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Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, left, and former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, right, share a laugh before they spoke Saturday at the Flegel Victory Dinner at the Seven Feathers Convention Center in Canyonville. The two former colleagues pledged to run a positive campaign in their quests for the Democratic nomination.
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Bill Bradbury, center, claps as John Kitzhaber walks to the speaker's stand during Saturday's Flegel Victory Dinner at the Seven Feathers Convention Center. The two rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor have vowed to conduct a friendly campaign.
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ENLARGE
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John Kitzhaber autographs a photo taken of him when he was an emergency room doctor in Roseburg. The photo was part of a silent auction benefitting the Douglas County Democratic Party.
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CANYONVILLE — If they didn't know better, the 215 people who attended Saturday evening's Flegel Victory Dinner might have thought John Kitzhaber and Bill Bradbury were working on the same campaign.
Bradbury, the former Oregon secretary of state, gave Kitzhaber a high-five after the ex-governor finished his speech at the annual dinner put on by the Douglas County Democratic Party. Kitzhaber returned the gesture by clapping as Bradbury told the sold-out audience he wants to make Oregon the sustainability capital of the world.
Neither man — both of whom represented Southern Oregon in the Legislature and have been close friends and colleagues for many years — spoke ill of the other. In fact, they made it clear they would not make each other the issue in the 2010 Democratic primary.
“Bill is a wonderful human being. He's a good friend of mine. I think you'll see a campaign purely about ideas, the kind of campaign people always wish they could see but don't get to see very often,” Kitzhaber said in comments before the banquet. “I'm looking forward to that.”
Bradbury told the audience at the Seven Feathers Convention Center that he has long admired Kitzhaber and enjoyed working with him when Kitzhaber was the Senate president and he was Senate majority leader.
“It's odd that we find ourselves in this position. I want to say I feel very strongly and I know John feels very strongly that we are not running against each other. We are running for the office of governor of the state of Oregon,” Bradbury said to applause.
Kitzhaber said he expects the state will survive the current economic storm and will put people back to work. However, he said it's important to do it in a new and different way.
Officials must work to ensure that all of Oregon is part of the recovery, not just urban areas, he said. Kitzhaber said he wants the per-capita income in each region of the state to exceed the national average.
“It's also crucial that we transform the Oregon economy — not only to give us a competitive edge — but to also move us past these boom-and-bust cycles that have been typical of our past,” Kitzhaber said.
His first order of business, if he's elected governor, Kitzhaber said, would be to transform Oregon's economy to one that's strong, resilient, recession-proof and the envy of the nation.
“To do that will require that we make some fundamental changes in a number of important systems, from health care, public education, public finance and energy policy,” Kitzhaber said.
Those changes will involve diversifying industries that compete in the global economy, including agriculture, timber, high-tech, metals and manufacturing.
He said he would also strengthen Oregon's internal economy by increasing capital within the state and reducing the outflow of capital through imports.
Kitzhaber said it's also important for every Oregon industry to embrace more energy-efficient practices. That, he said, would create a new business cluster that would help make that change.
Bradbury said there is a deep connection between the state's economy and sustainability.
He praised Douglas County Commissioner Joe Laurance and his efforts to promote the production of biofuel using forest waste. The state's forests, including those in Douglas County, are choked with fuels that could lead to catastrophic fires, Bradbury said. Thinning those forests, he said would make them more healthy and provide local jobs.
“As governor, I promise to help with this project and help move it forward,” said Bradbury, who added that he wants to make Oregon the “sustainability capital of the world.”
Agriculture must be an important part of that program, he said. He said he would push for farm-to-school and farm-to-plate programs that would increase the importance of local agriculture.
He said he would also work to end Oregon's reliance on coal-fired plants for energy. Despite its reputation as a clean state, Oregon relies on coal to produce 40 percent of its energy.
In addition, Bradbury said he would work to prevent the location of liquefied natural gas plants in the state.
“It makes no sense to make a 30-year commitment to a fossil fuel source when we should be investing in renewal energy technology instead,” Bradbury said.
Last week, businessman Steve Shields withdrew from the Democratic primary, citing problems raising campaign donations.
On the Republican side, Allen Alley and former state Rep. John Lim are the front-runners. Redmond appraiser Michael Hotchkiss has also filed. On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden said he would remain in Congress.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
Bradbury, the former Oregon secretary of state, gave Kitzhaber a high-five after the ex-governor finished his speech at the annual dinner put on by the Douglas County Democratic Party. Kitzhaber returned the gesture by clapping as Bradbury told the sold-out audience he wants to make Oregon the sustainability capital of the world.
Neither man — both of whom represented Southern Oregon in the Legislature and have been close friends and colleagues for many years — spoke ill of the other. In fact, they made it clear they would not make each other the issue in the 2010 Democratic primary.
“Bill is a wonderful human being. He's a good friend of mine. I think you'll see a campaign purely about ideas, the kind of campaign people always wish they could see but don't get to see very often,” Kitzhaber said in comments before the banquet. “I'm looking forward to that.”
Bradbury told the audience at the Seven Feathers Convention Center that he has long admired Kitzhaber and enjoyed working with him when Kitzhaber was the Senate president and he was Senate majority leader.
“It's odd that we find ourselves in this position. I want to say I feel very strongly and I know John feels very strongly that we are not running against each other. We are running for the office of governor of the state of Oregon,” Bradbury said to applause.
Kitzhaber said he expects the state will survive the current economic storm and will put people back to work. However, he said it's important to do it in a new and different way.
Officials must work to ensure that all of Oregon is part of the recovery, not just urban areas, he said. Kitzhaber said he wants the per-capita income in each region of the state to exceed the national average.
“It's also crucial that we transform the Oregon economy — not only to give us a competitive edge — but to also move us past these boom-and-bust cycles that have been typical of our past,” Kitzhaber said.
His first order of business, if he's elected governor, Kitzhaber said, would be to transform Oregon's economy to one that's strong, resilient, recession-proof and the envy of the nation.
“To do that will require that we make some fundamental changes in a number of important systems, from health care, public education, public finance and energy policy,” Kitzhaber said.
Those changes will involve diversifying industries that compete in the global economy, including agriculture, timber, high-tech, metals and manufacturing.
He said he would also strengthen Oregon's internal economy by increasing capital within the state and reducing the outflow of capital through imports.
Kitzhaber said it's also important for every Oregon industry to embrace more energy-efficient practices. That, he said, would create a new business cluster that would help make that change.
Bradbury said there is a deep connection between the state's economy and sustainability.
He praised Douglas County Commissioner Joe Laurance and his efforts to promote the production of biofuel using forest waste. The state's forests, including those in Douglas County, are choked with fuels that could lead to catastrophic fires, Bradbury said. Thinning those forests, he said would make them more healthy and provide local jobs.
“As governor, I promise to help with this project and help move it forward,” said Bradbury, who added that he wants to make Oregon the “sustainability capital of the world.”
Agriculture must be an important part of that program, he said. He said he would push for farm-to-school and farm-to-plate programs that would increase the importance of local agriculture.
He said he would also work to end Oregon's reliance on coal-fired plants for energy. Despite its reputation as a clean state, Oregon relies on coal to produce 40 percent of its energy.
In addition, Bradbury said he would work to prevent the location of liquefied natural gas plants in the state.
“It makes no sense to make a 30-year commitment to a fossil fuel source when we should be investing in renewal energy technology instead,” Bradbury said.
Last week, businessman Steve Shields withdrew from the Democratic primary, citing problems raising campaign donations.
On the Republican side, Allen Alley and former state Rep. John Lim are the front-runners. Redmond appraiser Michael Hotchkiss has also filed. On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden said he would remain in Congress.
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@nrtoday.com.
