Now I know why they call this "Running" a Race.  From Brookings to Winston and Bandon we have been on the run.

The Fundraiser hosted by Mary Jane Labelle and David Pesonen went very well. Senator Wyden was very gracious and supportive of me even though we don't agree on every issue. I am so very grateful he took the time to attend and give us all the opprotunity to talk with him one on one. He is truly a great legislator.

I spent last week in Curry County. We started out the week with nearly no name recognition even after the walking I had done previously. By the end of the week we were running into people who had already been canvassed and/or heard about us and people were honking and giving the thumbs up. We have three new canvassers who are experienced and dedicated and several phone bankers who are very good as well. They continue to canvass in my absence.

I did a TV interview which was mainly focused on salmon fisheries and marine reserves but seemed to go well.

I spoke with both the recently retired Warden and current Warden of Pelican Bay Super-Max Prison. The retired Warden, Bob Horel, is now canvassing for me and has become an avid and vocal supporter of my education-to-avoid-incarceration position.

I have met two Dr’s. of education John Daggett and Barbara Hilyer who are also great canvassers and strong supporters of my vocational education position.

The Curry County Brookings office is manned by many active supporters including Tom and Linda Bozack who not only run the office but run the “Goche Hostel and Eatery” where I am welcome day and night. Tom is a superb researcher and has never failed to respond quickly to my requests for information.

Tom Buell is a volunteer whose house has been open to me when he is in town but he is out jetting around an awful lot for man of his age!

I did not get to spend much time talking with Anne Odell since she was off to Greece the day I got to town.

We spoke at forums in Gold Beach, Port Orford and Brookings on consecutive nights. The response was very encouraging. There were good questions and it gave me an opportunity to clear up some of the misinformation out there regarding several of my positions. My recently posted position on marine reserves can be read by going to the “issues” link on this website.

I stayed after each night to watch the County Commission and City Council forums and to get to know more about the local issues and candidates.

I spent yesterday in Douglas County knocking on every door including R’s. I got only a few undecided’s and a few maybes and the rest were decidedly “yes”. The people in Winston, Tenmile and Camas Valley and the surrounding areas have been very inviting and I have enjoyed immensley meeting those neighbors to the East.

Richard Chasm is doing a fantastic job with signs in Douglas County. There are so many signs in Winston I feel like a rock star driving through town. Some of the 4 x 8 signs are virtual monuments to the campaign. Maybe that is why the response at the door in Winston is so positive...He is using a lot of lumber in a big mill town.

Speaking of signage, Brian Howard has been carpet bombing Coos County with signs big and small. The new sign at the Whitsetts car wash and laundy in Bandon is some of his work. I wonder how he accomplished that alone.

Many thanks to Katie Ericson and Shawn Jennings for holding down the fort while I have been on the camapaign trail. If you want to know where I am or where I'm going do what I do to answer those questons. Call Kate or Shawn.

And, as always, Robin is my safe harbor no matter where I am or what I am doing. And, if you get an overwhelming urge to make a cash contibution to our campaign she can help you get that off your chest.

As the back stretch comes into view I want to thank all of you who have and continue to support our camapign in so may ways and ask you to not let up yet. We have many more neighbors to talk to and we still need to get the vote out from those we have already spoken with.

Let's continue to Chart Our Common Course.