Word on the street: Wheeler wants Mahonia?
Carla Axtman
The latest gossip whirling around my online water-cooler is that Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler is seriously considering entering the 2010 Governor's race.
(Mahonia Hall is the name of the Oregon Governor's residence, fyi).
I'm hearing that Wheeler is quietly chatting this up, no doubt on the lookout for how deep the support would be.
Thoughts?
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Jun 9, '09
Foolish. Wheeler is much better off waiting for Adams to implode.
11:37 a.m.
Jun 9, '09
And so it begins... you can be sure that there are lots of people thinking they should be governor. Which ones actually get past the "thinking" stage? Time will tell.
Jun 9, '09
I would hate to think that Kitzhaber can swoop in and get the Democratic nomination uncontested, and that Oregon Democrats would be willing to let that happen.
Jun 9, '09
Dr. John Kitzhaber will be our next Governor. Wheeler will have to wait for 2018.
Jun 9, '09
I've been favorably impressed by Wheeler.
Seems like a very competent administrator, not an attention whore, but a smart leader as well. I imagine he'd be a good governor.
12:05 p.m.
Jun 9, '09
I could get enthusiastic about a Ted Wheeler run for Governor. He's bright, energetic, and could bring fresh ideas to state government.
Can he run while remaining Multnomah County Chair?
Jun 9, '09
OK, Mult. County Chair, show us how well you understand the other 35 counties. Take a page out of Ron Wyden's book and do town hall meetings in the other 35 counties.
Where do you stand on the issues the folks in those other counties care about? What is your knowledge of Oregon's health care system, the economy of downstate counties, the issues the legislators from those counties care about?
Did you agree with the tax votes taken in the legislature on on 6/9 ? Did you agree with the great speeches given by downstate legislators Buckley, Barnhart, Gelser? Where do you stand on the issues raised in those debates?
What will you do to lead a discussion of Oregon's broken tax system? Will you talk with former Gov. Barbara Roberts about her Conversation with Oregon and explain that process to the voters you encounter? What is your answer to those who want a serious discussion of the history of our tax system and why it needs to be fixed? Can you do that without using jargon like "marginal tax rates"?
Can you state the affirmative of what you are for rather than just criticizing opponents? Do you think it is time to debate why administrators (be they agency heads, university administrators, public school administrators) deserve to earn more than the Governor? (I believe excellent school principals deserve to earn that kind of money, but question any other such high pay.)
Will you remember voters are individuals and a significant fraction are not registered with a major party?
If so, welcome to the debate. But if you talk about everyone belonging to a "community" (business, labor, environmental, education, etc.) then forget it. That is the oldest trick in the book and today one of the Republicans used it in the tax debate. Rep. Harker talked about his own small business, then a Republican said "the business community wants..." and Rep. Barnhart said, "Actually, what we heard from the business lobbyists was ...".
Jun 9, '09
LT...
Great comment!!!
12:35 p.m.
Jun 9, '09
Word around which online water cooler? This one? Hmm... I think you're pushing an agenda, Carla. How very Dershowitzian.
I'm kidding. Actually, I with Kari on this one. There's going to be a lot of talk about a lot of people, especially until Kitz makes a decision. I'll be interested to see if anyone is brazen enough (besides Bradbury, who is already out campaigning hard and getting a dialogue going...good on him) to announce before then.
It seems to me that Chair Wheeler is doing very well in his current job and would likely adeptly ascend to higher office if and when it is on his radar.
And I think there will be a lot of folks simultaneously eyeing both the gubernatorial race and the possibility of a mayoral recall. Personally, I'd like to see both the mayor and the Multnomah County chair stay where they are right now as we sort out severe budget issues and try to build some funding for education in Multnomah County/Portland schools. With these two co-chairing a task force tackling that issue, I'd like to see them have the opportunity to really take some action.
12:40 p.m.
Jun 9, '09
I like that we talk about the prospective candidates and their buzz. That's part of the fun...
But I'm weird that way.
Jun 9, '09
I hadn't heard this rumor...yet. But it is interesting. The fact that Ted's name comes up for just about every higher office, in every circle, says something about the kind of work he's doing and what we all think about that. That's got to make a few people nervous. Haha.
Keep it up, Ted...and if you do run? You can count on my support...but I really like what you're doing right where you are. Thanks.
1:42 p.m.
Jun 9, '09
Bev Stein did the Wyden thing as suggested, went all over the state meeting people. did her little good at all. Pete Sorenson busted his butt to meet Oregonians around the state; same thing. Vicki Walker has run into the same fate. jumping from local office to governor seems nigh-on impossible, especially when you face primary opponents already known & admired. and the primary is where the governship will be decided: we'll know our next Gov by the end of next May.
and it won't be Wheeler. but that's ok because he seems to have stabilized Mult Co, and that's a good job, too.
Jun 9, '09
I'd be fascinated to know where this came from since I know Ted pretty well and he hasn't mentioned it to me. I'd support him for Governor but my understanding is that he plans to support Kitzhaber in a run.
5:19 p.m.
Jun 9, '09
I would love to see Ted as governor. He is one of the most competent political executives in the state. I suspect that the rest of the state will find him very likeable if he decides to run. I do not think he will have any problem relating to people in all corners of the state.
Jun 9, '09
"Take a page out of Ron Wyden's book and do town hall meetings in the other 35 counties."
Uh, you mean just like Teddy K did? Wheeler is a sharp guy, he would be light years ahead of Kitzhaber who is a one-issue person.
Jun 9, '09
I am with Chuck. We are friend's of Ted's and he plans on supporting Kitzhaber in a run. I think someone is fishing here.
Jun 9, '09
Posted by: Cafe Today | Jun 9, 2009 11:29:52 AM
Foolish. Wheeler is much better off waiting for Adams to implode.
Which could be his cunning plan. Maybe he's ready to hit the street with a recall effort, and this is a distraction. Next 2-3 weeks are THE critical period for positioning your forces for the recall.
Recall? What recall? I read BO!
11:32 p.m.
Jun 9, '09
Taricha - If there's something you'd like covered, you know where the guest column link is.
Jun 10, '09