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A former Portland Trail Blazers player is doing his best to become Oregon’s next governor.
Chris Dudley, a Republican and 16-year NBA veteran, announced his candidacy for the role in a video posted online.
“I love Oregon, and while we have serious problems, there are solutions and I believe our best days are ahead of us,” he said in the video.
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Chris Dudley, Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, speaks during a town hall meeting at Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Ore., Thursday, August 26, 2010. (Tom Hauck/Bloomberg)
“However, in order to resolve these challenges, we must stop the empty promises, the insults, the accusations and the alarmist speeches which have solved nothing. You deserve better.”
Dudley spent six of his 16 NBA seasons in Portland as the team’s center.
Dudley, who was born in Connecticut and attended high school in San Diego, Calif., played in Portland from 1993-97 before returning for the 2001-02 season. He played his final two seasons with the Trail Blazers before retiring.
Dudley was less than two percentage points away from becoming governor of Oregon in 2010, falling to then-Incumbent Democrat John Kitzhaber, 49.3% to 47.8%.
Chris Dudley, Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, speaks during a town hall meeting at Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Ore., Thursday, August 26, 2010. (Tom Hauck/Bloomberg)
He now joins a group of 14 Republicans who have all announced they will run to defeat current Gov. Tina Kotek. Kotek and five other Democrats also announced their candidacy.
Oregon’s primary election is set for May 19.
Dudley began his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 1987 NBA draft. He played parts of three seasons there before a trade to the New Jersey Nets.
Chris Dudley, Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, takes a photo following a town hall meeting at Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Ore., Thursday, August 26, 2010. (Tom Hauck/Bloomberg)
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Dudley spent four seasons with the Nets before joining the Trail Blazers. After his first stint of four seasons, he landed with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns before returning to Portland.
