Steve Richkind believes that it is time for citizens in Oregon — and across the nation —- to demand that government quit doing “business as usual.”

“Maybe I can beat the drums that will inspire people to work together because we have serious reasons to collaborate,” said Richkind, an attorney from Sandy.

“Every person has a contribution to make in our society. Each one of us represents a possibility and something is lost if we don’t realize it.”

Richkind, 53, is vying for the House District 52 seat that is being vacated by Rep. Patti Smith, R-Corbett, at the end of 2008. He is being challenged for the Democratic nomination in the May primary election by Suzanne VanOrman of Hood River.

“I’m not going to run the usual campaign that is reliant upon polls,” he said. “You will know exactly what I think and I’m not going to hide anything. That is what I have always wanted from our leaders.”

On Thursday, Richkind made his first campaign stop in Hood River. He intends to offer people hope that their voices will be heard in the halls of the state capital. He believes there is no issue — even those involving land-use — where a balance cannot be found between individual rights and the greater good. He contends that a grassroots movement is the only way for citizens to reclaim the prosperity and rights that are being stripped away at all levels of government.

“Winning would be a nice byproduct because the message is more important than the personality,” said Richkind.

“We the people have been divided into two political parties and pitted against one another by our corporately run government. We have the power to take back our government from the hands of the corporations that exploit us.

“Corporations are not people, they are profit-making machines that have bought and paid for our government.”

Richkind has been helping people find justice in court for more than two decades on a case-by-case basis. He said becoming a legislator will allow him to exercise the skills of a negotiator on a larger scale.

“Our government should be made up of public servants,” he said. “I am so sick of politics as usual where officials promise a ‘chicken in every pot.’ Do they really think that we’re that stupid?”

Richkind said citizens seem to grasp what government leaders refuse to acknowledge: You can’t keep growing the budget and then cutting taxes.

“This not only insults our intelligence; it is heading this country right toward bankruptcy,” he said.

“This nation has a budget deficit in the trillions. The question is what comes after that, the zillions?”

Richkind acknowledges that a lot of the issues dear to his heart, such as ending the war in Iraq, need to be dealt with in the federal realm. However, he believes that, state by state, it is possible to effect change in Washington, D.C.

“We need to connect here at home and be an example of what’s possible,” he said.

“If we listen to one another, we can join together and then what we do will be powerful. Right now, we are separated by blaming each other and whilst divided we have no power.”

Richkind plans to research the key issues facing Oregon during the upcoming months — seeing the challenges from as many perspectives as possible. If elected, he wants to craft solutions that validate all of the concerns that have been expressed to him in meetings with citizens and other stakeholders, such as conservation groups. Although he is non-confrontational in his approach to life and politics, Richkind describes himself as “persistent.” In the legal arena, he pursues all of the available legal avenues until satisfied that a wrong has been righted.

For example, he is taking a civil rights case to U.S. District Court in the near future. With a strong belief that an injustice had been done, Richkind accepted David Simmons of Madras as a client. The 18-year-old spent 30 days in jail for his one-year sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

According to Richkind, there should have never been a case developed against Simmons because a grand jury in Madras cleared him of any wrongdoing. However, he said the decision of the jury was overlooked by the prosecutor, former defense lawyer and two judges.

Although Simmons took a plea deal to get out of jail that admitted guilt, Richkind maintains that the case was “null and void” due to lack of an indictment. He said Jefferson County has now filed new charges against the teen in an attempt to justify his prior incarceration.

Richkind graduated from Sandy High School in 1972 and earned his law degree from the University of Oregon. He has dubbed his rural property as the Sandy Peace Center and regularly invites guests to enjoy the natural setting and renew their clarity and vision of the world.

For more information on his campaign, or to request an appearance by Richkind, call (503) 668-0996 or access www.richkind52.com.