October 27, 2009

Lim hunts GOP governor nomination

By Kathy Ursprung
The Chronicle

     After five elected terms in the Oregon Legislature, John Lim is pursuing the Republican nomination for Oregon's governor.
     Lim visited The Dalles Oct. 22 and stopped by The Chronicle offices before attending the Wasco County Republicans' Beef and Burgundy Bash that evening. The stops were part of Lim's swing through the northeastern part of the state. He plans to visit the entire state before the May primary.
     This is Lim's second bid for governor. He ran unsuccessfully in 1990, but gained name recognition, allowing him to succeed in election to the state senate.
"The economy is a big issue, as everyone knows," Lim said. "I can deliver. I have a business background of more than 35 years."
     Lim was born in Korea and lived through the Korean War. He immigrated to the United States in 1966, where his biography says, "hope and opportunity afforded him a life with prosperity and purpose."
     He worked steadily to support his family and pay his way through school, earning a master's of divinity degree in the United States and later a doctorate in human letters. Lim started several businesses including a house painting and gardening business, a vitamin distribution company, as well as a real estate business with his wife.
     Lim served on the senate trade and economic committee for 10 years.
"I believe we are bottomed out," Lim said, "but general indications are that people's economies are not getting better at this time. May the big corporations are getting better."
     While general indicators suggest the economy may be turning around, Lim cited Oregon's unemployment rate, hovering at 12 percent, as well as its per capita income at lower than the national average.
     "We cannot be complacent," he said. "We cannot accept the status quo."
Lim says having Oregon's government controlled by one political party is not good for the balance of power.
     "The Legislature has alread raised taxes $700 million to $800 million," not a good thing, Lim said, when households have lost income.
     Lim says the state needs to change the way Oregon's government is funded.
"I don't have any panacea."
     Lim hopes to expand Oregon's trade with Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
     "I'm going to push strongly for more international traded in agriculture and high tech," he said. "We can weather this. And we can do a lot better with my leadership."
     Lim wants Oregon to have an equitable and sustainable tax system, not solely dependent upon income tax.
     "We need to bring all issues on the table and discuss them," Lim said, citing the often defeated sales tax as one example. "The only way that would happen is if we eliminate the income tax and capital gains tax, and reduce the property tax -- and put it all in the state constitution.
     "More than 45 states nationally have sales tax systems," he added. "Texas has 7 1/2 percent sales tax and the lowest unemployment in the nation. We need to look at other states and how they get along. We need to be looking at all options."
     The economy is one of Lim's Three E's in his campaign platform: economy, education and energy.
     On education, he said, "We have struggled funding our education. If we are to prosper in our economy, we need to have more high-wage jobs and invest money in education."
     Lim said he was a strong advocate for the energy efficiency bill, citing the opportunities it brings through renewable energy jobs east of the Cascades.
"I'm going to push that to continue," he said.
     Asked about the Regional Strategies economic development program, which has fueled jobs around rural Oregon, Lim said the state needs to increase the funding. He said the best way to do that is to return lottery revenues to their original economic purpose.
     "Now they're funding education and salmon -- it's more like a general fund," he said.
     Lim said the gorge commission also needs ongling funding.
     "There is no reason not to support the gorge commission," he said.
     "With my leadership, we will continue to keep it as natural as possible," he said. "With that beauty, we will be able to bring businesses from out of state and even internationally."
     Lim said he opposes a casino in the gorge, or other expansion of gaming in the state.
     "Having a casino in this area, I don't think it fits well," he said.
     If he is elected, he says he will propose a moratorium on gambling expansion.
Public safety was also on Lim's mind, with drug issues his main concern.
     "Ninety percent of those incarcerated are either directly or indirectly connected with drugs," Lim said.
     Since the materials used in manufacturing methamphetamine have been put behind lock and key, Lim says drugs are traveling into the state aong the main freeways and other arterials. He advocates more highway patrols to deal with the issue.
     "I am proposing one percent of the general fund be dedicated to troopers," Lim said.
     Overflowing jails are another of his concerns.
     "Incarceration is not the only answer," he said. "We need to educate and give them a chance to become good citizens."
     Lim also said Oregon needs to teach its young children a sense of responsibility and that actions can have consequences.
     "I came here 43 years ago with not a penny in my pocket," Lim said. "When I landed I didn't have anything but hope and a philosophy to work hard."
     He said he and his wife, Grace, worked hard and slowly established themselves financially.