12-43 Those “Down Ballot Races” Made Easy — With Superior Candidates

12-43 Those “Down Ballot Races” Made Easy — With Superior Candidates

Show Summary: ALL races matter. No, not those races. All political races matter. This week we talk about two of the “down ballot” races: the commissioner for BOLI (I know—what the heck is that, right?) and Oregon’s new 6th congressional district. The Bureau of Labor and Industries (that’s what BOLI is), oversees Oregon’s trade school, civil rights issues, and housing. Find out why both of these races have superior candidates. Hint: They’re not the democrats.

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Original Air Dates: October 22nd & 23rd, 2022 | Guests: Cheri Helt & Mike Erickson

This Week – Those Down Ballot Races

This year, you cannot vote just the top of the ticket — governor — and ignore all those down ballot races. They are every bit as important as the governor’s race. In part, because the Republican governor will need all the republicans she can get. 

But it’s more than just house and senate races. There are other “down ballot races” you need to pay attention to. And one of them is the BOLI commissioner. A little-known race that helps set the tone for the rest of the state’s business environment.

Sometimes, these races are hard to figure out. But this year, it’s especially easy: vote Republican. In every race. Down ballot or otherwise. And it’s made even more easy with clearly superior candidates in the two down-ballot races we’re talking about on this week’s show.

Cheri Helt for BOLI Commissioner

The Bureau of Labor and Industries has had a democrat stranglehold on it for decades. Perhaps that’s why we’re short tens of thousands of trade jobs in this state as Kitzhaber and Brown wanted to shove everyone into university and practically shamed kids if the even thought of a job in the skilled trades. 

You can find Cheri’s campaign website at www.CheriHelt.com

The Bureau of Labor and Industries (that’s what BOLI is), oversees Oregon’s trade schools (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc.), civil rights issues, fair housing practices and more. Oregon has a huge housing shortage and a shortage of workers Democrats have been in charge of BOLI for decades. And with their college-first, trades-bad mindset, it’s no surprise.

Cheri’s opponent, Christina Stephenson, is a lawyer who wants yet more authority for BOLI. Hmm. Oregon’s BOLI famously sued Melissa’s Sweet Cakes because Melissa didn’t want to bake a cake for a gay couple. Is that what Christina has in mind for more authority? We just went through Covid with no end of “more authority.” Do we really want a progressive lawyer in there who’d love nothing more than to sue even more businesses out of business because they don’t fit her politics?

That’s not what Oregon needs. More politics pushed on businesses. Oh. And Christina wants more funding for BOLI. Probably because hiring more attorneys gets expensive.

No thanks. We’ll take Cheri.

Mike Erickson for Oregon’s CD6

This week we welcome back actual businessman, Mike Erickson. Who, unlike his opponent, knows what supply chains are and how disrupting them can and does impact the economy. Which is more than we can say for Biden or anyone in his administration. Which seems to only want to blame oil companies.

Learn more about Mike Erickson by visiting his campaign website, www.MikeEricksonforCongress.org

The latest? Blaming Biden’s exploding gas prices on oil companies’ profits. What? Do they not know what profits are? Or how not spending on oil exploration or purchasing federal oil leases (which they wouldn’t be allowed to use under Biden) or any the other normal business expenses will make profits go up?

It’s embarrassing to think, but third-graders running a lemonade stand have more practical knowledge of basic economics principles and more hands-on understanding of supply and demand than Joe Biden. Or anyone in his administration, apparently.

And did the democrats’ gerrymandering catch up with them as they spread Portland’s potential influence too thin into four congressional districts, not just the two Portland actually deserved? Now, with so much of Portland angry at democrat Ted Wheeler and an astounding 82% (82!!) wanting MORE police, not less, democrats may have spread Portland’s influence all right.

Just not in the direction they intended. 

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Our guests’ websites are www.CheriHelt.com and www.MikeEricksonforCongress.org

Cheri Helt Segments (1–3)

Mike Erickson Segments (4–6)

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