Erickson gets back out there

WEST LINN—Mike Erickson (R-Lake Oswego) had been quiet this summer. Almost too quiet, to the point that the 5th Congressional District’s Republican candidate had many in both Democratic and Republican circles wondering what happened to him.

But Erickson is back. He began a two-week, seven-stop tour Monday that will allow him to meet with voters all over the 5th district and get his message out. His first stop was at the Bullseye Café, where he came out to meet 20 voters gathered from the district.

“People need someone they know in Washington,” Erickson said. “Someone they know who has been struggling with health care just the same way they have. I’ve been dealing with rising health costs for my 20 employees, and I see them struggle with these issues on a daily basis.”

Erickson, who is a businessman as well as a congressional candidate, aims to cut congressional spending and taxes, as well as increase small business opportunities for Oregonians. He also touted plans for developing alternative energies, and bringing those jobs to Oregon.

“We need to put more of our resources into alternative fuel,” Erickson said. “Sustainable fuel is not going to happen overnight or even 10 years from now, but you have to have a vision.”

Erickson has lain pretty low since allegations that he paid for a girlfriend’s abortion preceded his controversial primary win May 20. Since then, he’s struggled to get other Oregon Republicans to endorse him, including his rival in the primary, Kevin Mannix.

Recent campaign finance numbers showed that he has been struggling to bring in money from Republican donors as well. According to the most recent FEC reports,

Erickson only raised a little more than $65,000 in the past quarter, not counting the extra $974,000 of his own money he lent his campaign in the last few months.

However, according to campaign manager Jeff Harvey, there are more plans for fundraising underway. Harvey said Erickson has been productive with his time this summer, spending time knocking on doors and engaging voters away from the public spotlight. By getting back out and building his base, he believes he can reinvigorate his campaign.

“These voters like the fact that I’m not a politician,” Erickson said. “They don’t want to see another politician in Washington.