Allen Alley considering run for governor

by NW Spotlight

Both the Oregonian and GoLocalPDX reported this week that Allen Alley is considering running for Oregon governor in 2016. The Oregonian reported that Alley “has confirmed months of political whispers that he’s seriously considering a run against Gov. Kate Brown,” and they quoted Alley “I would very much like to run for governor in 2016.”

Like many Republicans, Alley has to first ensure that his business interests will be OK during a potential campaign as well as while serving as governor should the campaign end successfully. Alley told GoLocalPDX “Right now, I have a few business investments I need to take care of first. I have about 10 or 11 companies I’ve invested in and I want to make sure they’re headed in the right direction.” Most major Oregon Democrats don’t have those business concerns – they can be assured of returning to a safe public paycheck somewhere in Oregon.

If Alley decides to run for governor, he will be joining Dr. Bud Pierce of Salem in seeking the Republican nomination.

Allen Alley “was a tech world force as CEO of Pixelworks in the late-1990s and early 2000s,” was deputy chief of staff for Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski (where he oversaw “the policy areas of economic development, technology, transportation, workforce training, and energy”), ran for Oregon state treasurer in 2008 as the Republican nominee, ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010 and was unanimously elected Oregon GOP chair in January 2011 and served for two years.