Who do you want for governor in 2010?

[Athelwulf]

Kulongoski is term-limited, so the seat is wide open. And it's possibly a hot seat, especially if some event hurts Democrats and/or vindicates Repugs in the public eye by then.

The only announced candidate on the Democratic side is Bill Bradbury. Earl Blumenauer is not running. Speculated contenders appear to be Steve Novick, Peter Courtney, Peter DeFazio, and John Kitzhaber.

I don't know a whole lot about Bradbury, but I don't know of any particularly incriminating facts about him. Same with Kitzhaber. I haven't kept a close eye on the legislature, so I don't have an opinion on Courtney. The guys who stand out in my mind are Novick and DeFazio. Last spring was my first senatorial primary (I turned 18 in 2006), and what a treat it was to have a hotly contested one! I pretty strongly supported Novick in that race, and I still have positive feelings about him. I don't live in DeFazio's district and so never personally saw him in a race, but what I know of his voting record really impresses me. I know he's popular across his district almost uniformly, and being able to carry otherwise red southwestern counties is a very valuable asset. DeFazio would be my favorite. Novick would be a close second. I know Kitzhaber carried rural, conservative counties in 1998, including my Klamath. The only county he didn't win was Malheur. This is positively magical. He's clearly popular, so I'd rank him as a close third. Then I would rank Courtney and Bradbury as just average, subject to further information.

On the other side of the aisle, Allen Alley has announced he would run. He's the one that ran against Ben Westlund for state treasurer, remember? I don't know a whole lot about Alley. He's just a generic Republican to me. I remember that Willamette Week endorsed him instead of Westlund (why?!). Speculated contenders include Gordon Smith and my congressman, Greg Walden. If I absolutely had to put up with four years of a Republican governor, I'd probably have Gordon Smith. Perhaps he wouldn't be completely backwards if we're keeping a close eye on him in Salem. Alley is a generic Republican to me, as I said, so he ranks just below Smith. And I just don't like Walden.

So, let's discuss this.

[cascadiance]

1. I've liked DeFazio a lot in congress... Not to limit his career...

... but I'd like to keep his voice there where he could make a big difference where we really need it now in doing things like protecting whistleblowers, etc. which he's shown a lot of leadership in doing. Too bad he couldn't move to the senate, but that opportunity has already passed with us getting rid of Smith there. Merkley seems to be starting out fine there. But I certainly would have no qualms voting for him for governor!

[Athelwulf]

2. That's a good point.

I wouldn't mind him staying in Congress. As long as he's in some prominent office, doing good, then I'll be okay with it.

What do you know about the other contenders? Anything that might change any of my opinions? Specifically, is it wrong to categorize Courtney and Bradbury as "average"?

[cascadiance]

3. I'm still familiarizing myself with the pols here now...

As a recent migrant from California, am not as familiar with many of the individuals here. Have seen DeFazio's name quite a bit in places where he looked to take the right stand on things I'd been working on like with security whistleblowers, etc. ala Sibel Edmonds.

So, I'd like to see someone that has a good approach to progressive solutions, that might want to help us get things like public campaign financing state-wide and not just in Portland, instant run-off voting, decent public health care options if Obama's team and congress doesn't act quickly enough in those areas, and other stuff like that.

Attended a Washington County Democratic club meeting a couple of weeks ago. A good group of people, though I was a little disappointed at the negative reception that lead them to voting down a platform plank for instant runoff voting there.

Hoping I can meet with David Wu sometime over the coming months. I've heard mixed reports about him, but he's GOT to be an improvement over my previous rep in California (Brian Bilbray)! He seems to be reasonably responsive when you send emails, but I'd like to see him take sides along the more progressive side on the riskier confrontational votes towards the corporatist insiders the way that Dennis Kucinich, and even Bob Filner down in San Diego took.

[LWolf]

4. No more Smith, PLEASE.

I have to agree about Walden, since he is my Congressman as well.

I like Novick, DeFazio, and Kitzhaber. I don't have a preference at this point.

[bkkyosemite]

5. I want a Governor that will take the Ethanol out of my gas stations it ruins our engines...

[Athelwulf]

6. Brian Clem might run on Dem side; Jack Roberts and Jason Atkinson on Repug side.

I don't know much about any of these three guys. So they would rank as average Democrats or Republicans in my mental list of preferences. Any thoughts on these people?

So far, apparently the only full-fledged, announced candidates are Bradbury (D) and Alley (R). Bradbury might face a struggle if Kitzhaber and/or DeFazio run too. A Moore Information poll from April shows Kitzhaber and DeFazio with very similar, and impressive, approval ratings and name recognition. The same poll shows Bradbury with not much recognition.

[LWolf]

7. No republican governors, please.

Of the Democrats in your list, I'd favor Novick or Kitzhaber.

[dhpgetsit]

8. I would hate to lose DeFazio but

I would support him if he wants to be Governor of OR.
Novic and Kitzhaber would be great.

oops I meant to post as a reply to the OP.

[cascadiance]

9. Looks like Kitzhaber is making moves to file for the race this morning!

For a third term! I think he'd be great if he ran! Keep DeFazio in congress! Perhaps have DeFazio pressure Wyden on his health care bill stances to run against him for the Senate primary if he doesn't support a public option!

Anyway, Jeff Mapes on Oregon Live from the Oregonian on the rumors that started earlier this morning...

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/a_third_term_for_kitzhaber_1.html

Kitzhaber nears gubernatorial announcement
Posted by Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian September 01, 2009 09:23AM
Categories: John Kitzhaber, Oregon governor's race, Politics, ballot measures

Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber appears poised to jump into the governor's race.

The former two-term Democratic governor made several calls to top elected officials in Oregon on Monday and word swept through the state's political community Tuesday that Kitzhaber planned to file paperwork launching his campaign within the next few hours.

However, Kitzhaber is well-known for carefully considering his political options up to even right before an announcement. He looked seriously at challenging incumbent Gov. Ted Kulongoski in 2006 and then-Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., in 2002 but ultimately backed away from both races.

However, this year friends and acquaintances have been saying since the spring that they expect Kitzhaber to seek his old office. He has said he is looking at the race because there is "much more appetite for political change."

...

[MissB]

10. I'd vote for Kitzhaber for a third time

He was a good governor, but hampered by a Republican legislature.

[Shoelace]

11. Kitzhaber could win hands down

he's a great environmentalist and could get huge things done with a Democratic legislature. Plus, I believe he's for a public option in the healthcare bill.