Guest Column

The Oregon Republican primary for governor is coming up. Because we are a small business, we want a governor who runs the state like a business. In business, you can’t spend more money than you make month over month and year over year.

We also value our freedoms and the U.S. Constitution, so we want a governor who has the interests of Oregon individuals in mind when making decisions that affect all of us.

I have personally spoke to the two main candidates, Sam Carpenter and Knute Buehler, as I have lived in Bend 22 years. I have spoken to Knute, and he is a nice guy, but what makes a doctor qualified to run the business of this state?

My vote is for Sam Carpenter, and this is why. Sam Carpenter is a successful businessman, and he has turned around over 500 businesses. Oregon needs to be turned around financially.

The far left Democrats and some Republicans running Oregon along with those representing us in Washington have no idea what they are doing regarding running a business and spending our money. These folks tax us to death and spend our money like drunken sailors. At least when drunken sailors spend all their money it belongs to them and they worked for it.

You will find Sam Carpenter’s positions on issues help all Oregonians. All Oregonians should want good jobs and business to prosper.

Having owned his own business for decades, Sam understands what it is like to pay taxes, pay employees and watch his bottom line. Sam also has blue-collar roots working in the forest as a young man working the timber industry. Sam Carpenter has employed women, men and people of all races for decades. Sam wants to help us with tax reform, Sam is pro-life, for PERS reform, for proper timber management, for health care reform that makes sense, for legal immigration,

Sam stands for the Second Amendment as written. Knute scored an F with the Oregon Firearms Federation regarding protecting our Second Amendment rights. Sam Carpenter on the other hand scored a B on the Second Amendment with the OFF.

Knute Buehler’s positions on these issues are not fiscally or morally conservative, and he has a weak position on the Second Amendment.

A few months ago, I sat nearby Knute Buehler at the Republican Convention in Bend and watched him refuse to applaud any of President Donald Trump’s accomplishments. We need the business expert Sam, not a Doctor Knute.

Sam is the only qualified candidate with the real-life business experience to get the state running right.

Sam will protect the rights of all Oregonians no matter race, gender, age or orientation. Sam’s biological children are Hispanic, so the race card can’t be used. With about 25 percent of Oregon residents on some kind public assistance and 1 of 4 students graduating high school, Democrats and Republicans should both be very upset.

Kate Brown is an absolute disgrace, and she needs to be retired before she destroys what is left of Oregon businesses and our constitutional freedoms.

Just look at Trump’s financial accomplishments with lowering taxes, taking on China with trade along with the lowest unemployment level for minorities in the history of the USA.

You can see more at www.makeoregongreatagain.com

Sam needs our help to beat RINO (Republican in name only) Knute Buehler.

— John Baker lives in Bend.