OR-5: Erickson releases attack ad as Schrader racks up endorsements

Congressional candidate Mike Erickson (R-Lake Oswego) released his second ad attacking congressional candidate Kurt Schrader (D-Canby) for not paying his taxes Wednesday.

Schrader has been collecting newspaper endorsements from papers inside and outside of the fifth congressional district because of his record in the Oregon State Senate, but the ad warns voters that Schrader has only accomplished raising more taxes for more government programs during his years in Salem.

"Our country is going through tough economic times.  I understand this crisis is affecting all Americans, from small towns to big cities,” Erickson said in a statement. “Kurt Schrader has a record of raising taxes and increasing spending.  If elected to Congress, Kurt will vote to implement the largest tax hike in American history, leaving families even more vulnerable in these hard economic times.  As a state Senator, Kurt
Schrader raised taxes so high he couldn't even afford to pay them, 17 times.”

Schrader’s campaign spokeswoman Maria Westfried noted that all of Erickson’s three campaign ads have attacked his opponent.

“It’s very evident that he doesn’t have anything positive to say about himself,” Westfried said.

Schrader has received endorsements from several Oregon newspapers, including the Statesman Journal in Salem, the Oregonian, and Willamette Week, who announced their support for the Canby state senator Wednesday.

“In Schrader’s day job, he works as a veterinarian and small farmer. As a legislator, he always scores well on WW’s legislative rankings for his smarts and independence,” the Willamette Week editorial board wrote.

“For a decade, Schrader periodically paid his property taxes late, but is paid in full now. As a lawmaker, Schrader earned the nickname 'Darth' for his willingness to say no to spending bills, and he frequently showed his independence by tussling with Democratic shot-callers, including public-employee unions and trial lawyers.”

As for Erickson, all three papers were unimpressed with the Lake Oswego businessman. The Statesman Journal even noted that Erickson did not show up for his endorsement interview. And the Willamette Week urged voters toward Schrader, whom they said was a qualified moderate Democrat who would serve Oregon well.

“Republican Mike Erickson may be the most unimpressive candidate running in Oregon this year,” the Willamette Week wrote. “This is the second time the Lake Oswego logistics company owner has sought this seat (in 2006, he lost to incumbent Darlene Hooley, who is retiring after five terms). He’s been willing to spend millions of his own money on this race. He’s also been willing to bend the truth.”

“Erickson’s whoppers have become so embarrassing that even the Republican Party has essentially abandoned him,” the Week concluded.

Still, Erickson has not been shy about writing personal checks to his own campaign, which has allowed for his campaign to flood the airwaves with the attack ads.

“We don’t have the deep pockets that Erickson does,” Westfried said. “But we do have a lot of supporters.”