Kitzhaber adds Independent Party nomination to his ballot line

Democrat John Kitzhaber on Friday picked up his second nomination in the Oregon governor’s race — this one from the Independent Party of Oregon, which conducted the state’s first political primary over the Internet.

Kitzhaber won handily after Chris Dudley, his Republican opponent in the governor’s race, decided not to compete for the minor party’s recognition.

Under a new state law, candidates in the general election are allowed to list the nominations of as many as three political parties. The Independent nomination was particularly sought after by major-party candidates who thought being labeled as an independent would appeal to many voters.

Kitzhaber received 850 votes while Richard Esterman, a Sisters photographer, received 438 votes, and Soloflex founder Jerry Wilson garnered 300 votes. Also, 314 voters cast write-ins and 312 voted for “none of the above.”

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/07/kitzhaber_adds_independent_par.html

A former popular governor Vs popular ball player.