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Wu
challenger throws
down the gantlet in
1st District House race |
Portland businessman Tim Phillips is one of three so far
to seek Republican nod to face Wu in 1st District |
By Schellene Clendenin, Newberg
Graphic reporter
E-mail Schellene at sclendenin@eaglenewspapers.com
|
 As a small business owner in Oregon for the last 11 years, 37-year-old Tim
Phillips, a fiscal conservative, feels he is just what Oregon needs to improve the job and
education outlook in the state.
Recently Phillips, a Republican, announced his plan to run for the 1st
Congressional District, a position currently held by three-term Rep. David Wu, a Democrat.
So far Phillips and two other republicans, Jason Mashell and Goli Ameri, have
announced they will compete for the 17 precincts covered in the 1st District, which
includes all of Yamhill County.
Phillips said his decision to run is about giving back to the community that
has provided for him. Married for the last 10 years with two children aged 7 and 5,
Phillips said he built a business in Multnomah County from one employee with two phones to
a 65-employee brokerage and wealth management company.
“With what I received from the community I feel privileged to give back
in any way I can,” he said.
He said he chose to run because he disagrees with Wu’s politics,
including his characterization that the Chinese immigrant’s largest campaign
contributors are Taiwanese businessmen lobbying Wu to vote against extending federal
most-favored national trade status to China.
Cameron Johnson, communications director for the congressman, countered that
“Wu has consistently supported trade with free and open nations,” he said.
“He believes we should use our economic leverage to promote democracy and rid the
world of prison labor camps, sweatshops and child labor, all of which have all been common
in China.”
Johnson went on to state that Wu “has been open and consistent about his
position since he declared his candidacy for Congress.”
As for the contributions by Taiwanese businessmen, Johnson denied that claim.
“By law, every one of Congressman Wu’s contributors is an American citizen or
legal permanent resident,” Johnson said.
Beyond Wu’s politics, Phillips said he was also driven to run by what he
characterized as an atmosphere that is unfriendly to business.
“Twelve years ago,” he said, “this state was considered a good
place for business. Now we are first in unemployment and 50th in economic growth in the
nation.”
Who better to restore jobs to the state than someone who has benefited as a
businessman here? he reasoned.
Phillips said he is pro-family wage and wants to create jobs, something he feels Wu
is not interested in doing. Phillips’ campaign platform includes lowering taxes and
eliminating wasteful government spending.
Phillips has gathered more than $370,000 in his campaign war chest, he said,
adding that 85 percent or more that came from Oregon contributors.
“This is a tough race,” he said. “I am getting my message out
on jobs, the economy and education.”
In addition, if elected, Phillips would like to fully implement the Northwest
Forest Plan formulated in the Clinton administration. The plan was an agreement between
the government, Oregon foresters and environmentalists on ideas to better utilize the
natural resources in region.
“It needs to be done,” he said.
He said he also supports establishing more high tech companies in the area,
as well as providing non-wage compensation to employees, including stock options and
incentives.
One to six jobs in Portland, he said, are impacted by transportation. He
wants to expand Highway 26 and ensure construction of the Newberg-Dundee bypass.
Finally, Phillips said he would like to improve educational opportunity in
the district. He touts full funding for the No Child Left Behind legislation and
modifications to the laws as they currently stand to ensure all children in Oregon receive
an education. He said the best way to do this is to give policy control to parents and
teachers instead of the state government.
Phillips added that to compete in the global marketplace, incentives must be
made to emphasize math and science education throughout elementary and secondary
education. He also wants to help college students strapped with increasing tuition. He
would do this by establishing more funds for Pell Grants, increasing government subsidies
and creating solutions for cash-strapped schools.
He also wants, in an economy he feels could be improved by the addition of
more engineers, to provide incentives to students interested in studying that subject.
“It’s a targeted opportunity for innovation,” he said, adding
that “60 percent of kids in China study engineering — we need to create a
competitive balance.” |
|
From Dec. 13,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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