January 31, 2010
By Chris Conrad
Mail Tribune
MEDFORD — Buoyed by recent gains for Republicans in special elections across the nation, Oregon’s three GOP governor hopefuls stopped by Medford on Saturday to speak before an energized crowd at the Red Lion Hotel.
The GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner marked the first time the three candidates have sat in the same room to make their case before Oregon voters.
Candidates Allen Alley, Chris Dudley and John Lim mingled with local Republicans in the hours before the dinner.
A hot topic at many tables was the recent passing of Measures 66 and 67, which will raise taxes on corporations and households making more than $250,000 per year to help balance the state’s budget.
“Our whole state, not just Republicans, is reeling from 66 and 67,” said Mark Ness, the chairman of the Jackson County Central Committee.
The event drew more than 200 people, who were greeted by life-sized cutouts of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Sarah Palin before entering the dining hall.
“The response this year has been amazing,” said Tim Caswell Jr., the chairman of the dinner. “This is kind of a mini launch for these candidate’s campaigns.”
Allen Alley touted his years working for businesses such as Ford and Boeing, as well as his appointment as Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s deputy chief of staff.
“Even when I worked for the Democrat governor, I was always a Republican,” Alley said.
Alley said the state can do a better job marketing its natural resources to outside markets, but that could only be made possible by freeing the market of what he views as needless regulation.
“By passing 66 and 67, we have said Oregon is closed for business.”
Dudley, the 6-foot-11 former NBA player who played six years with the Portland Trailblazers, said the Republican base has been given a shot of adrenaline by the victory of Scott Brown in the race for the open Senate seat in Massachusetts.
“The last couple of years have not been the best for our party,” he told the crowd during an open forum near the end of the evening. “Obviously, I’m not your typical candidate, but these are not typical times.”
Dudley, knows nearly as well for his charity work as his shot-blocking ability, decried the higher taxes as a result of the latest ballet measures and the ballooning sate budget.
John Lim, who relocated to America from Korea in 1966, was the evening’s most feisty speaker.
Lim described how he arrived in America with very little and worked hard at numerous blue collar jobs before starting successful businesses. He made his political debut in the 11th district of the Oregon State Senate in 1992.
“It takes someone who knows what’s going on in Salem to take control,” Lim said. “My opponents do not know the ins and outs of state government like I do.”
The candidates took turns answering audience generated questions for nearly an hour. For the most part, they shared similar views on immigration reform, the economy and the need to raise taxes to balance the state budget.
However, Lim could not resist poking fun at his younger opponents.
“When I become governor, I will give you some on-the-job training,” he said, pointing to Dudley and Alley, both of them joining the audience in laughter.
John Lim was student of mine when I was president of Seoul Theological Seminary (now University). I had a part in getting John to the States and into further Seminary work. I’m interested in his political career and his eye on the governorship of the great state of Oregon. Please give him my greetings and best wishes. Edwin Kilbourne