Governor announces candidacy

Governor John Kitzhaber stopped at the Redmond Airport on Friday, February 6 as part of a tour announcing his campaign for reelection.

"It was important that we make it east of the mountains," said Kitzhaber. "What happens here affects people in Portland and Eugene."

On Monday, February 9, Republican Bill Sizemore announced his intent to oppose Kitzhaber in the fall election. According to published reports, Sizemore intends to stress reducing the size of government and attack Kitzhaber's proposals for more spending on roads, schools and the environment.

Sizemore was the architect of Measure 47.

Kitzhaber said he was proud of the accomplishments of his first term in office, including expansion of the Oregon Health Plan, environmental efforts and implementation of higher academic standards. But, said the governor, there is more to be done.

"This election is about how Oregon enters the 21st century," said Kitzhaber.

He said it was critical for the state to have strong public education, tools for managing growth, and the ability to effectively intervene with at-risk children.

Sizemore, whose children attend private schools, criticizes public education. He says he will later present an education reform agenda, and would support the use of vouchers that parents could use to send their children to private schools.

Kitzhaber said "We need to reach out to children are going to come into contact with the criminal justice system. We know who they are," said the governor. He lamented taking money out of education for prison beds.

As to tax reform, Kitzhaber said he had convened a commission that is attempting to determine "what's broken" with the current tax system. Sizemore's efforts have shifted taxes from businesses to private individuals, according to the governor.

He pointed out that there has a been a change in Oregon demographics and a shift from property tax to income tax since 1980. This is a much less stable system, said Kitzhaber, vulnerable to changes in the economy.

Kitzhaber emphasized that growth brings problems that must be faced and that "we should not accept the sacrifice of environmental quality on the altar of growth."

Sizemore does not agree. He advocates dismantling Oregon's state-wide land use laws and returning land use decisions to local governments.