Good news for Lane County

Hynix Semiconductor (my former employer) is adding a hundred jobs and investing another quarter of a billion dollars in its Eugene manufacturing plant.  Interestingly, one of the key players in making this possible isn't a member of the Eugene City Council, but is the Mayor of Springfield, Sid Leiken.  I guess you could say Sid is the real "mayor for all Eugene."

We can expect big, big things from this bright young leader in our future.  I may be jumping the gun, as we still haven't even had our 2006 elections yet, but 2008 is just around the corner and some important state offices are coming up for re-election.  And no, I am not thinking Secretary of State.

Sid is in banking.  Think money...

Comments

[Rivrdog]

Gee, real jobs not associated with the Ivory Tower.

Amazing!

[Rural Republican]

This is going to surprise Josh, but I would support Sid for State Treasurer. I have one qualification though- that he promises to never, ever, ever run for a higher or lateral office. He'd make a great state treasurer, he'd make a weak governor, congressman, or state senator.

My support would also be predicated on him ensuring that a dinosaur like Dave Ralston not succeed him as mayor.

So if that seems like a backhanded compliment its not intentional. I do like Sid. I don't agree with every decision he's made. I think he's got guts and he has financial know how. He's a little too close to the grow at any costs folks though.

[Scorpiusb2000]

What Every Black Republican Needs to Know.

[sorry, but such blatantly racist hate speech will not be tolerated here - Resistance is futile!]

[josh reynolds]

RR

Believe it or not I would agree with you on this one--for now. Possibly with the experience of Treasurer behind him he could possibly make a good Governor or Senator in the future. Asking someone to promise not to run for a higher office in the future is not a good idea.

As we know if we both agree Sid would make a good Treasurer it is up to us to get the word out, especially in Portland.

[Rural Republican]

Let's do it.

How do we connect?

[Robin]

I was also surprised when I read that Sid was a major player in helping Eugene. too bad that they (Eugene) is so screwed up that it need little ol Springfield to show them the way.

of course rubbing salt in the wound is the recent announcement of the Valley River Center filling all their retail spaces for the first time in years, while the Eugene city Council is trying desperately to change Eugene's well-earned reputation as being a "depressed urban area."

Speaking of kudos to Sid, another notable difference between Eugene and Springfield, is what the city is doing to improve its downtown area. For example, Springfield actually has real police officers on bicycles patrolling downtown... Eugene... well, they have these guys in white shirts and red caps [guides] roaming the city on bicycles.

If you are new to the area, which do you think makes a better impression.

[josh reynolds]

RR

Does Sid want this position? If so we need to find out those that are connected throughout the state if this is feasible, i.e. Jack Roberts.

[Rural Republican]

Eugene has bicycle cops all over town. And the existence of VRC is exactly what has been draining Eugene's downtown, just like Gateway negatively impacted Springfield's. IN fact the saving grace of Springfield's reviving downtown is the newly established Latino businesses. Sorry, Robin, I don't get your point.

Josh, I'll ask the people I know if its feasible. You ask the ones you know. How do we connect back up? I'm jazzed by this idea. It would be really great to see Sid in a position where he can make positive change for Oregon (but not leave Springfield in the hands of the neanderthals.)

[NotSidLeiken]

Is Sid qualified to handle a multi-billion dollar budget? Does he have an advanced degree in a financial area? Has he managed anything more significant than a dry cleaners? Jack Roberts would have been a better choice. He has a master of laws in taxation from one of the best schools in the nation and has run a state agency. Has Sid done anything more significant than stay out of the way while a podunk town fills up with illegal aliens, artificially boosting its economy at the expense of the state? Sid should have run for county commissioner and built his resume. And he should have been more supportive of that "neanderthal" on the illegal alien issue.

[josh reynolds]

Not

Why don't you tell us how you really feel. It sounds like you are just an angry WASP. Remember, State Treasurer is an elected political position that oversees the investments for the state. The inept state legislature with all their highly qualified financial guru's establish the budget.

I guess in your mind the CEO's of Nordstrom's and Meryl Lynch will not qualify for this position because of their lack of advanced degrees. Oh that's right they along with Bill Gates didn't graduate from college.

The last I heard about Sid is he is now involved with running his family's multi-million dollar investment company.

I am sure you have proof about the illegal alien activity and all of them working the $60,000 + Symantec jobs, the new Peace Health jobs, the Royal Carribean jobs, etc. When you make idiotic remarks like this remember to back them up with a little bit of proof.

Now that Ralston has opened his mouth on the illegal alien issue I look forward to what kind of leadership role he will put forth, or will he do his usual thing and kick and scream and do nothing about it.