Oregon Business Association

BALANCED VOICE

January 10, 2008

The OBA Insiders

We asked a few political pros - and OBA members - to contribute to this week's Balanced Voice by giving us a prediction for a segment titled:

OBA INSIDERS - TELL US SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW

Gary Conkling - Managing Partner, Conkling Fiskum & McCormick

“2008 may become one of those watershed election years when voters express their exasperation by turning to anti-establishment candidates who promise change. Tired of constant partisan bickering and political stalemate, voters will give the edge to candidates who seek consensus rather than confrontation. Both trends push the sails of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.”

Len Bergstein - President, Northwest Strategies, OBA Board Member

“Health care and anti-smoking advocates will re-calibrate their efforts in the wake of Ballot Measure 50 -- focusing on cigarette taxes in select local jurisdictions...in turn forcing representatives of tobacco companies to plead with the 2009 State Legislature for pre-emption through a modest state-wide, uniform tax on cigarettes and tobacco products.”

Larry Campbell - President, The Victory Group, Inc., Former Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives

“Oregon will gain an additional seat in Congress as the result of shifts in the national population. This increase will give Republicans an excellent opportunity to gain a seat in Oregon.”

Brian Gard - President/CEO, Gard Communications, OBA Board Member and Immediate Past Board Chair

“Speaker Jeff Merkley rose to the occasion in the 07 House session, but look for Majority Leader Dave Hunt's influence to increase in the February session as Merkley's race against Steve Novick turns into more of a contest than was expected.”

Dave Barrows - Principal, Dave Barrows & Associates

"When Oregonians vote in the May primary, the Republican presidential nomination will still be unknown, thus Oregon will play a role in picking the nominee."

Mary Ellen Glynn - Senior Project Manager, Pyramid Communications, Gov. Kulongoski's former Communications Director.

“Somewhere, somehow, some entity in Oregon will enact a carbon tax in 2008, and Republicans will jump on board.”

If you would like to make a prediction of your own or comment on the OBA Insiders', click here to go to our forum page. 

Look for the OBA Insiders to return with more predictions in the future.