Chris Edwards: the job interview at the doorstep

Down in Lane County, you'll find one of the hottest blogs in Oregon.

EdwardsfamilyNope, not a political blog -- but a blog all about scrapbooking and family, by Ali Edwards... better half of legislative candidate Chris Edwards. The discussions may not get as heated as they do here at BlueOregon, but Ali Edwards draws more comments day-to-day than we do.

Yesterday, Chris posted a guest column on Ali's blog -- all about running for office. A few choice cuts:

These days, I spend a lot of time walking door-to-door talking with regular people about the real issues facing Oregon's families. And I’ve heard it all. I've met people with chronic illnesses, who have to take their medicine every other day- because they can't afford the prescribed daily dose and are forced to gamble with their health. I've met the parents of children in kindergarten classes with 25 other kids- and I know that is simply too many.

The reality is, regardless of party affiliation, 90% of Oregonians want 90% of the same stuff- and we just need legislators to get to work for the people.

More and more, people want Representatives who are going to work hard for them in the legislature. People are checking out of the political process here in Oregon because they see how unresponsive their Representatives are to the real issues affecting their lives. Yet when special interests say "Jump", our politicians ask “How high?”

The way I see it, I am interviewing with every voter on their doorstep for a job representing them in our state capitol.

While Ali sometimes blogs about Chris's campaign, it's often from the view of the family - with personal reflections on campaign life.

SimonBack in March, Ali posted some thoughts about filing day down in the Capitol -- and their four-year-old son, Simon, arguably the cutest kid in Oregon politics:

Simon and I drove up in the afternoon to meet him and attend a reception for Democratic candidates after the deadline had passed.

I decided that Simon needed a new outfit for the occasion. He was so cute in his button-down shirt, sweater vest, blue overcoat, khakis, and boat shoes (loafers).

He got to run around on the floor of the Oregon House of Representatives, try out the seats, try to push some buttons, etc. We were just so happy that he was able to handle all the people. I think he really enjoyed the whole thing.

So, if you're interested in the personal side of politics, bookmark Ali's blog. And be sure to head over to Chris Edwards for Oregon to donate or volunteer.

Discuss.

  • Jared (unverified)
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    Great story, Kari. Chris is a great candidate who is working his tail off to get elected, and will continue his hard work in representing his future constituents in West Eugene, and Junction City. He is the genuine article, and I think everyone he talks to on the doorstep picks up on that. His integrity, strength of charater, willingness to think outside the box, and ability to work with a wide range of people will be a huge asset in Salem.

  • sarah gilbert (unverified)
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    thanks for pointing us to this! Ali's great, not just for her connection to a politician, but man, that's a beautiful scrapbooking blog.

  • Tiny (unverified)
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    It will be great to take out another Minnis patsy. You should have seen Farr introducing Minnis at the City Club of Eugene. She went on and on about how similar they are, about how they both served in the Legislature after working as Assistants for their husbands, how Karen is her role model, blah blah blah. She was sickeningly sweet, which seems to be her general MO. Ineffective, but sweet.

  • MG (unverified)
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    I was working as a clerk at a store down here in Eugene. Debi came in with her daughter at about 10am on a Friday when the House was in Session. I guess purchasing a cartload of fancy pillows and bathsoap is more important than conducting the peoples business.

  • Monte the Mallrat (unverified)
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    They are a great family and I truly hope we rally behind one of the true "good guys" of Oregon.

  • Carpet Bagger Watch (unverified)
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    It is interesting that Mr. Edwards moved from Creswell were he owned a house to a rental in House District 14 three days before the cut-off to qualify to serve. If anyone is a "patsy" of a party organization it is Mr. Edwards playing Carpet Bagger for the House Democrat Caucus. (Ofcourse, they could not let Rich Cunningham run who actually lives there.)

    I thought Chris wanted to be on the Lane ESD Board? Oh yeah, he withdrew when the party told him to for Tom Liniger's sake.

    At least Debi Farr has lived and raised chilren in her district and knows the citizens of the district without having to introduce herself.

  • (Show?)

    Great story, Kari.

    Thanks, but don't assume that every 'elsewhere' item is written by me. Jeff Alworth, Jesse Cornett, Charlie Burr are certainly among the crew writing 'voice of blueoregon' items (though Charlie's on hiatus)... plus the rest of our contributors do so once in a blue moon.

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    Dear Carpet Bagger Watch,

    You should check your sources before you post unsubstantiated nonsense on publicly read forums. Or maybe that was your goal - to post unsubstantiated nonsense.

    Chris Edwards has spent his entire life in Eugene. He grew up there, went to school there and ran a business there. He moved into House District 14 so his son, who is slightly autistic, could attend the Santa Clara Early Education Program. You and or other trolls from the House Republicans/Farr campaign might want to think twice before you attack Chris for making a big life change for his son. That's about as low as it gets.

    If Debi Farr knows the voters in her district so well how will she explain having voted the Republican party line 99% of the time in 2005? That sounds like an out of touch partisan to me.

  • Jared (unverified)
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    Chris is someone who is unhappy with the state of affairs in the state where his family has been for 5 generations, and rightfully so. He thinks he has the skills and ideas to help change the course we're on. A lot of other people think so too, which would explain why a Farr shill would resort to spreading these types of falsehoods. Her supporters are getting nervous.

  • Val (unverified)
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    Thanks for writing this Kari, it is important that people know more about the great candidates that we are fielding here in Lane. Chris is hardworking, smart, has great people skills and deeply cares about the citizens and the future of Oregon. Out here in HD 14 we were so happy when Chris decided to run for office against Debi Farr. Now we have the option of being represented by someone that will strive to put forward common sense solutions in Salem rather than falling lock step behind Karen Minnus and the radical right.

    On of my favorite Chris Edwards moments was at one of the hospitality suites at the DPO convention when Brian Clem, another great House candidate, stated that he was the candidate with had the strongest Oregon roots. Both he and Chris are fifth generation Oregonians but it was established that Chris's family came here first and Brian was a close second. At almost every event that I have attended with Chris, he runs into someone he knows. What I find most refreshing is that he has friends and acquaintances from all walks of life and all sides of the political spectrum. He is honest, respectful and direct and that just resonates with people. He is a true blue Oregonian.

    Hi wife Ali in addition to being an incredibly talented artist and wonderful mother is a lot of fun to be around. The Edwards's have strong family values and are willing to do whatever is needed in order to have a better future for Simon. His campaign is centered, focused and a great team to be a part of, Chris Edwards is clearly a winner.

    Also major kudos to Chris for picking a rock star campaign manager, Andi Lipstein. She gives new meaning to the word organized.

  • Val (unverified)
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    (Ofcourse, they could not let Rich Cunningham run who actually lives there.)

    I thought Chris wanted to be on the Lane ESD Board? Oh yeah, he withdrew when the party told him to for Tom Liniger's sake.

    As chairperson of the Democratic Party of Lane County I can tell you that we did not take sides of one Democrat over another in a primary. We believe the voters should decide who is the best choice to run in the general election and we then support their choice. We changed our bylaws last year to that effect. We gave both candidates Rich Cunningham and Chris Edwards equal access to information and support but didn't support one over the other. Rich Cunningham chose to withdraw from the race and ran instead for the Eugene City Council seat against Jenifer Solomon.

    We did not take any position in the Lane ESD race as it is a non-partisan race and both Chris Edwards, Tom Lininger and a some of the other candidates were Democrats.

  • Carpet Bagger Watch (unverified)
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    Dear Jon,

    I notice that you first state that my information is unsubstantiated, then you never refute the facts that Chris moved to the district just in time to qualify to run. (Which incidentally puts it in the middle of the fall school term.) (I also do not work for either the Farr camp or the majority caucus)

    I never said he was not a long time Eugene or Oregon resident, only a short time HD 14 resident, who conveniently withdrew from the Lane ESD race and made his intentions known early for HD 14, effectively pushing Rich Cunningham out. (Val must think I am naive if I don't know that the caucus not the official DPLC put the word on Rich thru unofficial channels. After all they recruited Chris. Either way it is the party appuratus.)

    Now as far as Debi Farr being some kind of Stepford Representative, just ask why she is labelled as a RINO by so many Republicans? Could it be she is a liberal Republican much like her house district? Debi has the experience and is the best match for the district. No matter how many people they bus down from Portland to try to unseat her.

    By the way, has Chris been declaring those in-kind donations from the Bus Project? Or is he going to have to explain them to the SOS like Fleenor...

  • Andrew S. (unverified)
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    Yo Carpet Bagger Watch -

    Even if you are technically correct about the residency thing, it's a stupid bullshit point. Get over yourself.

    Oh and has Chris been declaring those in-kind donations from the Bus Project?

    I don't know! What a great question. If only we had a way of finding out...

    Wait! Isn't there a feature on the SoS website that allows you to look at contributions and expenditures?

    Why yes, there is. And if you would have bothered to spend three minutes to check his most recent filing and discover that he did, in fact, declare in-kind donations from the Bus Project, you could have prevented yourself from looking like an idiot.

  • (Show?)

    ...you could have prevented yourself from looking like an idiot.

    Don't get overly hopeful there, Andrew. Our friends on the right are perfectly capable of making themselves look stupid in any number of ways.

  • Perennial Candidate Watch (unverified)
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    If Carpetbagger Watch keeps posting, he might eventually get one fact right. So far, he's batting zero. I don't think anyone thinks of Debi Farr as a RINO. She voted over 98% of the time with Karen Minnis and she seems to be enough of a Right Winger to please her big corporate donors.

    Rich Cunningham is free to run for office any time he chooses. He has taken advantage of this freedom just about every election cycle. If he had some kind of non-manufactured political experience or a modicum of community support, he might have been successful in at least one of his campaigns. It's kind of pitiful that the excuse is that the party didn't "let" Cunningham run. More likely, he knows he stands no chance of winning in a primary against a formidable opponent, so he keeps withdrawing on his own. It's really a shame that Carpetbagger is trying so hard to sling mud and bring to light non-existent dirt, all because of an apparent personal issue that has nothing to do with the candidate.

  • Marissa (unverified)
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    It's interesting to hear people writing about Chris as being honest, genuine, and direct. I've never met him, but from what I've seen of Rep. Farr, she is totally the opposite. Everything about her seems phony, and I think people pick up on that very quickly. It would be nice to have more good, honest people in government to take care of the very serious issues we're facing.

  • Benny (unverified)
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    "I was working as a clerk at a store down here in Eugene. Debi came in with her daughter at about 10am on a Friday when the House was in Session. I guess purchasing a cartload of fancy pillows and bathsoap is more important than conducting the peoples business."

    I was just wondering about the date of this incident? Just out of curiosity and all. Who is her daughter anyway?

    However, I do feel that having a representative who's actually spent more than a year in our district is a bit of a comfort, at the coming election Edwards will have just barely lived here a year. Rep Farr is the only Republican I have ever voted for, and I have a feeling it's going to remain that way through this election, too.

    "I don't think anyone thinks of Debi Farr as a RINO. She voted over 98% of the time with Karen Minnis and she seems to be enough of a Right Winger to please her big corporate donors."

    Which big corporate donors? I suppose all of them are totally conservative, too, huh? State your evidence, dude.

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