Rep. Dennis Richardson (R-Central Point) announced today he will seek the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the May primary election, stopping briefly in Bend on his campaign across Oregon.

Several dozen people gathered in Pioneer Park to hear Richardson’s speech outlining his plan for Oregon.

“When I began serving my first term in office in 2003, I expected a great state like Oregon would have a strategic plan, but unfortunately there wasn’t one,” he said. “Kitzhaber is a nice guy, but he’s been there three terms. In baseball, it’s three strikes and you’re out if you don’t hit the ball.”

Richardson discussed his plan for Oregon’s future, highlighting the need for education reform, reducing the state unemployment rate, budget and tax reform and a revamping of the way natural resources are managed across the state.

“We don’t manage our forests and then lighting strikes and you have a fire like the Biscuit Fire a few years back that burned 500,000 acres,” he said. “Imagine the carbon footprint from a fire like that.”

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone listened to Richardson’s announcement, saying that he was there to learn more about his platform.

“As a representative he has been a force in the Legislature for a while,” DeBone said. “My views will probably align well with what he stands for.”

Richardson began Wednesday in Central Point, then traveled to Eugene before flying in to Bend. Following his stop in Bend, Richardson and his campaign team flew to Portland, where he will spend the next several days meeting with constituents.