Kari, Since you link to Jack Bogdanski's post about Kroger, I'd like to apologize for my snide response to you in the comment section over there. There's no reason it has to take that tone. Perhaps you were chapped by some comments I made earlier here that were an attempt at political humor in the tradition of Will Rogers. Whatever. In closing:
If there is a God in heaven USC will crush Ohio State this weekend.

This is why I hate Democratic primaries. We love you all, why must we take sides?

I suppose it's a lovely problem to have -- too much talent in the ring.

Kroger not running THIS TIME.

I'm still convinced he parachuted into Oregon from NY because politics there is a real logjam and he's hoping that after some time as AG he can be Governor.

This isn't that uncommon, for an East Coaster to pick out a smallish Western state to parachute into, for political purposes. Think Bill Richardson and NM.

no, Jack, i'm just saying that for many people, Oregon is a superior place to raise a family. the lack of income for many jobs in our state is frequently offset by the quality of life (ask those who choose to teach at our universities). i can't speak to his full reasons for moving here, but i am convinced he loves living here, loves the state and is dedicated to progressive politics and the people he serves. i'm not one of the cynics who've written him off as an Eastern carpetbagger.

"Oh, and Allen Alley stopped walking. Yawn."

Geez, Kari, give the guy a break.

Why do I have a picture in my mind of Kitz playing "whack-a-mole" as these folks heads pop up as actual or potential candidates?

I have a question or two for Lynn Peterson:

Is the county's decision to close its medical facilities an example of "accountability and transparency in decision-making"?  Because, I gotta tell you, a lot of us up here in Sandy and northeast Clackamas County sure don't think so. You left us high and dry up here on the mountain, blithely telling we OHP clients that a clinic in Woodburn would take up the slack. As a transportation wonk, have you ever charted the journey from Sandy to Woodburn, especially via public transportation? 

The county dangled the carrot of the long-promised expanded medical and public assistance facilities in Sandy when they tried to locate a secure halfway house for the criminally mentally ill here a few years back. That didn't happen*, and less than five years later, we're left with nothing. No medical facilities at all, and still, the long trip to either Oregon City or Milwaukee for human services. 

[*The secure residential home was eventually built in Milwaukee, and the process was just as contentious as the one in Sandy. It got built, so I guess that is progress, though I daresay the county learned nothing about transparency in the way they presented this to the two communities.]

I know Clackamas County is huge, but we up here on the mountain are sick of being ignored. I guess there's your old urban-rural divide on a more local level.   To be fair, I don't know how Ms. Peterson herself stood on these issues, only how the Board acted. But I'd sure like to know before getting behind her for Governor.

This isn't that uncommon, for an East Coaster to pick out a smallish Western state to parachute into, for political purposes.

And the problem? East coast transplants aren't getting appointed by fiat, they have to actually run in an election and convince people to vote for them. I don't give a damn where someone was born or where they've lived, if they are smart and talented and dedicated to Oregon (Kroger is all three), then what's the problem?

As a native Oregonian, I've never understood Oregon provincialism. Maybe it's because I moved away for awhile and came to realize there are a lot of people outside of Oregon who are a hell of a lot smarter than those currently in charge in this state. I hope ALL of them move here and decide to run for office.

Kitzhaber is light years more qualified than Peterson and much more popular than her, DeFazio and Bradbury combined. Gov/Doc can lend strength to the top of the ticket. The anti-taxers will be soon out in force on legislative races and we need to pick up seats, not gamble them.

We should not risk our relative gains on health care, mental illness treatment and tax equity at the last session.

And let us not forget that without Kitzhaber's 20 years of leadership, activism and organization those gains on health care would not have been possible.

This is not even close. Line up behind proven leadership or risk an upset in 2010.

If Kitzhaber was so qualified, why hasn't he done anything since he left office.
Ok, he talked about healthcare, and so did the rest of the country.
Next.

"We should not risk our relative gains on health care, mental illness treatment and tax equity at the last session."

Fireslayer: just curious, but where was Kitzhaber the last 8 years while so many Dems worked their tails off to build the legislative majorities that made those gains possible?

He went home after saying Oregon was "ungovernable" and others have made it governable. The risk is in putting someone who seems more about himself and not about the team back into the governor's office.

Dr. Kithaber was a pretty good Governor for the time. I would be very interested in why he wants to run again, why the state is "governable" now when it wasn't when he left office, what his plans are for the future and how he expects to work with his legislature regardless which party is in the majority.

I am thrilled that Lynn Peterson is exploring a run for Governor as she is one of the brightest young leaders in the state. I’ve seen her work up close and know her to be downright tireless in her efforts to work across urban, suburban and rural divides to solve problems such as an intractable sewer expansion plan and transportation funding. These issues aren’t sexy but Lynn’s track record distinguisher her as a leader rather than a talker. She also convinced County voters to modernize their form of government for the first time in 150 years.

Kitzhaber is certainly the odds on favorite in the democratic primary but I think that he is much more vulnerable in a general election than progressives think. The respective tenures of the last two democratic governors ended in complete economic meltdown and severe budget cuts. These problems were largely caused by external factors, but the point is that voters are going to be in a change mood next year and no matter what you think of Kitzhaber it is hard to characterize him as the change candidate.

Go Lynn!!!

Im a "transplant" to Oregon, but I love this place with all of my heart. Its a great State to bring up kids and just to "be". I like Kroger.

Somewhat off topic, but for those with an ear to the political machine, is Gordo likely to run for Gov as the R candidate? Seems like his participation might have a substantial impact on who the Ds should nominate. Kitz seems like the best choice to face Gordo in a "Battle of the Titans" general election. On the other hand, if the Rs nominate one of their usual nut jobs, any respectable D should have a fair chance.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2009/09/antitax_campaign_nears_1_milli.html#comments

has a great discussion going on which falls under the category of that old game show WHO DO YOU TRUST?

The Back to Basics, "all funds budget" people don't think there should be any restriction on using any funds--incl. federal funds and money from bond sales for things like building buildings and roads? Didn't we have a fight like this when Republicans controlled the legislature? Could they get all of their own members to go along with that approach?

Any serious candidate for Gov. would be able to state their view on the "all funds budget" question. Are they with the anti-taxers, or with the Ways and Means Co-Chairs and others who say they are not allowed to use all of the various funds in the all funds budget?

In answer to Greg D., I don't think Gordon would be a serious candidate for Gov. if he can't answer that question. Just as he was defeated for US Senate by a legislative presiding officer (couldn't say Jeff didn't have enough experience since Jeff had the same legislative experience and intern experience besides), former Gov. Kitzhaber, in that trademark dry voice, would ask really tough questions---like he did of Denny Smith in 1994. And after all those years in DC, does Gordon still remember how state government works?

I really like Lynn Peterson. She is dynamic, smart, friendly, visionary and an energetic campaigner and policy maker. How's that for starters?

Having said that, running for gov. as a county commissioner is a huge challenge. Just ask Don Clark and Bev Stein, respected former commissioners from Mult. Co.who arguably got more press than those in Clackamas and WA Counties. Clark ran in '82 and finished way behind Kulongoski with about 20% and Stein ran long and hard with good staff and fundraising in '02 , but still finished third behind Ted K and Jim Hill with about 23%.

Commissioners aren't know outside their counties, and usually spend much less per capita than legislative candidates, so don't generate the same ID. I know Lynn becaue I lived in Clackamas and was active in the party.

A Commissioner background provides a much better base for a congressionl candidate, for example Hooley, DeFazio and Blumenauer.

Tim and Grant, I am a huge fan of Kitzhaber and all the good he did in politics (not just the Oregon Health Plan ) incl. being a serious Sen. President after the one who was a joke (think Obama after W) and bringing an attitude of possibility and the ability to look at issues from different perspectives.

But many of us believed in Ted Kulongoski in 2002 and were greatly disappointed. So was born the "spectator caucus"---very friendly with people we have known for years who are running, but no jumping on any bandwagons until we start hearing intelligent debate.

This should be the year of "I am supporting _ because I like the idea of ---- which the campaign is discussing".

How about ideas for a change instead of the shallow rhetoric of 2006?

Excellent SJ column from someone who has known both Kitzhaber and Bradbury for many years.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090913/COLUMN0703/909130372/1097/OPINION

Ron has a good point--- Kitzhaber with a worthy challenger would be better than Kitzhaber running virtually unopposed.

Show us your detailed plans for budget and tax reform, various issues debated in the last session, proposals from the Public Comm. on the Legislature and other serious issues. Don't give us generic language, give us specifics.

Are you for kicker reform? What is your proposal?

Demand the data to back up the slogan "job killing taxes". What would be wrong with a tax break to reward jobs created, rather than giving tax breaks in the hopes someone creates lasting jobs? How many jobs were created after the measure 30 election, compared to government jobs cut (or not filled)? If one owns a store, does it matter if customers are paid by public, private, nonprofit sector? Or just that they have enough disposable income to shop in the store?

What does the Dept. of Revenue say about the amount of tax breaks (aka tax expenditures) in the past few years relative to the amount in the general fund?

Are middle kids (not honor students, not falling behind, the C+ or B- kind of secondary students) being ignored? What is the solution.

We have enough very bright people in Oregon that we deserve full blown intelligent debates on such issues. If for no other reason than the shallowness of the 2006 Gov. election and the young people who have never been treated to as intelligent a Gov. election as we have seen for other major offices.

Otherwise, why would anyone pay attention?

Usually I get on this blog and trash John Kitzhaber, and though I will be supporting Bill Bradbury in the primary, I do have to give a shout out to Kitz and his team; when his ad started popping up on my personal Facebook page, I asked that it be removed and that got done very promptly. I also requested that my name be taken off any phone bank or canvassing databases and I trust that this will also get done. Even though he knows he can't count on my vote, he was respectful and honored my request. Wish I could get all politicians to stay off my doorstep and stop haranguing me during dinner but that might be too much to expect. Obama once called this the "silly season" and I tend to agree :)

Dave Porter:

I know little about Lynn Peterson other than that she was a transportation engineer before she was a county commissioner.

Bob T:

I don't think so. In fact, I really doubt this. She wasn't when she interned at Kittelson (Transportation Eng firm) and if she found the time since then to earn any degree in this I don't know how she could.

Dave Porter:

does her transportation engineer background incline her to favor highways and bridges over other policy alternatives?

<b<bob t:<="" b="">

Don't worry about this. Since she has no such background she's not interested in roads -- she's in fact yet another supporter of the light rail industrial complex and once advocated a line to Boring (!!!). That's pretty stupid.

Bob Tiernan Portland

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