Stimson Lumber Continues Big Bucks Transformation Push

By NIGEL JAQUISS

The next few weeks will see an avalanche of money flow into Oregon political coffers, with a particular emphasis on the Oregon House, which is currently evenly split, 30 to 30 between Republicans and Democrats.

Yesterday, one of the GOP's most reliable funders, Forest Grove-based Stimson Lumber, put another $80,000 into the Oregon Transformation Project Political Action Committee. That check brings Stimson's support of the PAC to $345,000 this calendar year. The Transformation PAC, directed primarily by Rob Kremer, the Treasurer of the Republican Party of Oregon, is betting big on two areas: delivering Clackamas County Commission for conservative candidates, and supporting GOP candidates in competitive Metro area races.

For instance The group has given former Wilsonville Mayor John Ludlow $85,000 this year in his bid to defeat Clackamas County Chairwoman Charlotte Lehan and Manuel Castaneda, who is seeking a Washington County House seat held by State Rep. Jeff Barker (D-Aloha) $35,000.

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