OR-GOV: Quick hits in the Governor's race
Kari Chisholm
There's a bunch of news in the Governor's race, so let's run down the headlines.
- Last week, I took note of some rumblings of an effort to draft House GOP leader Bruce Hanna into the Governor's race. At the O, Jeff Mapes gets Hanna on the record - and yeah, he's considering it:
"I can't help but listen to Oregonians who are crying out for leadership," said Hanna, who met with several business leaders in Portland on Friday. "I'm listening intently."...
"I really believe Oregonians are really searching for that blended experience...I think that's why people are talking to me, because I've had that experience."
Oh, how I love it when politicians play hard-to-get - "oh, but only if the people demand it!"
- On Saturday, both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times featured big stories about all those former governors who want their old jobs back. In addition to our own John Kitzhaber, the list includes California's Jerry Brown (D), Iowa's Terry Branstad (R), and Georgia's Roy Barnes (D). From the LA Times:
"There's a huge opportunity embedded in this fiscal crisis," said Kitzhaber, a former emergency room physician who, as governor, was nationally recognized for overhauling Oregon's healthcare system. "I can bring to this challenge a range of experience and hard lessons learned . . . that can be very useful at this exact time."
“I love Oregon,” said the fourth, John A. Kitzhaber, governor of this state for eight years. “It’s a state that’s not baked yet.” Running again is “liberating,” Mr. Kitzhaber said. “I’m not afraid to lose. I don’t want to. But I’m not afraid.”
- Speaking of getting baked, when last we heard about Soloflex founder Jerry Wilson, he was planning to run as the nominee of the Naderite Oregon Progressive Party. Not sure what happened, but on Monday he said he decided to run as a Republican. But it turns out he can't - he had to have changed his voter registration back in September, according to Mapes. He's a registered Democrat, so he'll be joining Kitzhaber and Bradbury.
- And speaking of guys who aren't afraid to lose, even if it means prison time, GOP gubernatorial candidate and initiative racketeer Bill Sizemore has decided to represent himself in his upcoming tax evasion trial. Apparently, according to OPB, he wants to "talk directly to jurors without the filter of an attorney". This oughta be good.
- And as Jesse Cornett mentioned, the Oregon AFL-CIO has decided to stay neutral in the Governor's race for the time being. As the O's Jeff Mapes noted, their member unions will be doing their own endorsements.
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Dec 8, '09
@ Kari
I don't see a Republican candidate bubbling up to present a serious challenge to whoever turns out to be the Democrat nominee. I don't see Bradbury overtaking Kitzhaber either. But it's still too early to tell.
Dec 8, '09
Just as well about Wilson. Among those I've spoken with, Naderites just don't approve of his business accomplishments. Most regard Soloflex as a foreshadowing of later .com frauds.
Kudos that you got the word out without any snide asides!
Dec 8, '09
From Jesse's thread (really a subset of this one):
if you are in incumbent with an over 90% voting record with the AFL, you were likely endorsed today while all others have to wait.
Citing Bradbury's 97% life time AFL-CIO voting record, campaign manager Jeremy Wright said they "look forward to earning the endorsement in the spring.
Why require that he be running for the same office he's held? A voting record is a voting record. I say it's a snub to Bradbury, a sign they want to go Kitz.
Sounds like a boring one coming. If it's a Kitz-fest, then progressives need to come together and make sure he hears loud and clear what we expect of a progressive governor. No doubt he thinks that way. He just needs to feel the groundswell. Groundswell is to pols what strong drink is to an Irishman's courage!
Dec 8, '09
Dear Kari, after many months of run around, the Kitzhaber campaign decided they did not want me. 32 years of experience as a political organizer and lobbyist(unpaid). Our gubernatorial campaign in Oregon is lackluster. Lets make sure the candidates understand how critical it is to create jobs, green jobs, ANY jobs. Lets hope the candidates will have staffpeople at their campaign offices. My hope is that our next Governor will support our environment; for example, cleaning up toxic waste dump sites that poison our drinking water. Corporate polluters seem to profit from their mining, and leave town. Then taxpayers get the bill. How sad is that!!! David Peltier [email protected] 12/8/09
Dec 8, '09
Didn't Dave Lister just write in last weekends O that the repugs are gonna be huge in the next election?
Dec 15, '09