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Advertisement lands Walker in party hot seat By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune State Rep. Cherryl Walker was publicly rebuked by the state Republican Party Tuesday when party leaders sent out a letter to news organizations claiming Walker was "personally deceiving the voters of District 4 to enhance her campaign" But Walker, R-Murphy, said she hasn't deceived anyone. "I've done nothing wrong," Walker said. The dispute stems from advertisements Walker is running in several small publications in Jackson and Josephine counties. In the ad, she quotes a letter sent to her from the Oregon Republican Party praising her votes against tax increases in the first special session. The letter was signed by Oregon Republican Party Chairman Perry Atkinson and two national committeewomen. Atkinson said the ad was a form letter sent to all Republicans who voted against taxes. He said using quotes from the letter in an advertisement gives the false impression that the party is endorsing Walker's candidacy. Atkinson noted she is being challenged in the primary by the Oregon Republican Party Treasurer Dennis Richardson. "I'm furious about it because we do not endorse candidates for the primary," Atkinson said. "I'm very upset a member of the legislature would be so desperate to keep their position that she used a deceptive ad." Atkinson said the "misrepresentations" in the advertisement may have damaged Richardson, whose "honesty and trustworthiness is unquestionable." Walker said, though, that the advertisement isn't a campaign ad, but a legislative ad. It lists her legislative office and phone number, not a campaign office. Walker said the "black out" period for legislative ads starts March 21. After that she will run campaign ads that don't include quotes from Atkinson. Walker added that in the form letter she received, her first name was handwritten at the top, replacing the generic "Fellow Republican." She said she is well within her rights to quote from the letter. "I am very proud of my vote on taxes and proud of the praise of the Republican Party and proud I can pass that onto my constituents," Walker said. "I don't see how it will harm Dennis Richardson - he is one of my constituents as well." Atkinson said he asked Walker to stop running the ad, but she didn't. "Since I've done nothing wrong I will not allow people to intimidate me," Walker said. Former state Representative John Watt, who is now a lobbyist, said it is common practice to quote from positive letters in legislative advertisements. But, he noted, it's not normal for the Republican Party to "air its dirty laundry" by making a fuss over this kind of thing in public. He said, though, Walker "ruffled some feathers" in the legislative session with members of Oregon Right to Life. "This is clearly a case where Rep. Walker upset the apple cart with some people in the session," Watt said. But Atkinson said the public statement has nothing to do with Walker's politics and everything to do with fairness. He said the party has been getting phone calls from Republican candidates around the state questioning the advertisements that appear to be endorsements. "Maybe it is not a political ad, but it clearly looks like an endorsement of her, and I cannot let it stand," Atkinson said. "I am genuinely saddened I have to take this action." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.