By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press Writer
SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- Chris Dudley's free throw shots were always
iffy propositions. Now the former Portland Trail Blazer is in a
new arena taking aim at a governor's chair - and Oregon's
Republicans think he can score.
Dudley hasn't formally announced a bid for the post, but he
filed paperwork last week to create a campaign committee.
"I'll make a decision soon and report back. One way or another,
I intend to help change Oregon for the better," he said in a
statement.
Dudley, 44, wouldn't be the first professional athlete to make
the transition into politics. The late Congressman Jack Kemp of
New York was an NFL quarterback, and former Sen. Bill Bradley of
New Jersey was an NBA standout for years.
Oregon's GOP is hoping Dudley decides to run, betting that
voters - especially independents - are looking for a different
sort of candidate.
"He's a solid guy, and Oregonians know that," says state
Republican Chairman Bob Tiernan. "If Dudley wins the primary,
the Democrats are going to be in trouble, because he would be a
breakout candidate. He is somebody who is dramatically
different."
Most political observers see former Democratic Gov. John
Kitzhaber as the favorite to reclaim the office in next year's
election, given his popularity with voters and the fact that
Oregon's electorate has been trending more Democratic blue.
Republicans are hoping that Dudley, with name ID he's built up
as a former NBA player, will give them a contender with a degree
of star power and fund-raising ability for 2010.
Dudley, despite his reputation as one of the worst foul shooters
in NBA history, was considered one of the league's better
rebounders and shotblockers.
Still, political observer Jim Moore said it would be a stretch
to refer to Dudley as a "former Blazers star," given the fact
that he was never considered one of the team's best players.
"He's no Bill Bradley," said Moore, who teaches political
science at Pacific University in Forest Grove.
But there's no doubt that Dudley, if he runs, would bring name
familiarity to the race given that he had two stints playing for
the Trail Blazers, from 1993-97 and from 2001-03.
At age 16 he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was the only
active NBA player with diabetes during his career.
Since retiring from the NBA, Dudley has run a foundation that
provides diabetes information and runs sports camps for children
with diabetes. He's also been cited for other charitable works
such as giving $300,000 to a foundation that helps students pay
for college.
A Yale graduate, Dudley currently works with a wealth management
company. He and his wife, Chris Love-Dudley, have three children
and live in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego.
If Dudley does announce for governor, it would become a
three-way race Republican race. The others are former
businessman Allen Alley, who ran unsuccessfully for state
treasurer in 2008, and former state Rep. John Lim.
Portland pollster Tim Hibbitts said Dudley would likely become
the GOP frontrunner, given that neither Alley nor Lim are well
known.
But Hibbitts said that as a political newcomer Dudley would
start at a disadvantage and would quickly have to come up to
speed on statehouse issues.
"He can't afford to look uninformed, and he would have to be
careful not to let off-the-cuff remarks get him in trouble,"
Hibbitts said. "Let me put it this way - he better not miss too
many free throws."
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