There he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics before taking a graduate degree in Comparative and International Education.

In 2011, he teamed with Rep. Vicki Berger to pass a sweeping expansion of the iconic Oregon Bottle Bill.

[7] Cannon was distinctive as the only member of Oregon's Legislature who refused to accept campaign contributions from political action committees.

In August 2011, Cannon resigned as State Representative when Governor John Kitzhaber appointed him as his education policy adviser.

[8] Cannon helped shepherd the state's efforts to win a waiver from No Child Left Behind[9] and was an architect of an overhaul of Oregon's higher education system in 2013.