09/30/2008
CONTACT: Harlan Levy, 503-936-5786 or Tony Malandra, 415-664-9685
NFIB confers Main Street's Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on lawmakers and others
SALEM, Ore. -- The voice of mom-and-pop enterprises and 43 percent of the nation's voting bloc today announced its endorsements of 44 candidates for the Oregon Legislature.
In making its endorsement, the National Federation of Independent Business Oregon SAFE Trust, the political action committee of NFIB/Oregon, the state's largest small business association, praised the incumbents for their pro-small business voting records in 2007 and 2008. Candidates for open seats who received the endorsement displayed a pro-small business attitude in face-to-face interviews with SAFE Trust members.
"Our endorsement process tells voters that these candidates have demonstrated a fundamental appreciation that small businesses aren't just smaller versions of bigger businesses, but instead have different difficulties in remaining solvent," said Harlan Levy, Oregon state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. "Small business employs more Americans than big business; small business generates almost all new jobs in the nation; and small business owners know each of their employee's names and family struggles."
Incumbent senators receiving NFIB's endorsement for reelection include Jeff Kruse of Roseburg in the 1st District; Jason Atkinson of Medford, 2nd District; Joanne Verger of Coos Bay in the 5th District; Fred Girod of Stayton in the 9th District; Ginny Burdick of Portland in the 18th District; Doug Whitsett of Klamath Falls in the 28th District; Dave Nelson of Pendleton in the 29th District; and Ted Ferrioli of John Day in the 30th District.
Endorsed candidates in open Senate seats were state Rep. Brian Boquist of Dallas in the 12th District and Chris Telfer of Bend in the 27th District.
Incumbent state representatives receiving NFIB's endorsement for reelection were Wayne Krieger of Gold Beach in District 1; Ron Maurer of Grants Pass in District 3; Dennis Richardson of Central Point in District 4; Sal Esquivel of Medford in District 6; Bruce Hanna of Roseburg in District 7; Arnie Roblan of Coos Bay in District 9; Chris Edwards of Eugene in District 14; Andy Olson of Albany in District 15; Sherrie Sprenger of Scio in District 17; Vic Gilliam of Silverton in District 18; Kevin Cameron of Salem in District 19; Vicki Berger of Salem in District 20; Betty Komp of Woodburn in District 22; Kim Thatcher of Salem in District 25; Jeff Barker of Aloha in District 28; Scott Bruun of West Linn in District 37; Dave Hunt of Milwaukie in District 40; Mike Schaufler of Happy Valley in District 48; John Lim of Gresham in District 50; Linda Flores of Clackamas in District 51; Gene Whisnant of Sunriver in District 53; Chuck Burley of Bend in District 54; George Gilman of Medford in District 55; Bill Garrard of Klamath Falls in District 56; Greg Smith of Heppner in District 57; Bob Jenson of Pendleton in District 58; and John Huffman of The Dalles in District 59.
Endorsed candidates for open House seats were Tim Freeman of Roseburg in District 2; Jim Thompson of Dallas in District 23; Jim Weidner of Yamhill in District 24; Steve Griffith of Lake Oswego in District 38; Bill Kennemer of Oregon City in District 39; Michael Dembrow of Portland in District 45; and John Nelson of Fairview in District 49.
The political endorsement of small business is no small matter. According to a survey conducted for NFIB earlier this year, small business owners comprise 15 percent of all registered voters in the U.S. By comparison, union voters make up 11.9 percent. When small business employees are added, the small business voting bloc swells to 43 percent.
