By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
News editor

Chris Dudley stood in bright factory lights, then in low restaurant banquet room lights Monday as he started his statewide campaign swing with a visit to Hood River County.

“Jobs and the economy must be our top priority,” said Dudley, 45, a Republican candidate for governor. The Lake Oswego resident and senior vice president for an investment firm, played center for the Portland Trailblazers.

This is his first attempt at public office, but said his business and NBA background give him ample experience to fill a gap he said has been missing.

“There has been no leadership,” Dudley said to a group of supporters at Charburger Restaurant, after touring Cardinal IG window factory in Odell.

“We have to have a change of attitude at the top spot (in state government),” he told a group of Republicans.

He said the fact that Measures 66 and 67 made it to the ballot is evidence of poor leadership in Salem.

“We should have never had that come to a vote. As governor I would use my veto power to eliminate spending. It takes leadership to come up with an alternative.”

He said 66 and 67 sends a bad message to businesses seeking to invest in Oregon, by feeding the “scare-shortfall-tax” cycle that he believes occurs when state income taxes dip and the state turns to businesses for more revenue.

“We have to welcome businesses here (to Oregon),” he said, charging that under the current administration, “business is a four-letter word.”

He stated that it is the role of governor “not to tell which businesses to grow but to create an environment for businesses to grow.”

“You need jobs and then the businesses to create revenue — that’s where it comes from.”

He advocates reducing the capital gains and personal income taxes, and said a sales tax could be considered only after the legislature commits to spending caps and a reduction in personal income tax.

“And none of this should happen without a vote of the people,” he said. “Trust has to be restored,” he said.

As governor he would meet each week with legislative leaders, something he said is not currently happening in Salem.

“Talking to people. That seems to be what’s missing. To me that shows why we are where we are.”

“The role of the governor is leadership,” said Dudley, pointing to his time as a negotiator for the NBA players’ union. He also said being an outsider works to his benefit.

“Thirty years in state government makes you the right person for maybe a policy director but not a leader,” Dudley said.

“The idea of real change resonates with people,” he said. “It said it will take leadership to elevate Oregon from the high numbers of unemployed, homeless, and hungry.

“Who can argue we’re heading in the right direction?” said Dudley, noting that independent or undeclared voters in Oregon outnumber either the Democratic or Republican constituencies.