Aug. 14 - SALEM - "I'll be disappointed if the GOP runs a last-minute spoiler candidate in House District 29," said Independent Party Secretary, Sal Peralta. "Terry Rilling was the Republican nominee in 2006, and the Republicans should now get behind him as the Independent in the race in 2008. He is a true and loyal conservative who was passed over by some of the folks in power because he doesn't fit the right profile."

Rilling is a deputy in the Washington County Sheriff's office and is former Mayor of Cornelius.

"Joel Haugen is apparently too liberal for the Republican Party, and Terry Rilling is apparently too conservative," Peralta continued. "What happened to the big tent party that brought people together to fight for big ideas like the emancipation movement, state beaches, and women's suffrage?"

Haugen, the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress against David Wu, has been barred from GOP activities because of his endorsement of Democrats Barack Obama and Jeff Merkley.

"This country needs a strong Republican Party, but it needs one that puts people ahead of profit. We need both major parties to focus less on the issues that divide us, and more on the common causes that unite us. Show me a person from either party who will cross party lines and promote good government reforms, including a constitutional amendment to make campaign finance reform legal in Oregon, and I will show you a candidate that the Independent Party can support. If they won't step up and find candidates that fit that profile, we will," Peralta said.

BACKGROUNDER

Formed in response to legislative changes that made it more difficult for non-affiliated candidates to make the ballot in Oregon, the Independent Party is now the State's third largest political party. The party, which was officially recognized in January 2007, has attracted more than 24,000 members and is running candidates for county commissioner and state representative. It has also cross-nominated candidates for US Senate and for State Treasurer.