01/07/2005

Associated Press

Gov. Ted Kulongoski will have a challenger from his own party if he seeks re-election.

Peter Sorenson, a three-term Lane County Commissioner, said he will try for the Democratic nomination in 2006. He has scheduled press conferences Friday in Eugene, Portland and Salem to announce the formation of a campaign committee.

Sorenson said Oregonians deserve an alternative to Kulongoski and whoever wins the Republican nomination. As a Democrat, Sorenson said he stood for values such as equal rights, a clean environment and public education.

"That's what real Democrats stand for, and with the incumbent governor, I don't think he and I share those views on a lot of topics," Sorenson said.

Kulongoski has taken a live-within-your-means approach to the state's budget troubles, saying the public's trust must be won back before state politicians should consider seeking additional money for education, health care and public safety.

Sorenson said he would start raising money for education by eliminating tax breaks for wealthy people and out-of-state corporations.

"The governor is a disappointment," Sorenson said.

"He is a disappointment because he won't lead. He wants to be a mediator. We need a leader. I am that leader."

Sorenson acknowledged that taking on a sitting governor of his own party would be difficult. That was a factor in his decision to formally enter the race so early, allowing him to begin collecting small donations.

Last summer, the governor told reporters he was running again in 2006, although he has more recently said he didn't want to discuss his intentions.

Kulongoski spokeswoman Anna Richter Taylor said Sorenson hadn't notified the governor of his plans to challenge him. She said the governor had no immediate reaction because he was focused on the legislative session.

"There's time for politics later," she said.

Sorenson's announcement also caught other key Democrats by surprise. Oregon Democratic Party Chairman Jim Edmunson said he was unaware of Sorenson's political ambitions for 2006.

"I presume that Gov. Kulongoski is running for re-election, and until he says otherwise, we don't consider it an open seat," Edmunson said.

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Information from: The Register-Guard