Collectively we spent countless hours delivering our message of hope and opportunity to citizens across the state. We talked about stable funding for schools, access to health care for all kids, ending our dependence on foreign oil, and fighting for more living wage jobs so all Oregonians can provide for themselves and their families. We also got citizens involved who never had engaged in the political process before, bridging old divides and developing new partnerships.
You reminded me throughout this campaign that Oregon’s greatest assets are its citizens. Because of your hard work, support and determination to never give up, we now have a great opportunity to invest in that greatest asset – our people – and make Oregon a place where we give our people a chance to take care of their families and provide the opportunity for our children to learn, be healthy and succeed in the world.
We have a lot of work ahead to achieve the goals we fought so hard for during this election. But I know we will be successful if we continue to work together and remind each other not to let the opportunity before us pass us by.
So thank you, again, to all of my supporters who worked tirelessly in this campaign, in every county of the state. Thank you for a spirited effort and thank you for standing with me to raise the flags of hope and opportunity that will guide us to a better future.
For Oregon,
Ted Kulongoski
Remember to get your vote in by 8 pm Tuesday and then join us for election night!
In Portland, the party kicks off at 8 pm in the Mayfair Ballroom of the Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway.
In Eugene, meet us at Lane County Fairgrounds Event Center, 796 W. 13th starting at 8 pm.
We hope you can make it as we celebrate the success of all our hard work!
]]>Do not drop your ballot in the mail as it will likely not arrive in time. Instead, you can find a ballot drop-off location in your county on the Secretary of State's website here.
Remember that your ballot must be received by 8 pm Tuesday!
]]>Check out these highlights from our recent rallies with Vice President Gore, DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Senator Ron Wyden and other leaders in Oregon!
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Due to inclement weather and associated issues with water quality, we are sad to announce the Portland Challenge event planned for this Sunday has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
]]>Gov. Ted Kulongoski is not entering the final weeks of the gubernatorial campaign with the sort of strength he clearly would like to have had. He has lost some of the enthusiastic support he had when he first ran four years ago. He faced challenges from within his own party during the primary season, and public employee unions, who supported the governor in 2002, gave their support to Democrat Jim Hill. His opponent in the general election, Republican Ron Saxton, has painted Kulongoski¹s term as a failure. His re-election next month is anything but assured. Despite all this, the governor gets the endorsement of the Hermiston Herald. While his record during the past four years is anything but sterling, by objective measures, it has been a success. Kulongoski took office at a time when the Oregon economy was at rock bottom. Tax revenues were in sharp decline, and the Public Employees Retirement System was in crisis. All of that has reversed to some degree during the governor¹s four years in office. Given the circumstances Kulongoski faced as he entered office in 2003, one would have to give the governor good marks as chief executive officer of the state of Oregon. Can things be better? Of course. Ron Saxton, however, believes things couldn't be worse, and he is telling voters to trust him to make sweeping reforms. Saxton¹s problem, however, is an almost complete lack of specifics on how he would improve current conditions - other than to say he will reduce government spending and run a more efficient government. He opposes any new taxes, yet believes the state can and must improve the quality of education for Oregon students. Simple efficiencies aren¹t enough. But worse, yet, he backs Measure 41, which would expand state income tax deductions which would result in a reduction in the general fund in the next biennium by almost $800 million. That means tremendous cuts to schools in Hermiston and around the state. Experience is also a factor in this race. Saxton¹s resumé is that of lawyer and school board member. Meanwhile, Kulongoski is a former legislator, attorney general, Oregon Supreme Court justice, and current governor. Saxton had a chance to be a great Republican nominee for governor. His politics are more in tune with Oregonians than previous GOP nominees. But he has failed to outline how he would carry out his plans for improving the economy, the health care system and the state of education. He wants us to trust in his own belief in the magic of cutting waste and inefficiencies. We¹d rather trust Kulongoski, who has a track record and a measurable list of accomplishments.
Phone banks are running from 10 a.m to 9 p.m every day of the week.
Canvassing of neighborhoods on weekends runs in two shifts:
So call today 503-239-8646 to sign up and make a difference in this election!
]]>In a noon event at Porland State University, Kitzhaber praised Ted's leadership on achieving energy independence and called on voters to support him in the election. You can watch video of the announcement below.
Westlund joined Governor Kulongoski at Get Out the Vote rallies Saturday - asking voters to reelect the Governor and vote down Measures 41 and 48. Westlund summarized his support in a release:
Today, I came to the decision to vote for and openly support Governor Ted Kulongoski’s re-election. It wasn’t a decision I took lightly. For quite awhile I considered not endorsing at all…but the reason I gave for running, because I care and I’m concerned are my same reasons for endorsing Governor Kulongoski.]]>[..]
Since leaving the race I have been focused primarily on three things: working for tax reform with a coalition of tri-partisan legislators, co-chairing the Senate Commission on Healthcare Access and Affordability that has found a way to provide basic, affordable healthcare for every Oregonian, and working to defeat Measures 41 and 48, two draconian measures that will keep us from investment on my first two priorities.
In these issues I have found a strong ally in Governor Kulongoski.
The rally in the Smith Center offers students a chance to learn about the issues in this election and the clear contrast between Governor Kulongoski and Ron Saxton in creating a renewable energy future for Oregon.
So come out and join the Governors in their commitment to a clean energy future for Oregon as they call on students to make a difference in November's election.
Portland State University]]>
Smith Center
1825 SW Broadway in downtown Portland
The ad, airing statewide, notes the Governor's successes in education, public safety, consumer protection and protecting a woman's right to choose.
You can also watch our earlier web video on Ted's accomplishments here.
And here is a brief rundown of some of the highlights:
Economic Development and Economic Security
Helped create 120,000 new jobs.
Broke a decade of gridlock and enacted a $2.5 billion transportation package to repair our roads and bridges.
Expanded our transportation package to expand and upgrade our sea ports, airports and railroads.
Recruited companies like Amy’s Kitchen, Yahoo!, Google, and Genentech to Oregon.
Established 50 shovel-ready industrial sites.
Funded Oregon’s first signature research center for nanotechnology – ONAMI.
Stopped the legislature when it tried to cancel our voter-approved minimum wage increases.
Cracked down on predatory lenders with a law to stop them from charging 500% interest on payday loans.
Reduced hunger in the state.
Education
Led a special session to put an additional $42 million in our public schools.
Brought opportunity grants to an additional 5,000 college students in Oregon.
Launched Oregon’s largest capital construction effort for our community colleges and universities.
Broke down barriers between community colleges and universities so students can have a clear and faster path to their degrees.
Public Safety
Restored 40 State Trooper positions eliminated during the budget cutting of 2002.
Enacted the nation’s toughest anti-meth laws.
Shut down 70 percent of Oregon’s small meth labs.
Brought together legislators to pass Jessica’s law.
Efficient Government
Reformed PERS, saving $970 million for the state, schools, cities and counties.
Created the State Smart Buy Purchasing Pool, saving the state and local governments $25 million.
Cut $6 million in administrative overhead from the university system.
Health Care
Brought health coverage to 30,000 more kids under the Oregon Health Plan.
Stepped in to make sure that seniors got their life-saving medications when the Bush administration let them fall between the cracks of the Medicare system.
Our Natural Heritage
Enacted stricter auto-emissions standards for cleaner air in Oregon.
Protected old growth timber in our roadless areas.
Launched the most ambitious parks program in a generation – opening a new park every year during the past four years, and we’ll keep on that pace for the next six years.
You can always learn more by visiting our Issues section.
]]>Tonight’s Debate: Will Saxton Turn Over a New Leaf or Keep Misleading Voters?
Medford, OR – After spending millions on negative attack ads, Republican Ron Saxton is now decrying "cheap shots" and "mudslinging." But when he appears in the final general election debate tonight, will Saxton continue his pattern of false and deceptive statements to Oregon voters?
"Governor Kulongoski will continue offering voters direct answers and a clear vision for Oregon this evening," said Kulongoski campaign manager Jim Ross. "But this will be Ron Saxton’s last chance to come clean and stop his pattern of false and misleading statements."
Saxton’s False & Misleading Attacks
Campaign Conduct:
Accuracy of His Ads. Saxton stated during the City Club debate, "The ads I’ve run are factual. … I stand behind the ads." Yet the ads have been roundly criticized as false and misleading. As KATU reported, Saxton’s claim that illegal immigrants are voting in Oregon is unsupported by the facts. An Oregonian ad watch noted that a Saxton education ad “toys with facts” and uses quotes out of context. Little surprise that the Medford Mail-Tribune wrote that Saxton has, “chosen to attack to the point of untruthfulness.” [City Club of Portland, 10/13/06; KATU 10/3/06; Oregonian, 10/11/06; Mail Tribune, 10/6/06]
Governor Kulongoski’s Record:
Visiting Rural Oregon. Saxton has repeatedly said that the Governor never visits rural areas of the state. The truth is that the Governor traveled to every county in Oregon in his first three years, including at least eight visits to Klamath Falls, seven to La Grande, eleven to Pendleton and a dozen to Bend. [KGW Debate, 10/17/06; City Club of Portland, 10/13/06; Governor’s Travel Log]
Chalkboard Project Reforms. Saxton cites recommendations made by the Chalkboard Project, claiming the Governor opposes them. But as The Oregonian reported, "Sue Hildick, president of the Chalkboard Project, says, ‘…the governor is supportive of what we are doing.’" [Oregonian editorial board meeting, Saxton Press Conference 9/8/06; Oregonian, 10/24/06]
Making State Government Efficient. Saxton continues to falsely assert that nothing has been done to make government more efficient over the last four years when in fact the Governor has saved taxpayers more than $1 billion by pooling government purchases, consolidating mail services, reforming PERS and eliminating over 250,000 pages of paperwork businesses had been required to file annually. [City Club of Portland, 10/13/06; Kulongoski For Governor]
Advisory Committee on Efficiency. Saxton touts an advisory committee report, “Making Oregon Work.” Governor Kulongoski has implemented in full, or in part, 14 out of the 17 recommendations in the report including reducing the regulatory overlap among agencies and improving cost-effectiveness and efficiency of internal government operations. [KGW Debate, 10/17/06]
State of Oregon:
Small Businesses and the Corporate Kicker. Saxton opposes putting the corporate kicker into a rainy day fund because he says it would hurt small businesses. But according to the Oregon Center for Public Policy, 93 percent of the corporate kicker goes to corporations making over $250,000 a year and more 80 percent of the corporate kicker leaves the state. Moreover, most small businesses are S-corporations, meaning they are taxed at the individuals – not corporate - rate. [KGW Debate, 10/17/06; OCPP, 3/28/06; Oregonian, 10/24/06]
Legal Residency Requirements for Driver’s Licenses. Saxton has repeatedly made the false claims that there is already a legal residency requirement under state law and that Governor Kulongoski has done nothing to prepare Oregon for compliance with the federal REAL ID act. As The Oregonian reported, “Oregon does not require that people living in the state prove they are legal U.S. residents before getting driver's licenses – and it has been that way for decades. …With Kulongoski's approval, motor vehicle officials have drafted legislation that would implement a federal law banning driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.” [Statesman Journal Debate, 10/4/06; Oregonian editorial board meeting, Oregonian, 10/24/06]
Children’s First Report. Saxton cites a report card by Children First for Oregon, but omits that he does not support the majority of their recommendations including the defeat of Measure 41, placing the corporate kicker in a rainy day fund, and enrolling all eligible children in the Oregon Health Plan – or that the report changed criteria measured in previous years. [Statesman Journal Debate, 10/4/06; Children First for Oregon Release, 9/26/07]
Oregon’s Economy. Saxton has repeatedly talked down Oregon’s economy, stating for instance “we have one of the weaker economies in America.” Yet no amount of spin can change the fact that Oregon is in the top ten in the nation for job creation, economic growth and gains in manufacturing jobs. [City Club of Portland, 10/13/06; bls.gov; Oregonian 10/22/06]
Budget Numbers:
Education Spending. Saxton frequently states that despite spending a billion more on education, Oregon’s schools are not improved. As The Oregonian reported, "School spending rose about $900 million on Kulongoski's watch. But when he entered office in 2003, the state was still deep in recession and schools were being forced to cut programs and lay off teachers. That year, ninety school districts closed early. Almost all school districts say they no longer face such severe financial pressure. Test scores are up and the dropout rate is down slightly." [Oregonian, 10/24/06]
Cost of Prison Food. Saxton keeps claiming that it costs the state twice as much to feed prisoners as privatized services in certain counties. But as the Register-Guard reported in September, the state actually pays less than many of the counties Saxton cites and is the 12th most efficient state in the nation for food costs. [City Club of Portland, 10/13/06; Register Guard, 9/15/06]
Anticipated Revenue. Saxton continually claims that Oregon will have $2 billion in new revenue next budget, avoiding the need to examine revenue sources. Yet he himself has acknowledged on several occasions that over half of that increase will flow back to taxpayers under the Kicker. [KGW 10/17/06; City Club of Portland, 10/13/06; Statesman Journal Debate, 10/4/06; Oregonian Editorial Board Meeting]
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We have 14 days left until the election. So make a difference and get in that ballot - it will also help us focus our efforts on undecided voters.
Continued grassroots support from the online community is playing a critical role to countering our opponent's national GOP money machine. so consider giving today.
]]>The editorials noted Governor Kulongoski's quiet leadership, while condemning Ron Saxton's hack and slash approach to the race. Here are some excerpts:
Gov. Ted Kulongoski's performance these past four years has been able, if not flashy. His insights into Oregon politics and the role of compromise betray a mind keenly aware of the importance of the art of the deal. And his diagnosis of Oregon's economic woes — and possibilities — seem spot on and specific.[..]
Kulongoski demonstrates a knowledge of Baker County and rural Oregon's economic development problems that he boils down to three issues: no commercial airports, no short line railroad and no community college. His "ConnectOregon" program provides a way for local leaders to address the first two issues with help financing the transportation improvements, while promoting creation of trade schools could provide Baker County an answer for the third.
Perhaps the clincher for us is that Baker County has had good access to the governor's office during the last four years through local appointees — Democrats and Republicans — to state boards.
He is, instead, a decent, honest, hard-working public servant who cares deeply about Oregon and its people. Not only does he have considerably more experience than his opponent, but he understands the issues facing the state and knows there are no simple answers. His message doesn't easily translate in 15-second sound bites. He has provided leadership for the state during difficult economic conditions that were not of his making. Oregon needs his experience in all phases of government. He is committed to growing the economy, better funding education and health care and restoring our state to the greatness Oregonians expect.[..]
we believe the governor cares deeply about Eastern Oregon and wants to see more progress in building and diversifying our economy. He is committed to Eastern Oregon University and wants to see it grow, prosper and succeed at all levels. He realizes the yet untapped potential of EOU as an economic engine for our area. He is much more visible and accessible to our citizens and our local county officials than past governors.
Saxton has said that a candidate's campaign tells you a lot about how he will govern. Saxton has run one of the ugliest, most negative campaigns in Oregon's recent political history. Its architect is Larry McCarthy, who pioneered modern negative campaigning with the celebrated Willy Horton ad, which George H.W. Bush used to defeat Michael Dukakis.In other words, Saxton has come this close to the finish line with a slash and burn strategy. That won't get him success in the governor's office. Moreover, Saxton's professed aim of boosting Oregon schools does not square with his desire to eliminate the capital gains and estate taxes and his support of Measure 41.
The Governor has also received endorsements this week from the Willamette Week , Eugene Weekly and the Portland Mercury.
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