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ENLARGE
Ron Saxton shakes hands with Sanna Hern during a guest
appearance at the Umpqua Valley Republican Women’s meeting at Kowloon Restaurant, Wednesday.
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ENLARGE
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Republican nominee for governor Ron Saxton speaks before the Umpqua Valley Republican Women at Kowloon Restaurant on Wednesday.
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Ron Saxton told members of the Umpqua Valley Republican Women he has enough support to defeat Gov. Ted Kulongoski in the Nov. 7 election.
The real battle will be in motivating Oregonians to mark their ballots and hand them in, Saxton said during a luncheon meeting Wednesday at Kowloon Restaurant.
“We don’t need to convince that many people. We need to convince the people we have to get out to vote,” Saxton said.
Echoing the theme of campaign ads that began running recently on television, Saxton said Kulongoski hasn’t accomplished anything during his four years in office. Although the incumbency is usually a powerful advantage for a sitting officeholder, Saxton said he doesn’t believe that will apply this election.
“The governor now has a track record and I don’t think it’s very good,” Saxton said.
The Democratic governor believes the solution to the state’s ills is to throw money at the situation, Saxton said. If elected, he said he would work to restructure government to make it more efficient and to come up with real solutions while preventing any tax increases.
“This isn’t about cutting services,” he said. “It’s about better government.”
The real battle will be in motivating Oregonians to mark their ballots and hand them in, Saxton said during a luncheon meeting Wednesday at Kowloon Restaurant.
“We don’t need to convince that many people. We need to convince the people we have to get out to vote,” Saxton said.
Echoing the theme of campaign ads that began running recently on television, Saxton said Kulongoski hasn’t accomplished anything during his four years in office. Although the incumbency is usually a powerful advantage for a sitting officeholder, Saxton said he doesn’t believe that will apply this election.
“The governor now has a track record and I don’t think it’s very good,” Saxton said.
The Democratic governor believes the solution to the state’s ills is to throw money at the situation, Saxton said. If elected, he said he would work to restructure government to make it more efficient and to come up with real solutions while preventing any tax increases.
“This isn’t about cutting services,” he said. “It’s about better government.”
Saxton criticized the governor for a continuing drop in the number of Oregon State Police troopers patrolling the roads and investigating crimes. He said it was shameful that the OSP crime lab is unable to keep up with laboratory testing of evidence because of cuts in its budget over the years.
“We’re not asking our police to do their job with one hand tied behind their backs. In many cases, we’re asking them to do it with two hands tied behind their backs,” Saxton said.
He also blasted Kulongoski for wanting to keep the income tax kicker, money refunded to individual taxpayers and businesses when tax revenues beat predictions.
The governor wants to use the corporate kicker to set up a rainy day fund when the economy suffers and revenues lag behind forecasts. Although Kulongoski once said he would like to use the kicker paid to individual taxpayers to fund education and other areas, he has backed off that position and now says he wouldn’t touch it.
Saxton told the audience of about 60 people they need to get out and help pump up his name. Only a small fraction of Oregon’s residents will see him in person during the campaign. He said it’s important for supporters to talk with their friends and neighbors to give him a wider reach.
“I’m glad you’re here. But I didn’t see enough bumper stickers out there in the parking lot,” he said, laughing.
In response to a question from Anita Russell on the state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services, Saxton said the agency should look to outside agencies for data processing and other administrative functions. That, he said, would make the agency more efficient.
He also said the state needs to begin requiring proof of citizenship or legal residency when issuing driver’s licenses.
If a 13-year-old went to a DMV office and asked to obtain a driver’s license, the clerk would ask for proof of age. It doesn’t make sense not to ask the same questions about a person’s residency, he said.
“We absolutely have to tighten that up,” Saxton said. “To get a license, you should be a citizen or a legal resident.”
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
“We’re not asking our police to do their job with one hand tied behind their backs. In many cases, we’re asking them to do it with two hands tied behind their backs,” Saxton said.
He also blasted Kulongoski for wanting to keep the income tax kicker, money refunded to individual taxpayers and businesses when tax revenues beat predictions.
The governor wants to use the corporate kicker to set up a rainy day fund when the economy suffers and revenues lag behind forecasts. Although Kulongoski once said he would like to use the kicker paid to individual taxpayers to fund education and other areas, he has backed off that position and now says he wouldn’t touch it.
Saxton told the audience of about 60 people they need to get out and help pump up his name. Only a small fraction of Oregon’s residents will see him in person during the campaign. He said it’s important for supporters to talk with their friends and neighbors to give him a wider reach.
“I’m glad you’re here. But I didn’t see enough bumper stickers out there in the parking lot,” he said, laughing.
In response to a question from Anita Russell on the state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services, Saxton said the agency should look to outside agencies for data processing and other administrative functions. That, he said, would make the agency more efficient.
He also said the state needs to begin requiring proof of citizenship or legal residency when issuing driver’s licenses.
If a 13-year-old went to a DMV office and asked to obtain a driver’s license, the clerk would ask for proof of age. It doesn’t make sense not to ask the same questions about a person’s residency, he said.
“We absolutely have to tighten that up,” Saxton said. “To get a license, you should be a citizen or a legal resident.”
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
