By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
News editor

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jon Lim believes the political rift in Oregon goes beyond the east-west Cascade divide so often decried by people running for office.

“We have a divided Oregon,” Lim said in a visit to Hood River last week, at the start of his third campaign trip around the state since announcing his candidacy last summer

“What I’m finding out is that the people of eastern Oregon and the coastal part of the state feel left out,” said Lim, citing the 20 percent unemployment rate in some eastern Oregon counties, and what he regards as a generation of neglect of Oregon east of the Cascades during 24 years of Democratic control of the governor’s post.

Lim, 74, who lives in Gresham and formerly served in both the Oregon House and Senate, was on his way to The Dalles, Condon, Enterprise, Ontario and Medford, among other locales, before heading to Lincoln City and other coastal towns this week.

“I need to find out what’s going on all around the state,” said Lim, who was accompanied in his Hood River visit by his wife, Grace, and Republican supporter Brian Steeves of Hood River.

Lim said that, if elected, he would organize a statewide economic summit before taking office, bringing together citizens, farmers, ranchers and state officials.

“We need to get together to find an answer,” Lim said. “Without that kind of discussion we can’t find the answer,” he said.

When asked about his own ideas for boosting Oregon’s economy, he said he would establish a governor’s liaison office in state government to see that economic development policies are being applied as intended throughout Oregon.

“We have to pay attention to the timber, fishing and tourism (sectors) on the coast,” he said. “They rely on these industries over there.”

He said he would challenge the Oregon Economic Development Department to demonstrate what is has done to reduce unemployment.

He said other key questions are: “Why do we have chronic debt problem?” and “Why do we have a lot of resentment in the eastern Oregon and coastal areas?”

Lim said the governor’s office should have expanded powers to audit the finances and operations of all state agencies.

He also said the governor’s office should encourage creating more Enterprise Zones, where new or expanding companies are given tax breaks or other incentives to invest.

“They (zones) can take away taxes but they also create more working people. Sometimes it’s a wash, but it creates activity,” he said. “For government to create something for the working people is important.”

Yet Lim says he is opposed to expanding state government.

“State government has grown by 48 percent in the past 25 years, but the population only by 12 percent.” he said. “That trend must change.

“If you give government more money, all it will do is grow,” he said.

Lim vows to “look at each department.

“You look at the deadwood, you look at middle management, and you try to create opportunities for employee incentives, something they haven’t been doing for 24 years.”

Lim, who had opposed Measures 66 and 67, said, “Is this the time for government to get bigger?”

Citing his experience as a business owner and legislator, Lim describes himself as “a skilled negotiator with principles in mind.

“I was always approachable; always reaching across the aisle.

“Nothing is done without a good compromise,” he said.

Lim said he was elected in a strong Democratic district, and his Salem experience gives him another edge over the other Republican candidates: the ability to have an impact as soon as he would take office.

“I am the horse. I’m going to ride as fast as I can. They don’t have to train me.”