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Dundee man aspires to be governor |
Dr. Gordon Leitch will campaign on
saving taxpayers money by upholding constitutional rights |
By Gunnar
Olson, Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Gunnar at
golson@eaglenewspapers.com |
A Dundee man
is running for governor under the banner of immediate tax relief.
Dr. Gordon Leitch, a 72-year-old retired eye doctor who moved to
Dundee in 1997 and lives part time in Baker City, filed Dec. 23 to
run as a Republican. He said in an interview Thursday that he is
seeking the governor’s office on a platform to effect changes to the
U.S. monetary system that will save taxpayers money.
He said the United States is in effect “counterfeiting” by issuing
paper money that isn’t worth its stated value in gold. He said the
government is bilking taxpayers out of millions of dollars by taxing
them according to how much the dollar claims to be worth, rather
than by how much how much the dollar is worth in gold — the standard
of value he sees as established by the Constitution.
“I decided it’s time to let the people know they’re being
snookered,” he said. “They’re getting the shaft.”
He said that, as governor, he could keep that money in taxpayers’
pockets by upholding rights they already have in the U.S. and Oregon
constitutions. In his campaign literature, he says he can offer an
immediate 50 percent reduction in property taxes and 90 percent cut
in capital gains taxes.
Leitch will take on at least three Republicans in the May primary.
David Beem and Kevin Mannix, both of Salem, and William Spidal of
Nehalem have filed to run.
The Associated Press reported that Ron Saxton of Portland and state
Sen. Jason Atkinson (Central Point), are considering throwing their
hats in the ring as Republicans, as well. State Sen. Ben Westlund
(R-Tumalo), is also thinking of running, although as an independent,
The Associated Press reported.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Ted Kulongoski has filed for
re-election. He is being challenged by Lane County Commissioner Pete
Sorenson. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber has also expressed interest in
running for what would be his third term, The Associated Press
reported.
Leitch said he has no experience working in government or politics,
other than acting as a precinct committeeman for Republican
campaigns for about 10 years.
He traced his decision to enter politics back 37 years to 1968. He
was re-establishing his ophthalmology practice in Portland shortly
after being discharged from two years in the Navy, when the Internal
Revenue Service paid him a visit.
“They came in and read me the Miranda rights,” he said. “And guess
how much they were after? Seventy-five bucks. It was like sending in
a Howitzer after a mouse, and the mouse roared back.”
Leitch said the incident started him down a path that would lead to
him run for governor: A study of the developments of the U.S.
monetary system. He said he researched the U.S. and Oregon
constitutions, as well as acts of Congress and decisions by the U.S.
Supreme Court dating back to the late 1800s.
He said he came to the conclusion that taxpayers were “had, rolled
and fleeced” by the U.S. government. He also concluded that the
state of Oregon was a “willing accomplice” by not enforcing the part
of its constitution that, as he reads it, says no paper money will
be accepted in the state.
He takes particular issue with a 1933 amendment to the 1917 Trading
With the Enemy Act. He said that, in the original act, Congress gave
the president powers over commerce that were Congress’ by
constitution. He said the 1933 amendment allowed the president to
declare an emergency and that people were “hoarding” money, and then
print more money.
This, he argued, was a “sleight of hand” by the government: The
money the citizens were “hoarding” was backed up with gold, but the
money that the government was creating was in paper only.
And that, he went on to argue, is unconstitutional, despite the
government operating to the contrary for decades.
Leitch readily conceded that his line of thinking is hard to
follow. He also said the majority of people are “too programmed to
the errors for them to believe.”
But he expressed confidence that he would get his message
across to voters, saying he would unveil his campaign strategy when
it was more refined. In the meantime, voters can check out his
arguments further, as well as his complete campaign platform, on his
Web site, www.leitch4govr.com. |
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From
Dec. 31,
2005, Newberg Graphic
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