He says Senate District 3 opponent Jim Wright changed a Bates newspaper quote and sent it out in a campaign mailing

A recent political mailer for Jim Wright that alters a quotation from opponent Alan Bates signals what could be the first salvo in an otherwise gentlemanly campaign for Senate District 3.

"There’s no question he’s gone negative," said Bates, a House Democrat running for Senate District 3. "I don’t mind him being negative if he’s being honest about it."

Wright’s campaign, pulling part of a quotation from the Mail Tribune of Oct. 14, 2003, featured the following headline prominently in a mailer sent to Jackson County households: "I have personally been in favor ... of a sales tax."

However, Bates’ actual quotation from the Mail Tribune is: "‘I really want tax reform for the state,’ he said. ‘But I don’t think the state is ready for major tax reform. I have personally been in favor of lowering the income tax and pushing for consideration of a sales tax.’"

Bates said he doesn’t mind someone criticizing his legislative record, but he takes exception to someone deliberately rewording a quotation to give a false impression.

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"I was surprised by it," he said, referring particularly to a forum last week when all the candidates vowed to work in a bipartisan manner. "If you’re going to work across the aisle, you have to be totally honest."

Burke Raymond, campaign manager for Wright, a Medford Republican and vice chairman of LTM Inc., refused to answer questions about the quotation.

However, he said Wright also would give consideration to a sales tax if all efficiencies were wrung out of the state budget to make sure money flows to the right programs and the people of Oregon regain their faith in government.

"Only after these conditions are met would he look at any new revenue sources," he said.

Wright told the Mail Tribune editorial board in February that he would not rule out support for a sales tax, but it would have to be offset by constitutionally protected cuts in income and/or property taxes.

Wright also voted for Measure 30, a tax increase that would have balanced the state budget. Voters, however, overwhelmingly rejected the measure in February.

Raymond refused to answer any questions about the similarities between his candidate’s position on a sales tax and Bates’.

The Wright campaign did release a written response Tuesday, stating that any recorded votes or legislative proposals of Bates are a matter of interest to voters.

"Rep. Bates is trying to avoid mentioning his record of supporting additional taxes," according to the statement. "The local newspapers widely reported his desire to introduce a sales tax bill during the 2003 legislative session. That is the record. If he has changed his mind he can state his new position. We will continue to point out those votes when Rep. Bates voted for additional taxes."

Bates said these sort of attacks tend to cloud the real issues in a campaign.

"Now the public won’t know who to believe," he said.

Peter Sage, former county commissioner and a Democrat, said he received a copy of the Wright campaign literature and was struck by the inaccuracy of the quotation.

"It is an obvious intention to distort a quotation," he said.

Sage said he sent the Wright campaign an e-mail voicing his concern about it.

Considering Wright’s standing in the community, Sage said he was disappointed that his campaign would stoop to such tactics.

"If Jim Wright of all people would do that to a quote, there is no hope for a good campaign in Medford," he said.

Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com