120065948/http://ves.fas.harvard.edu/moss.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film followed 17 people on a month-long rafting trip down the [[Colorado River]]. The couple were married the next year.

In 1980, Golden was accepted into the [[Stanford University]]’s Broadcast Communications master's program after publishing ''Watermelon Summer'', an essay about his life in the 1970s.<ref name="forestblood">{{cite book
 |last=Golden
 |first=Jeffrey
 |title=Forest Blood
 |publisher=Wellstone Press
 |date=February 1999
 |url=http://www.forestblood.com/about.htm
 |isbn=0-9647066-7-9
 |access-date=August 3, 2008
 |archive-date=November 21, 2008
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121000902/http://www.forestblood.com/about.htm
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref> The couple had two children<ref name="forestblood"/> before divorcing in 1994, and Shaw went on to have a career as a politician and [[political consultant]]. Both appeared in the 2003 documentary film ''[[The Same River Twice]]'', a follow-up to ''Riverdogs''.

==Career==
Golden has spent 25 years in [[public broadcasting]], [[print journalism]], [[politics]], and [[mediation]]. For 10 years, he was the host for [[Jefferson Public Radio]]’s show ''Jefferson Exchange'', from 1997-2007. This award-winning daily talk and interview program aired on [[NPR]]’s largest regional network in [[Southern Oregon]] and [[Northern California]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

The show was described by the website as a "lively two-hour interactive program devoted to issues facing the [[Jefferson (Pacific state)|State of Jefferson]], the Northwest, the nation and the world. In the first hour, Jeff trades views with callers on a wide range of topics. In hour two, fascinating guests join in the discussion."<ref name="jefferson">{{cite web |last= Johnson |first=Nicholas |title =Media's Role, Power and Censorship |work=[[Jefferson Public Radio]] |publisher=[[Southern Oregon University]] |date=September 6, 2002 |url=http://www.uiowa.edu/~cyberlaw/writing/jnet0906.htm |format=Webpage |access-date=December 21, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Golden left the radio show in June 2007 to explore a candidacy for the [[United States Senate]] in the [[United States Senate election in Oregon, 2008|2008 election]].<ref name="ashland-28June07">{{cite web |last=Green |first=Mike |title=Jeff Golden resigns from JPR |work=Local News & Events |publisher=[[Ashland Daily Tidings]] |date=June 28, 2007 |url=http://www.dailytidingsforum.com/index.php?showtopic=846 |format=Forum |access-date=December 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070509191306/http://www.dailytidingsforum.com/index.php?showtopic=846 |archive-date=May 9, 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> After opting to not run in August 2007, he started a new independent radio program called Immense Possibilities Radio (IPR).<ref>{{cite web
 |last=Darling
 |first=John
 |title=Jeff Golden sees immense possibilities in radio
 |work=Valley & State
 |publisher=[[Ashland Daily Tidings]]
 |date=March 12, 2008
|url=http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0312/stories/0312_valley_jeffgolden.php
 |format=Article
 |access-date=December 21, 2008
|archive-date=May 13, 2008
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513042227/http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0312/stories/0312_valley_jeffgolden.php
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref> The purpose behind IPR, as describe by PERC.org, is to "strengthen civic involvement and harness the power of talk radio for quality, open-minded dialogue. By bringing individuals together on the air, Golden wants to minimize conflicts over ideology and focus on ‘what works.’"{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}<!--ref>[http://www.perc.org/enviroprog/journalists/media/fellows.php]</ref-->

===Politics===
Golden served as [[County Commissioner]] for [[Jackson County, Oregon]] from 1987-1991. During this time, he became involved in the spotted owl controversy and petitions for his recall circulated among logging advocacy groups. One result in the wake of the controversy was his nomination for the [[John F. Kennedy Library Foundation]] Profile and Courage award,{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} the nation's most prestigious honor for elected public servants<!--ref>[http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/]</ref--> Golden was the first nominee from Oregon.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

In 1990, after narrowly losing to fourth-term Republican incumbent [[Lenn Hannon]] for a seat in the State Senate, Golden took the position of [[Bill Bradbury]]’s [[Chief of Staff]] in 1993. Bradbury was President of the [[Oregon Senate]] at the time.<ref name="ashland-27jun07">{{cite web |last=Rizo |first=Chris |title=Golden weighs U.S. Senate bid |work=Valley & State |publisher=[[Ashland Daily Tidings]] |date=June 27, 2007 |url=http://www.dailytidings.com/2007/0627/stories/0627_golden.php |format=Article |access-date=December 21, 2008 |archive-date=July 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701050841/http://www.dailytidings.com/2007/0627/stories/0627_golden.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In July 2007, Golden announced his intention to run against [[Gordon Smith (politician)|Gordon Smith]] for the US Senate seat for Oregon.<ref name="BO-27Jun07">{{cite web |title=Smith '08: Jeff Golden considers a run |work=In the news 2007 |publisher=[[BlueOregon]] |date=June 27, 2007 |url=http://www.blueoregon.com/2007/06/smith-08-jeff-g.html |format=Blog |access-date=December 21, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=May 2022}}</ref> Golden stepped out of the election in August 2007.

==Works==

===Books===
*''Watermelon Summer: A Journal Published'' (1971) - an account of Golden’s decision to drop out of Harvard and live [[off-the-grid]] in rural [[Southern Oregon]].<ref name="watermelon"/> <small>({{ISBN|0397007701}})</small>
*''Forest Blood'' (1999) -  a novel about the Northwest timber wars challenging the dichotomy of "us versus them" between the [[environmentalists]] and [[loggers]] in [[Southern Oregon]].<ref name="forestblood"/> <small>({{ISBN|0964706679}})</small>
*''As If We Were Grownups: A Collection of "Suicidal" Political Speeches That Aren’t'' (2004) - is based on the premise that [[politicians]] address the American public as though they were children and is a collection of speeches that are addressed to an audience that would be the least likely to want to hear them.<ref name="asif">{{cite book |last=Golden |first=Jeffrey |title=Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible |publisher=Riverwood Books |year=2008 |url=http://www.asifweweregrownups.org/ |isbn=978-1-883991-73-9 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708181740/http://www.asifweweregrownups.org/ |archive-date=July 8, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <small>({{ISBN|1883991730}})</small>
*''Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible'' - an alternate history premised on [[John F. Kennedy]] surviving [[John F. Kennedy assassination|the assassination attempt]] in Dallas and serving two full terms.<ref name="unafraid">{{cite book |last=Golden |first=Jeffrey |title=Watermelon Summer: A Journal |publisher=[[iUniverse]] |year=2008 |url=http://www.unafraidthebook.com/ |isbn=978-0-595-47192-8 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705193324/http://www.unafraidthebook.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> <small>({{ISBN|0595471927}})</small>

===Filmography===
*''Riverdogs'' (1978) -  documentary following 16 [[hippies]] for a month-long rafting trip down the [[Colorado River]].
*''[[The Same River Twice]]'' (2003) - a follow-up documentary on the lives of the cast in ''Riverdogs''

==Electoral history==

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[2018 Oregon legislative election|2018 Oregon State Senator]], [[Oregon's 3rd Senate district|3rd district]]
<ref>{{cite web
| title = November 6, 2018, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873825
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = April 6, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406153942/http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/6873825
| url-status = live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Golden
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 35,834
| percentage = 55.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jessica Gomez
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 29,065
| percentage = 44.7}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 75
| percentage = 0.1}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 64,974
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[2022 Oregon Senate election|2022 Oregon State Senator]], [[Oregon's 3rd Senate district|3rd district]]
<ref>{{cite web
| title = November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2022.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = June 12, 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230612205817/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2022.pdf
| url-status = live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jeff Golden
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 33,468
| percentage = 51.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Randy Sparacino
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 30,980
| percentage = 48.0}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 51
| percentage = 0.1}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 64,499
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.senatorjeffgolden.com Campaign website]{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/golden Legislative website]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Oregon State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden, Jeff}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:County commissioners in Oregon]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Oregon state senators]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from Oregon]]
[[Category:People from Jackson County, Oregon]]