GT: CV swim coach files to run for governor

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 2/16/2010 by Hasso Hering - Rex Watkins believes the political pendulum in Oregon has swung so far to the left it has gotten stuck, and he’d like to do something about it. ∴ “I don’t see anybody else willing to give the pendulum a shove,” he says. ∴ So last week, Watkins paid the $100 filing fee and signed up with the state Elections Division as a candidate in the Republican primary for governor. ∴ Now he’s collecting signatures of fellow Republicans, hoping to get at least 500, which would entitle him to get into the Voters’ Pamphlet without having to pay the $3,000 fee. ∴ “I’m fairly conservative,” Watkins said in an interview. “If people took responsibility for themselves, we wouldn’t have all this dependency on government.”

Watkins, 46, grew up in Philomath and graduated in 1987 from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and communications.

He owns Northwest Investment Management Inc., which he runs out of his family’s home on Burkhart Street S.E. in Albany, managing 90 rental units in Albany, Corvallis and Philomath.

Watkins was a competitive swimmer at the UO and for a time held the school record in the 200-meter freestyle.

He’s worked as a swim coach for 25 years, currently coaching teams at Crescent Valley High School and in Albany.

His wife teaches school in Salem. The couple have two children.

He would like to reduce the size and cost of state government.

As a candidate, Watkins drew up a short list of things to do, starting with “review programs and departments; eliminate programs and departments not needed,” and ending with “go from shovel-ready to business friendly.”

He’s also drawn up a list of ideas he supports such as “Freedom is America’s first principle” and “Health care is a private matter, and a personal responsibility.”

He admits his campaign is a long shot, but he says he would be someone who represents “the average Joe; their perspective never makes it into government decisions.”

He can be reached through his e-mail address: rex@midvalleyrentals.com.

Election day for the Oregon primaries will be May 18.