Scott Bruun: Two for Oregon’s Future
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Allen Alley
Single-party rule has left our state without the competition of ideas. Single-party rule has diminished state government and handicapped delivery of public services. It’s also made us increasingly hostage to organized special interests. Interests which put narrow economic gains for a few ahead of broader public interests.
Yet for all of this, Oregon’s minority party also deserves critique. No, Republicans are not to blame for the state’s recent failures in transportation, healthcare delivery, public school performance, or job creation. And no, Republicans are not to blame for the decades-long culture of complacency among government elites. Complacency which also leads to corruption because ‘friends’ don’t like to ask the hard questions of each other.
But Republicans do deserve some blame. Blame, because years of voter-repellent infighting and inability to sustain any compellingly-positive messaging has given the Democratic Party unfettered access to – and control of – power.
The good news is that nothing is permanent in politics. No permanent victories; no permanent defeats. In this regard, politics – at least for Oregon Republicans – must be one of life’s most optimistic ventures. After decades of defeat, there is only one way for Republicans to go.
As we look to next year, here are two names that may help change the tide of Oregon history:
Allen Alley for Governor
Oregon’s last Republican governor, Vic Atiyeh, was a businessman with an ethic to serve fellow Oregonians. Atiyeh understood the job-creating value of low taxes. He was an internationalist who knew that free trade was critical to Oregon’s success. He was collaborative, often looking to partner with Democrats on important issues. Perhaps his best quality, though, was his humble pursuit of the best outcomes for Oregon families – despite the politics, and regardless of who received the credit.
Atiyeh’s best attributes are reflected in Allen Alley.
Alley is a successful businessman who understands the economic components of a healthy Oregon. He’s worked in high-tech hardware, software and manufacturing. He’s had to work and navigate the regulatory system of the U.S., as well as just about every Asian, South American and European nation. And he survived.
Alley is accomplished and intelligent, yet remains warm, gracious and humorously self-deprecating. He builds bridges between people. In short, he is a serious person who doesn’t take himself too seriously. In that regard, he is pure Oregon.
A Governor Alley would break decades of single-party rule. A break that would pave the way for new ideas in public education, new initiatives to create jobs, new ways to grow Oregon’s economy. At the very least, a Governor Alley would be well-positioned to deliver the basic services that Oregon has been missing. Services like functioning roads and bridges, effective public health delivery, and schools that are open more than 3 ½ days a week.
Dennis Richardson
Dennis Richardson for Secretary of State
Dennis Richardson
The governor’s office is big. But a case can be made that Oregon’s most important election next year will be for the ‘number two’ job. The job of secretary of state.
By law, the secretary of state’s office is the auditor of state government. It must also be the state’s watch-dog in spirit. The secretary of state must, through audits, ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, efficiently and effectively.
The secretary of state must also be the grownup in the room. Meaning, in addition to auditing the programs and departments of government, the secretary must be equally capable of auditing the personalities and ambitions of government leaders. No more of the ‘we’re-all-friends’ complacency which has been at the root of nearly every instance of political corruption in Oregon.
In 2016, the best person to fill this weighty job is Dennis Richardson. Richardson, with a decade of legislative experience, understands how government works - and where it doesn’t. As a Ways and Means Committee veteran, he has intricate knowledge of departmental budgets and spending. As they say, he knows where the bodies are buried.
Most importantly, despite his years in office, Richardson is not an insider. He’s not from the party that’s ruled for decades. Sure, Dennis Richardson is friendly. But there is no doubt that he will make the hard decisions - and have the hard conversations - required for success at the job.
From economic and education performance, to ethics and good-government, Oregon can do much better. Our challenges are decades in the making. It’s easy to point fingers, but the responsible thing to do now is look forward. Look forward, and begin to follow a different path.
Oregonians should strongly consider hiring Allen Alley and Dennis Richardson to help blaze that path.
Related Slideshow: The Eight Political Types
What political type are you? The Pew Research Center says most Americans fall into eight groups. Can you find your match?
Steadfast Conservatives
Business Conservatives
Solid Liberals
Young Outsiders
Hard-Pressed Skeptics
Next Generation Left
Faith and Family Left
Bystanders
Related Articles
- Scott Bruun: The Beaver State’s Lame Duck
- Scott Bruun: Ted Wheeler’s Wheel of Big Government Solutions
- Scott Bruun: The Challenges Legislative Democrats Face in 2015
- Scott Bruun: The Future As Seen In Seaside
- Scott Bruun: The Problem With Congress’s Work Schedule
- Scott Bruun: The Importance of Winston Churchill in Portland
- Scott Bruun: State Senator Betsy Johnson’s Possible Run for Governor
- Scott Bruun: September 11th – Fourteen Years On
- Scott Bruun: Recalling Forward – Peace, Joy and Goodwill
- Scott Bruun: Presidential Politics in Oregon
- Scott Bruun: Recalling the Recall of Three State Legislators
- Scott Bruun: Ronald Reagan in Portland and the Burbs
- Scott Bruun: Salem and Olympia – A Tale of Two Cities
- Scott Bruun: The Problems With Portland’s City Government
- Scott Bruun: The Rise of Greg Walden
- Scott Bruun: Why the GOP Should Look to Portland’s Urban Conservatives
- Scott Bruun: Why Oregon Needs Allen Alley in the Governor’s Office
- Scott Bruun: Why The Oregon Zoo is Awesome
- Scott Bruun: Working Oregonians Hurt By State Policies
- Scott Bruun: Wyden and the Politics of a Bad Iran Deal
- Scott Bruun: Why I’m Thankful For Former Portland Attorney, Kelly Clark
- Scott Bruun: Why Choosing Lynne Saxton Is A Smart Move for Kitzhaber
- Scott Bruun: Time for a Spring Cleaning in Salem
- Scott Bruun: There’s No More Political Giants in Oregon
- Scott Bruun: Time to Manage Those Californians
- Scott Bruun: To Boldly Go Where No Ad Has Gone Before
- Scott Bruun: Trees, Fees and Re-election Please
- Scott Bruun: Portland’s Uber-Control Over Free Markets
- Scott Bruun: Portlandia’s Radical Marionettes
- Scott Bruun: Education, Priorities, and the Governor’s Budget
- Scott Bruun: Dorchester Conference - Oregon’s Unique Brand of Activism
- Scott Bruun: Federal Budget Politics Put Oregon Fishermen At Risk
- Scott Bruun: Give Us Our Kicker, For Now
- Scott Bruun: Gun Laws, Politics, and Hearts of Darkness
- Scott Bruun: Does Portland Really Want Your Business?
- Scott Bruun: Death and Taxes in Oregon
- Scott Bruun: A Vote for Abigail Scott Duniway on #TheNew10
- Scott Bruun: A School Week and Its Discontents
- Scott Bruun: An Early Look at Portland’s Mayoral Race
- Scott Bruun: Climbing with Kate
- Scott Bruun: Could Marco Rubio Win Oregon?
- Scott Bruun: Hate Crimes and the Big Red O
- Scott Bruun: How Ron Wyden Can Lead The U.S. Senate
- Scott Bruun: Oregon’s Path Away From One Party Rule
- Scott Bruun: Oregon’s Race for Secretary of State More Important Than Ever
- Scott Bruun: Oregon’s Public Pension Catastrophe
- Scott Bruun: Our Kitzhaber Conundrum
- Scott Bruun: Passing Marks for Political Courage in Support of Free Trade
- Scott Bruun: Oregon’s Cougar Problem
- Scott Bruun: Oregon Should Say No to Open Primary
- Scott Bruun: Kitzhaber - A Smoking Gun Four Decades in the Making
- Scott Bruun: Jim Westwood’s Declaration of Independence
- Scott Bruun: Like A Ship In the Night
- Scott Bruun: Oregon Needs a Pacific Rim Trade Pact
- Scott Bruun: Oregon Should Not Limit Campaign Contributions
- Scott Bruun: A Happy Old Horse Versus Oregon Law
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It