Gladstone and Oregon City

Integrity: 6.75

Brains: 8.04

Effectiveness: 6.13

Still baby-faced at 35, this Harvard-educated lawyer crossed caucus leadership in 2014, voting against a bill Democrats supported that would have rewritten the ballot title for a measure aimed at helping undocumented immigrants obtain driver’s licenses. That cost him a committee chairmanship and the clout that goes with it. But his work this year has earned him the biggest improvement among all the legislators in this survey. He’s worked to secure funding for the redevelopment of a bankrupt paper mill at Willamette Falls and insurance reform that provides greater coverage for injured motorists. “Seems to like being in the Legislature more this session,” says one lobbyist. “Unbelievably bright, a bit of a wasted talent,” says another.

REP. MARK JOHNSON

R-Hood River

Overall rating: 6.34

Integrity: 6.05

Brains: 6.61

Effectiveness: 6.35

A residential contractor and Hood River School Board member, whose mustache and jeans remind some people of a certain former governor, Johnson, 58, brings a useful set of tools to a building short of effective Republicans. “One of a sadly very few bright, genuinely moderate legislators,” says one lobbyist. Johnson worked across the aisle to help pass a couple of bills: one that beefs up charter school standards, and another aimed at providing lower cost college degrees. “Being in the minority sucks,” says one respondent, “and he doesn’t hide that. “

REP. BILL KENNEMER

R-Oregon City

Overall rating: 6.25

Integrity: 6.46

Brains: 6.54

Effectiveness: 5.75

Kennemer, 68, is serving his fourth term after a dozen years on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners and time in the Senate before that. He was the only Republican chief sponsor of a new law that prohibits the sale of vaping devices to minors. The retired psychologist also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to straighten out the mess around the annexation of Damascus. “The most moderate Republican,” says one lobbyist. “Absolutely ineffective now,” says another.

REP. ANN LININGER

D-Lake Oswego

Overall rating: 6.20

Integrity: 6.22

Brains: 6.93

Effectiveness: 5.46

Lininger, 47, a lawyer and former Clackamas County commissioner, came to Salem as a bright prospect and a got a big assignment for a rookie: She co-chairs the joint committee charged with implementing marijuana legalization. The consensus is, she’s greener than expected. “Could use a little more polish if she wants to be taken seriously,” says one observer. “Claimed to be a moderate pragmatist prior to session,” says a business lobbyist, “but she is easily one of the two or three most liberal members of her caucus.” Adds another observer, “In a hurry to be somebody.”

REP. LEW FREDERICK

D-Portland

Overall rating: 6.13

Integrity: 7.22

Brains: 6.22

Effectiveness: 4.96

As the only African-American in the House, Frederick, 63, a former Portland Public Schools spokesman and TV reporter, carries a heavy burden, and insiders say he’s doing better than in past years. “Starting to wake up,” says a lobbyist. In his fourth session, he’s pushed for an anti-profiling bill and legislation to expunge marijuana convictions, which disproportionately affect African-Americans. “Would accomplish more if he wasn’t obsessed with self-promotion,” says one observer.

REP. JOE GALLEGOS

D-Hillsboro

Overall rating: 6.10

Integrity: 7.45

Brains: 6.10

Effectiveness: 4.74

If the Legislature put up missing persons posters, Gallegos’ face would be everywhere. As it is, this grandfatherly retired college professor is coasting through his second term and is all but invisible. He moved legislation on English language learners that prevents ELL funds from being spent on unrelated programs. “Other than having a pulse and a D by his name, how on earth did this guy become a legislator?” asks one lobbyist. “I’ve met more engaging, and engaged, potted plants.”

Bad

SEN. LAURIE MONNES ANDERSON

D-Gresham

Overall rating: 5.80

Integrity: 6.74

Brains: 5.00

Effectiveness: 5.67

Monnes Anderson, 69, is a pleasant, if often puzzled, former nurse who long ago hit the low ceiling of her legislative abilities. She’s serving her sixth session in the Senate after two in the House. “Nice lady, an embarrassment as a senator,” one observer writes. Although Monnes Anderson is the longtime chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care, she hasn’t gained respect for her grasp of the topic. “Totally clueless even on the issues she champions,” one respondent says. “East County needs a strong voice,” another says, “and she ain’t it.”

SEN. CHIP SHIELDS

D-Portland

Overall rating: 5.73

Integrity: 5.16

Brains: 6.65

Effectiveness: 5.39

A veteran of three House sessions and now in his fourth as a senator, Shields, 47, is known for a couple of pet issues—advocating for prison inmates and against insurance companies. His session, however, was marked by his loss of the chairmanship of the Senate general government committee that he held in 2014. Shields was further marred by the exposure of an ethical oil slick. After taking a job with his family’s lubricant-manufacturing business, Shields had state Rep. Lew Frederick (D-Portland) introduce a bill that would require the state to use products such as those sold by the Shields family company. Although the Senate Special Committee on Conduct cleared Shields of ethical wrongdoing, it will take a while to sop up the mess to his reputation. “Should bring his dog to work,” says one observer, “so he has a friend in the building.”

SEN. ROD MONROE

D-East Portland

Overall rating: 5.71

Integrity: 6.96

Brains: 5.38

Effectiveness: 4.79

Monroe, 72, first won elected office in 1976, when there were more beavers than people in Oregon. The former teacher has served a total of 16 years in the Legislature in addition to time on the David Douglas School Board, the Mt. Hood Community College board and three terms on the Metro Council. For at least a decade, observers have commented that Monroe was way past his sell-by date. This session, Monroe worked on legislation to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of minors, but many observers wish Monroe, a fitness buff and lay minister, had not run for re-election in 2014. “Past his prime,” a typical commenter says. “Time to retire.”

Biggest Decline

SEN. DIANE ROSENBAUM

D-Portland/Milwaukie

Overall rating: 5.98

Integrity: 6.13

Brains: 6.26

Effectiveness: 5.55

Rosenbaum, 65, a retired communications workers union official in her fourth Senate session after five in the House, has struggled to make herself heard in a caucus led by voluble Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem). “Courtney smothers her,” one respondent says. She’s hurt by an inability to lead on issues that are squarely in her wheelhouse, such as statewide sick leave and raising the minimum wage. “Even the unions are embarrassed by her leadership,” a business lobbyist says. Rosenbaum is one of several legislators eyeing a run at secretary of state in 2016 and worked hard to pass the “motor voter” bill, a longtime priority of Gov. Kate Brown that could add 300,000 voters to the rolls. Not many are impressed. “So much to get done and so little energy to do it,” says a lobbyist. Another calls her a “lettuce sandwich.”

REP. JEFF REARDON

D-Happy Valley

Overall rating: 5.67

Integrity: 6.79

Brains: 5.54

Effectiveness: 4.67

In his second term, this 68-year-old retired shop teacher struggled to distinguish himself from a piece of lumber like those on which his students used to hammer. “Kind and good-hearted,” says one business lobbyist. “Not loud enough for anyone to hear.”

REP. KATHLEEN TAYLOR

D-Southeast Portland/Milwaukie

Overall rating: 5.56

Integrity: 6.63

Brains: 5.84

Effectiveness: 4.21

A rookie lawmaker, Taylor, 48, looked promising on paper: She’s a former government auditor and court-appointed special advocate. As an elected official, however, she seemed lost and focused on a narrow agenda—keeping e-cigs out of the hands of children. Many respondents didn’t bother commenting on her at all. Those who did were dismissive. “What a disappointment,” says one observer. “Batshit,” says another.

REP. CHRIS GORSEK

D-Troutdale

Overall rating: 5.47

Integrity: 6.41

Brains: 5.32

Effectiveness: 4.68

Gorsek, a second-termer, teaches geography at Mt. Hood Community College but couldnât find relevance in Salem with a map. “Thereâs no there there,” says one lobbyist. The stocky former Portland cop passed a bill that will shift economic development subsidies more toward east Multnomah County and rural areas, but survey respondents say he’s mostly taking up space. Says one lobbyist, “Squirrels on water skis have more of an impact on the state of Oregon than this guy.”

REP. JULIE PARRISH

R-West Linn

Overall rating: 5.35

Integrity: 5.26

Brains: 6.15

Effectiveness: 4.65

There are few more polarizing or consistently misunderstood figures in Salem than Parrish. A third-termer, Parrish, 41, is a pro-choice Republican who wins in a Democratic majority district. She in effect runs a printing press in her office: Parrish was the chief sponsor on 80 bills this session, which her caucus says is the most in the building. Many addressed ethics and campaign finance and promptly got recycled. Parrish got kicked out of caucus leadership because of her independence and her attention-getting efforts. “Her endless quest for self-promotion limits her ability to be effective,” writes a lobbyist. “Always accessible,” adds another, “because no one wants to talk to her.”

Awful