CAMPAIGN - Party Affiliation

     My father was a Democrat. My mother a Republican. I registered as a Republican because I believed in the ideals of a small government: fewer taxes, more incentives for businesses to create jobs, and therefore less of a need for government entitlement programs that seem to feed corruption in government bureaucracies.
     One of my campaign supporters this past week said I should change my party status to non-affiliated, being as the Douglas County Commissioner's election is now a non-partisan race. Say what? I'm not about to turn by back on the ideals of what I believe. But then my campaign supporter asked me if the party is truly the same party that I signed up with years ago.
     First, the good points. What the party has done for me personally. When I first ran for Douglas County Commissioner, local Republican party leaders were impressed with what they heard. They sponsored my participation in attending the Oregon Republican Leadership Institute on the Oregon coast, organized by the late Kelly Clark, a prominent Portland attorney. Even Roseburg businessman Bill Woods came up to me after I spoke at a candidates forum at the Douglas County Library, and said he liked what I had to say, and that we'd "have to talk sometime." Woods never did call me.
     I am most grateful for the hospitality shown to me by some Republican members back in those early days. The Douglas County Republican Party traditionally hosted candidate forums before the May primary, and invited all of the Republican candidates to speak. The Umpqua Valley Republican Women also hosted monthly luncheons, and would invite different Republican candidates to speak on different months. While I realized that different people were supporting different candidates for office, Republican leaders at least included me, and all Republican candidates in their pre-election activities.
     Now, the questionable points. During this election, both the Douglas County Republican executive committee and the Umpqua Valley Republican Women have shunned some Republican candidates who are running for office. To the best of my knowledge, four of the seven current candidates for Douglas County Commissioner are registered as Republicans. How long they've been Republicans, I do not know. One of the four Republican candidates for Douglas County Commissioner has been invited to speak at public forums hosted by these two groups. Other candidates have not.
     I'm always someone who gives people the benefit of the doubt. I initially dismissed the oversight as nothing more than perhaps these groups were no longer inviting candidates from non-partisan races. After all, the Douglas County Commissioner's job is no longer one where a person has to register as a Republican or a Democrat in order to run in the May primary.
     But then, I began seeing notices that the Republican candidate for Douglas County Assessor was a featured speaker at these forums and luncheons. Assessor? But not candidates for Commissioner? Something is amiss somewhere. The only obvious conclusion that myself or anyone else making an objective decision can make, is that some Republican candidates are welcome in the local Republican party while others are not.
     As my outspoken campaign supporter this past week told me, the Republican "machine" has their own candidate picked out for the election, which is why they're no longer following basic protocol in how they conduct themselves during the primary election. THAT'S why my campaign supporter said I should change my party affiliation. I wouldn't be abandoning my party. The party has already abandoned me.
     I wish Kelly Clark were still around to give me some insight as to what to do. Clark was a valuable mentor for myself and others at the Oregon Republican Leadership Institute. It's been thirteen years since I attended the ORLI leadership camp. And a lot has changed during that time.
     Regardless of what kinds of changes may take place in the Douglas County Republican Party, I will remain steadfast in my ideals. I believe that government is by the people, and for the people. As Douglas County Commissioner, I will always work to serve the people's needs and interests.
     And I will always look forward to attending the Umpqua Valley Republican Women's luncheons, held at the Kowloon restaurant, whenever I'm invited! Kowloon became one of my favorite restaurants when I first attended North Roseburg Rotary Club meetings there, when Rotary sponsored me as a foreign exchange student. [I had to conclude this column with a "human" interest anecdote, to show that I'm not wanting to discuss politics all of the time. :) ]