Gov. Kate Brown wants Oregon state employees to share their stories of innovation, cost savings and great customer service with her.

In a Nov. 27 email, the governor cited a couple examples of what she considers innovation by the state: leadership changes at the Oregon State Police, a program to improve primary health care and a large cut in the budgeted jobs at the transportation department.

"During my two years as governor and my 26 years before that in public service, I've noticed some themes in what people tell me they believe about state employees," Brown wrote. "People tell me that we don't like change; that we can't be expected to innovate; that as a team we are not able to be better, faster, and more efficient with taxpayer dollars. That's total bunk."

Brown concluded by asking state employees to send in their own examples and anecdotes.

Within hours, employees wrote back with stories of programs to improve child welfare, save money on fleet vehicle maintenance and eliminate water-intensive landscaping. The governor's office released the documents in response to a public records request from an editor at The Bulletin newspaper in Bend.

Some staffers pleaded for better work tools, with one employee asking the governor to "please, please, please" advocate for replacement of antiquated database software and other technology.

But one state official had a sharper response.

Kim Sordyl poses for a photo at her home in Portland.

"Thank you for seeking 'great stories and examples' of public employees for your campaign," wrote Kim Sordyl, a non-voting member of the Oregon Board of Education. Sordyl went on to list a handful of news stories about problems in state government, before concluding: "From now on, it'd be great if you didn't have public employees working on the campaign during work hours."

Brown said in her email that she wanted to "share our stories with people who underestimate us." The governor's press secretary Bryan Hockaday wrote in an email that Brown "wants employees and agency leaders to view state government as an enterprise that works together and learns from each other to improve the lives of Oregonians." Hockaday said the ideas could inspire other state employees and potentially be replicated.

After lawsuit targets parent for seeking records, state to audit Portland schools

Sordyl, who describes herself on Twitter as an education advocate, is a familiar figure in Portland education circles. Portland Public Schools sued Sordyl after she filed a public records request, which Secretary of State Dennis Richardson cited as one reason the district deserved a state audit. Sordyl is a registered Democrat, but campaigned for Richardson who is currently the only Republican to hold statewide elected office. It was Richardson who appointed Sordyl to serve as a non-voting member of the Oregon Board of Education.

Sordyl could not be reached for comment.

-- Hillary Borrud

503-294-4034; @hborrud