The drums of partisanship were audible Thursday night in Portland as gubernatorial candidates John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley fortified their cases to be Oregon’s next governor.
The first and possibly only debate between the candidates found them somewhat antagonistic toward one another in their talking points, with Dudley trying to frame Kitzhaber as a defender of the status quo, and Kitzhaber attempting to portray Dudley as a new face beholden to the interests of the wealthy.
The two men did agree on a number of issues, such as establishing a rainy-day fund for the state, modifying the capital gains tax and endorsing the idea of an open primary in Oregon.
Dudley characterized himself as the candidate of change and job development through private-sector investment and the reduction of government. Dudley summarized his main philosophical difference from former governor Kitzhaber by referencing the age-old private investment versus public investment argument.
“My opponent John believes politicians and government create jobs; I believe it’s business owners and entrepreneurs,” Dudley said. “Our past two governors have had more than 60 years in political experience, and yet look where we sit.”
Kitzhaber redoubled his effort to establish himself as the candidate of the middle class, environmental conservation and clean energy. He made a dedicated effort to portray Dudley’s economic stance as not unlike those that caused the federal economic crisis of 2008.
“(Dudley) is proposing an $800-million tax cut that benefits the wealthiest of Oregonians and won’t create a single job for the 200,000 Oregonians who are out of work today,” Kitzhaber said. “(W)e need to create a climate … that keeps more Oregon dollars being reinvested in Oregon.”
The debate was formatted in two parts, the first of which was led by designated questioners: The Oregonian’s Jeff Mapes and KGW’s Laural Porter. In the second part, the moderator took questions from audience members and questions submitted by citizens online.
During the second part of the debate, when a more spontaneous atmosphere was created by the involvement of the audience, Kitzhaber challenged Dudley to a second debate at the City Club of Portland on Oct. 8. Dudley’s response wasn’t to accept or deny, but instead to challenge Kitzhaber to a debate in Medford.
Jeff Mapes, one of the debate’s questioners and a reporter for The Oregonian, said in a post-debate interview that he thought both candidates did a good job making their cases.
“Kitzhaber came across as very knowledgeable, as usual,” Mapes said. “Dudley did a good job of returning to his talking points … he maybe faltered a couple of times.”
Mapes also compared Thursday night’s debate to a 1994 debate in which Kitzhaber “carved up” opponent Denny Smith. Mapes said he was surprised that political newcomer Dudley held his own the way he did against the seasoned politician.
“I watched Kitzhaber in 1994 … and I recall him almost wielding his surgeon’s scalpel. And he wasn’t able to do this. That was striking to me,” Mapes said.
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