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Gubernatorial candidate starts bus tour in Medford By DANI DODGE As ballots began their journey into voters' mailboxes Friday, gubernatorial candidate Jack Roberts made his journey down La Loma Drive, a well-manicured neighborhood a few blocks from the Rogue Valley Manor. He knocked on doors, handed out campaign literature and got shouts of encouragement from Medford residents. "Don't forget to eat," said Marilyn Brummett, a retired bed and breakfast owner, as she picked dead blossoms from her yellow pansies. "You need to keep your energy up." Roberts, one of three Republicans running for governor in the May 21 primary, kicked off his statewide bus tour Friday with a swing through Jackson County. He visited Medford residents at their doorsteps, enjoyed a private reception at the Rogue Valley Manor and ate dinner at the Original Roadhouse Grill. "With ballots hitting the mailboxes, now is the time to let people know I'm running to be the governor of the whole state, not just Portland and the Willamette Valley," Roberts said. "And who could resist Medford on a day like this?" The sun shined brightly as Roberts walked down La Loma in a casual blue button-down shirt and Ralph Lauren khakis. He stopped by one home where a young teenage girl was chatting on her porch with a boy perched on a bicycle. "Are your folks home?" Roberts asked the girl. "No." "Well, I'm Jack Roberts and I'm running for governor and I'm going to leave this with you," he said handing her a glossy flier. "Sure," she said, looking quizzically at the brochure. As he's campaigned across the state, Roberts said the issue of most concern has been the economy. "They want Oregon to be a place that attracts business again," Roberts said. "They are concerned also about the schools. But not the budget. They figure we'll fix that." As he walked up to Brummett, the retired B-and-B owner gardening in her front yard recognized him immediately and shook his hand. After Roberts handed her a campaign brochure and headed to the next home, Brummett said she was surprised to have had a gubernatorial candidate in her front yard. "I guess I've never met any of them," she said. But she still wasn't sure she was voting for Roberts. "I've got to do the research," Brummett said. "I really like to study each of the candidates and see what they stand for - it's the only way you can make an intelligent decision." Among her selections on the Republican ticket will be Kevin Mannix, a five-term legislator best remembered for his anti-crime legislation; Ron Saxton, a business lawyer and former Portland School Board member; and Roberts, the current state labor commissioner and former Lane County commissioner. On the Democratic side are Jim Hill, a former state treasurer, assistant attorney general and legislator; Ted Kulongoski, a former legislator, attorney general, state insurance commissioner and Supreme Court justice; and Beverly Stein, a former three-term legislator and current chairwoman of the Multnomah County board of commissioners. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471 or [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.