Maybe Chris Dudley could be Oregon's Lieutenant Governor?

Kari Chisholm FacebookTwitterWebsite

John Lim, the former state legislator and GOP gubernatorial candidate, is once again taking up his lonely crusade to create a Lieutenant Governor for Oregon. From the La Grande Observer:

"The governor is too busy (to handle all of the responsibilities of the office)," Lim said.

Sometimes too busy to do things like meet with visiting dignitaries from other countries who want to establish trade with Oregon.

"If the governor is unavailable to meet with them they are not happy," Lim said.

These officials, Lim said, would be glad to be greeted by a lieutenant governor.

Adding the position would not cost taxpayer dollars since the individual could assume the responsibilities of those now in positions like that of the director of international trade, a post whose responsibilities the lieutenant governor could assume.

Meanwhile, over at the Keizer Times, conservative activist Ross Day has some tough words for Chris Dudley - the probable GOP gubernatorial candidate (and former Trail Blazer):

I am always amazed when I hear that a celebrity has decided to enter the political arena to "try his (or her) hand at politics." My amazement stems from the fact celebrities believe they can jump into politics without any experience in the industry. Like it or not, "politics" is a business that has its own learning curve. ...

Think of it this way: Do you think Bill Gates would allow, say, Jennifer Aniston to step in and run Microsoft? Of course not, because she has no experience running a multi-billion dollar company. Why, then, do celebrity-types automatically think they are qualified to run a state? ...

Dudley is a fresh face, which is both a blessing and curse. Like the only officially announced candidate for the Republican nomination – Allen Alley – Dudley is considering leap-frogging other potential Republican candidates for governor who have put in the time and service and have earned a chance to run for the Republican nomination for governor.

Fortunately, the solution is clear! Make John Lim the Governor, and he can then appoint Chris Dudley as his Lt. Governor.

  • Jason (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Dear Ross,

    When the Republican Party of Oregon actually endorses and brings forward legitimate candidates (or seasoned politicians, as you said), then maybe your words would actually hold some ounce of validity. The "experienced" candidates that you seem to hold in such high esteem have been laughable at best in recent years.

    Your comments only add to the growing factions within the party that will continue to be its demise. One of the reasons Democrats have been successful is that they have a clear message, are united in their efforts, and don't eat their young.

  • (Show?)

    maybe Duds & Lim could play a game of HORSE for the job? of course, for that shot at the free throw line, Dudley is doomed. he'd be trapped there forever.

  • (Show?)

    sorry, that was Around the World. it's been 30 years or more since i played either game. still, in a game of HORSE, you never know: Lim might have a killer back-to-the-basket, bounce-shot-between-legs-and-off-backboard shot in his repertoire. Duds might want to practice that one, just in case.

    or Lim could just take free throws everytime & clean his clock.

  • Lt. Gov. (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Although I disagree with Lim's reasoning, I am one who believes Oregon should in fact have a Lt. Governor.

    We're one of only seven states in the Country that does not have the office of Lt. Governor, and I do think that person, as a state wide elected -- could help lead, perform outreach, and introduce policy in support of and in addition to our currently elected state wide officials.

    I also very much agree that politics, like any profession, takes a lifetime to learn and perform at a professional level. Celebrities and athletes who leapfrog over those who've developed their skills, far more often than not... flounder and sink -- if they're lucky enough -- rather than skilled enough, to win in the first place.

  • Nanou (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I also very much agree that politics, like any profession, takes a lifetime to learn and perform at a professional level.

  • Kurt Chapman (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Who else calls Bovine Manure on the assertion that adding a LT Governor post would be cost neutral? Certainly the position would have to come with the usual assortment of aides, advisors and handlers - all at the expense of Oregon.

    No, there can be no rational recommendation for a state with a population lower than that of King County, WA.

  • (Show?)

    I like part of Lim's idea. Oregon needs to elevate its international trade game (if it wants to have a vibrant state economy in a global economy where much of the growth (that is business opportunities) are in emerging markets. So to me, having a lieutenant governor responsible for international trade is a more creative idea than I have yet heard from any of the three Democratic candidates. I would, of course, like to see a lieutenant governor do more for trade than just meet with visiting trade delegations.

    I do tend to think we should just change the title of our "Secretary of State" to "Lieutenant Governor." Now, we could do that and throw in the responsibility for trade development and promotion.

    I'm not going to prejudge Chris Dudley's political abilities. I want to see what he has to say and how he says it.

    I'm sure there are sports aficionados who can cite other sports to politics crossovers, but I think Jack Kemp (football) was a creative politician and that Senator Bunning (baseball) is a disaster.

  • (Show?)

    No, there can be no rational recommendation for a state with a population lower than that of King County, WA.

    Sorry, Kurt. King County WA has 1.8 million residents, while Oregon has 3.8 million. Nice pretty graph from Google.

  • (Show?)

    I do tend to think we should just change the title of our "Secretary of State" to "Lieutenant Governor." Now, we could do that and throw in the responsibility for trade development and promotion.

    Yeah, except that then you'd have the Lt. Gov. running the elections and audits. That's no good, especially if it's a running-mate LG.

    Haven't heard whether Lim thinks the LG ought to be a running-mate LG, or independently elected. Anybody know?

  • (Show?)

    I'm sure there are sports aficionados who can cite other sports to politics crossovers, but I think Jack Kemp (football) was a creative politician and that Senator Bunning (baseball) is a disaster.

    Serving in Congress is a different thing than being a chief executive. Can't think of any sports guys that jumped straight to being the Governor.

    Charles Barkley used to talk about running for Governor of Alabama. Steve Largent ran and lost in Oklahoma, after he was in Congress. Same for Tom Osborne, in Nebraska. (Osborne, whose congressional opponent called it "running against God", lost the Governor's race in part because Nebraskans wanted him back coaching Huskers football - which had slid badly after he left.)

    Nope, can't think of any sports Governors -- unless you count Minnesota's Jesse Ventura, the pro "wrestler". And I don't think Dudley would call him a model.

  • (Show?)

    Well, I suppose Arnold Schwarzenegger was a professional bodybuilder before he was an actor.

  • Garrett in SE (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I saw Chris Dudley at Quiznos the other day out here near where I work.

    This is what I think Chris Dudley's run for the Governorship will be like. It will go over just as well as the only play he's famous for did.

  • (Show?)

    Jack Kemp, in addition to being a congressman, was Secretary of Housing (1989-93) and Dole's vice presidential candidate in the 1996 election. (Wiki)

  • Kurt Chapman (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Kari, my bad. I had just looked at a Seattle Times article listing the Puget Sound region above 3.8 million. My bad, that would include Snohomish and Pierce Counties. Anyway, the point remains. Why add a Lt Governor, mansion and staff for a state with population below 5 MM?

    Thanks for the catch!

  • Jim H (unverified)
    (Show?)
    I do tend to think we should just change the title of our "Secretary of State" to "Lieutenant Governor." Now, we could do that and throw in the responsibility for trade development and promotion. Yeah, except that then you'd have the Lt. Gov. running the elections and audits. That's no good, especially if it's a running-mate LG. Haven't heard whether Lim thinks the LG ought to be a running-mate LG, or independently elected. Anybody know?

    So? It's not like the Secretary of State doesn't already oversee their own election. It's just a change in title. Who's suggesting a running-mate LG?

    Was it Sarasohn in the O recently who opined on this? I remember in the piece that he noted that (1) LGs in some states oversee elections like our SoS. (2) an LG is needed to have a backup Governor. (3) Oregon law already stipulates the SoS is the backup guv. (4) It's oh so confusing to have the SoS as the backup (I guess because "Governor" isn't in their title).

    I came away with the same solution as Dave. Just rename the SoS to LG - bam! done! Low cost solution to a non-problem.

  • Richard (unverified)
    (Show?)

    How is it that blues think Kitzhaber and Bradbury are such fabulous candidates and we conservatives laugh at that as if you're all loons?

    I know, you think they're great for the progressive agenda. But what about Oregon? All of Oregon? Those two are clones of the past 20 year leadership. So much so that one of them is nearly identical.

    Where has this public employee/progress Democrat domination taken Oregon that you want to repeat it?

  • Adam503 (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I'm no fan of Largent at all, but he didn't run for OK Gov. first. He was appointed to fill Inhofe's House seat when he Inhofe moved to the Senate. Largent won a couple of House races before trying to run for OK Gov.

  • fbear (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I would only consider Lim's proposal if it were pronounced the British way--"left-tenant".

    As for sports figures as governors, let's not forget the governor who became a sports figure while in office--Mark Sanford, world famous hiker.

  • Adam503 (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Don't mind me. I'm blind today.

    I completely missed where Kari wrote Largent was in the House in the original comment. Sorry 'bout that.

  • roxanne bruns (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Kevin Johnson (former NBA point guard) is the Mayor of Sacramento.

  • (Show?)

    Why add a Lt Governor, mansion and staff for a state with population below 5 MM?

    There are Lt. Governors with their own mansions?! Now I definitely think Oregon needs one! :)

  • (Show?)

    A little online research turns up a long list of sport figures who tried politics, some successfully, some not. Bill Bradley may be the closest in category to Dudley. Others on the list include Lynn Swann, Jim Ryun, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Walter Johnson, JC Watts, and Byron White. For more examples, see here and here.

  • (Show?)

    And yes, Roxanne, I had forgotten about KJ. Not a bad mayor, my Sacto friends tell me.

  • gl (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Why are you focusing on Sports? Mr. Dudley has been a very succesful money manager for years.

  • (Show?)

    Sports figures as Governor? How about Ahnold? And Jesse Ventura? Also, Fob James was Governor of Georgia, though I don't believe he played pro football.

  • (Show?)

    I looked it up. Fob James was Governor of Alabama, not Georgia.

  • (Show?)

    Mr. Dudley has been a very succesful money manager for years.

    Cite your source, please?

  • the plasticgraduate (unverified)
    (Show?)

    This is a great solution to our unemployment problem!

  • gl (unverified)
    (Show?)

    http://filigreeadvisors.com/chris.dudley.html

  • (Show?)

    Bill Bradley may be the closest in category to Dudley. Others on the list include Lynn Swann, Jim Ryun, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Walter Johnson, JC Watts, and Byron White.

    Bill Bradley - member of congress. Lynn Swann - ran for governor, lost. Jim Ryun - member of congress. Ben Nighthorse Campbell - member of congress. JC Watts - member of congress. Byron White - Supreme Court Justice

    Walter Johnson the baseball player was a different person than Walter Johnson the (unelected) Governor of Colorado.

    Still can't find an example of a sports figure that ran directly for Governor before another office. (Just remembered that Jesse Ventura was a smalltown mayor before he ran for Governor. And Arnold doesn't really count, given his three-decade career in the movies between his bodybuilding days and his gubernatorial run.)

  • (Show?)

    Aha! It seems that Walter Johnson the baseball player did run for Congress and lose. Fascinating.

  • gl (unverified)
    (Show?)

    http://filigreeadvisors.com/chris.dudley.html

  • the plasticgraduate (unverified)
    (Show?)

    So if I understand the subtext of this thread:

    athletes = stupid, don't deserve to be politicians ER physicians = brilliantly suited to be governor

    I suppose lawyers fall somewhere in between. But those of use without law degrees have no right to aspire to political office.

  • gl (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Mr. Dudley is Yale educated and has been a successful money manager for years - that is more relavent then being a Blazer.

  • Lt. Gov. (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I think the US and Oregon as well, places too high a premium on candidates and politicians with Ivy League degrees. Many bright and capable people came from State and other private schools who have enjoyed great success in politics (Look at VP Joe Biden). So the fact that Dudley went to Yale, impresses me little. Heck...W. went to Yale.

    And I agree with Kari that there is a very big difference between being the State's chief executive, and being a member of a deliberative body, like the Legislature, US House, or US Senate.

    I think the reason we don't see many M.D's in politics is because of the time physicians spend in school and in their residencies. Plus, the people they associate with...are other doctors and nurses, and not policy makers. I think higher numbers of law school grads end up in politics simply because issues concerning courts, public safety, land use, contracts, housing, water...are addressed by interest groups represented by lobbyists, advocates, non profits, and attorneys, more frequently than other professions.

    It's the same reason we don't have many social workers in politics, or physical therapists, or cops, or teachers, or counselors...those jobs simply don't have the daily freedom to attend community and networking events that make up the foundation for running for office even possible. Sure we should have those folks in office, and everyone can site one or two examples of politicians who do work in those fields, but they're the exception to the more "traditional" professions of law, economics, business, etc.

    Athletics...is an even greater exception. What kinds of policy credentials, issues, and government experience do athletes come into contact with while they're playing? Not many. In fact...even fewer issues than actors...who represent their profession in elected office with equally small numbers.

    There is no "track" for elected office to be sure, but I strongly believe there are some jobs and professions that prepare elected officials for the independent responsibility of governing.

    I guess one could always argue the chicken and the egg.

    Do voters only elect a certain type of candidate to public office, or does only a certain type of person want to run for public office -- and are those people attracted to similar professions, long before they even start to campaign?

  • (Show?)

    I wouldn't mind having a Lt.Governor...another statewide office for Democrats to hold.

  • (Show?)

    Kari, former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann ran for governor in 2006.

    Mo Udall played for the Denver Nuggets while finishing his law degree.

  • (Show?)

    Like any candidate who has not previously held elective office, both Allen Alley and Chris Dudley (if he runs) will have to convince voters they are ready to be governor. But the only difference between their elective experience and Ron Saxton's is one term on a school board, so I'm not sure this is unprecedented.

    Chris, in particular, will have to overcome perceptions that he is "just" an athlete, but based on my limited exposure to him, I believe he can. And if the bar is set a little higher for him than other candidates, I still don't think he'll be in over his head.

  • fbear (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I think the issue here is people who think that they can start at the top. Chris Dudley is probably smarter than the average athlete, and may, in fact, be up on the issues, but he doesn't have a bit of hands-on experience in how government works.

    It seems that he hasn't been particularly involved in politics in any other form, so it smacks of hubris to think that he can just jump in to the top political job in the state.

  • (Show?)

    GL, you keep saying that Dudley has been "a successful money manager". I asked for a source on that claim. You proffered a link to his bio, which contained exactly two sentences verifying the fact that is a money manager, but nothing - not even typical marketing gibberish - that suggests or claims he's been successful. Upon what facts do you base your assertion that he has been succesful as a manager of other people's money?

  • Paul Cox (unverified)
    (Show?)

    This is a great example of how moderate liberals are killing off progressive liberals. progressive liberals ask what power the G really has, and moderate liberals respond with a proposal to create a 1/2 governor.

    Brilliant, simply brilliant.

    Thanks!

  • fbear (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Paul, are you saying that John Lim is a "moderate liberal"? Really?

  • Unrepentant Liberal (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Nothing like starting from from nothing and wanting to go straight to the top job in the state eh? Chris, I'm not sure what you have to offer and you weren't that good of a player that we'd automatically associate you with any great overall competence, popularity or intelligence.

    That said, good luck and I hope you'll bring a new, saner, non-crazy voice to the Oregon republican party, which if you do, will guarantee your defeat.

  • gl (unverified)
    (Show?)

    Kari I do not have quarterly performance reports for his firm. They do manage about $50m in assets - while very small, that is a great number for the short time they have been in business. Perhaps my use of "sucessful" was misgiving. Really my point is that perhaps we should also look at other points to discuss besides sports. My apologies Kari if yopu thought I was trying to accomplish something else.

  • fbear (unverified)
    (Show?)

    gl, of course we're going to start with sports with Chris Dudley because that's what he's known for. Look at this Wikipedia entry--there's far more about his NBA career than his career after basketball.

    He's not like Terry Dischinger, who was first known around here as a Trailblazer, but now is mostly known for his dental work.

    The issue isn't really that he's a dumb athlete--it's unlikely that is the case. The issue is that he's not been politically involved, and now he wants the top political job in the state.

    It would be like someone showing up at a corporation and asking to become CEO. You know, they might want to see that you have some experience in the field.

  • (Show?)

    Well, Dudleys's basically got three bullet points on the resume: basketball, money mgmt, and charitable work. No one has yet explained why any one of those - or all three combined - constitute a portfolio of work that makes him a plausible choice to lead a multibillion dollar enterprise and to make policy choices on behalf of 3.5 million Oregonians.

  • gl (unverified)
    (Show?)

    "No one has yet explained why any one of those - or all three combined - constitute a portfolio of work that makes him a plausible choice to lead a multibillion dollar enterprise and to make policy choices on behalf of 3.5 million Oregonians."

    Thats his job to try to explain. not ours.

  • fbear (unverified)
    (Show?)

    I suppose you could make the argument that he has experience with the veto (blocked shots) and the state sure could use a rebound.

    Unfortunately, we need some points on the board, and Dudley's just not the guy for that.

  • (Show?)

    Thats his job to try to explain. not ours.

    Yes, it is. Also, for his advocates - which I thought you were. Sorry if I misunderstood.

connect with blueoregon