Illinois Valley News

Oregon’s next gubernatorial election won’t be held until November 2010, but candidates already are lining up to seek the nominations of their parties.

Gov. Kulongoski, a Democrat, is barred by law from seeking a third consecutive term. That leaves his seat wide open for any of the four candidates who have declared their intentions to run.

The first to enter the foray is former governor John Kitzhaber, who announced his candidacy on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Kitzhaber served in that office from 1995 to 2003 after a stint in the Legislature. His district included the largely rural area around Roseburg.

In a Sept. 2 press release, the Democratic Governor’s Association (DGA) welcomed Kitzhaber to the race.

“Gov. Kitzhaber’s entry into the race adds depth to an already strong field of candidates and signals our party’s determination to hold on to this seat,” said Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who serves as DGA chairman.

DGA was not alone in applauding Kitzhaber’s candidacy. However, Bob Tiernan, Oregon Republican Party chairman and a former legislator, expressed concerns in a Sept. 2 press release.

“John Kitzhaber’s candidacy represents more of the same -- higher taxes and increased government spending -- instead of ideas to lead our state in a new direction,” Tiernan said. “Oregonians want a new direction and new ideas for our state and that won’t include John Kitzhaber as governor again.”

Since announcing his candidacy, Kitzhaber has expressed his support for a series of tax increases passed by the Legislature earlier this year. Efforts now are under way to refer those increases to voters in January.

Tiernan also slammed Kitzhaber’s position in a Wednesday, Sept. 16 press release.

“John Kitzhaber’s solution is higher taxes, fewer private sector jobs and an Oregon that struggles to make ends meet,” Tiernan said. “These sky-high, job-killing taxes, increases in public spending and anti-business policies Kitzhaber advocates will cause the Oregon economy to continue to struggle for years.”

But despite that criticism, several prominent Oregonians have publicly endorsed Kitzhaber’s candidacy. In a Sept. 16 press release, the Kitzhaber campaign announced endorsements from Attorney General John Kroger, State Treasurer Ben Westlund, Superintendent of Public Education Susan Castillo, former Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, former Portland Mayor Vera Katz and a slew of legislators.

Those endorsements came the day before former secretary of state Bill Bradbury, a Democrat who also served in the Legislature, announced his candidacy for governor in a press conference at the Portland Community College Sylvania campus. He was introduced by former governor Barbara Roberts, also a Democrat.

Kitzhaber strategist Mark Weiner said that Bradbury’s entry into the race “changes nothing” as far as their campaign is concerned.

“I think John is driven by the things he sees that need to be done. We believe he has both the experience and skills to put people together to do it, and that’s what we’re focused on,” Weiner said. “We’re not focused on who may or may not be getting into the race.”

Weiner said that the Kitzhaber campaign is in the process of putting together its infrastructure and hiring staff. He added that the campaign already has an active online presence, including social networking sites like Facebook.

Also working in Kitzhaber’s favor is preliminary polling, which shows him with a large lead over any potential Republican candidates.

“There’s no question that John Kitzhaber is a very popular figure in Oregon,” stated Weiner. “People certainly respect his integrity, commitment and creativity in trying to tackle tough problems. Having said that, John draws neither comfort nor instruction from polls. But it’s certainly not a disappointing place for him to start from.”

On the Republican side, two candidates have officially announced and another likely will soon.

Republicans have been shut out of the governor’s mansion since Vic Atiyeh left office in 1987, but Allen Alley is looking to change that.

A Lake Oswego businessman who served as deputy chief of staff to Kulongoski, Alley officially entered the race on Feb. 18.

Alley ran for treasurer last year against Westlund and lost. However, he said he learned much from that experience, which prompted him to begin running earlier this time.

“In the treasurer’s race, I started very late. I started almost on the last filing day,” Alley said. “What I realized was, there are a lot of things you can do when you have time, like walk across the state and attend smaller meetings with people. You can’t afford to do that when you’re in a short time period race.”

Alley recently completed a 400-mile walk across the state, from Baker City to Portland. He described it as an “amazing experience” that enabled him to connect with more than 1,000 voters on an individual basis.

“People were walking with us almost every day. Some days it was just one or two,” Alley said. “The last day, going into Portland, it was probably 60 or 80.”

The main issues for the 2010 race will be jobs and the economy, Alley said.

“We have one of the highest unemployment rates in the county, the highest homeless rate in the county and one of the highest hunger rates in the country,” he said. “I think it’s a reflection of the policies of the last 25 years in Salem.”

On Sept. 4, former state representative and senator John Lim announced his candidacy. Lim, a businessman who was born in Korea, represented the Gresham area during his legislative career.

First elected to the Oregon Senate in 1992, Lim is no stranger to statewide races. He ran against U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in 1998, and ran in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 1990.

Lim also served as the Senate Majority Leader in 1995 before being re-elected in 1996. Term limits forced Lim to give up his seat, but he later served in the House of Representatives before losing to Rep. Greg Matthews (D-Gresham) in 2008.

During an appearance on the Tuesday, Sept. 15 KAJO Radio talk show, Lim touted his legislative work on welfare reform, enterprise zones and international trade as proof of his qualifications for governor.

Employment, education and environment will be the planks of Lim’s campaign platform, he said, adding that his extensive life, business and legislative experience also will aid in his efforts.

Lim said he plans to spend up to $1 million in the May 18 primary election. Some of that will be his own funds, and Lim said his involvement with several Asian business associations will boost those figures further.

Sen. Jason Atkinson (R-Central Point), whose district includes most of Josephine County, has yet to formally announce his candidacy, but it’s anticipated that he will within the next few weeks.

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