landgazing

A few days ago I saw a debate at WillametteU featuring all candidates for governor except for Kulongoski. Here was my gut reaction to them:

Hill-out of his element

Sorenson-leftie activist

Atkinson-smug

Saxton-hey, not bad…

Mannix-creepy

Westlund-well-meaning boob

But of course, those feelings are no reliable indicator
of fitness for the office. However, we all know
those impressions affect our decision to some degree.

I read the article today about Ben Westlund in the WW. They already
seem to be under his indie-spell, although his reputation as an
effective closed-door negotiator is compelling. Although, as
the article points out, does he just shift with the political
winds? Possibly, but his reputation as a dealmaker may be of interest come election time. Then again, being independent is one thing-bridging a gap (or yawning chasm as the case would be in Salem) is another.

He has experience and contacts in government,
although I doubt his friends in the bull semen
business could be of great utility. There is more
to him than meets the eye, however, so I’ll be
keeping my eye on him…

Ted Kulongoski. I applaud him for playing hard-ball with his
original supporters (the unions). I also applaud him for
his work in wooing businesses to relocate to Oregon. But what
happened to that big Willamette River cleanup initiative?
And does he not know the meaning of “PR?” His new 2007 agenda
is what we all would have wanted when he was elected the FIRST
time. And if he did do any of it, he didn’t have the common sense
to make his efforts known publicly. It’s crunch time, now, and time for some new blood.

I’ll be writing more soon about other candidates and some other
issues as well, that is if anyone is reading