A Southern Oregon real estate agent will run for governor as a member of the Independent Party of Oregon.
Cliff Thomason, of Grants Pass, will announce his 2016 bid for governor on Monday. He says he'll focus on local control, green jobs and common sense policies. But, Thomason says low graduation rates and under-funded schools mean education is his top priority.
Thomason: "Even in this last legislative session, you know, they left money on the table that could’ve gone to public education and it didn't. But, anytime we fund them at all, it's always with strings attached and I think that it's really handicapping the school districts."
Thomason is one of 11 hemp farmers in Oregon approved this year and is currently the chief petitioner of a ballot measure that would give counties direct control over the lottery revenue their residents generate.
He would be the first gubernatorial candidate the Independent Party has had since it became the state's third major party in August.