Lim feels now is right time to serve
Politician was in Ontario Monday
By LARRY MEYER
ARGUS OBSERVER
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:48 AM PDT
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| John Lim was in Ontario Monday to promote his run for governor of Oregon. He was interviewed at the Argus Observer. |
ONTARIO — Having served five terms in the Oregon Legislature, John Lim, Gresham, has set his sights on the Oregon governorship, seeking the nomination as the Republican candidate, which he first sought in 1990, and focusing his campaign on the economy and jobs as his top issues.
“We have high unemployment,” Lim, 73, said, immediately turning his attention to Eastern Oregon. “We need a balanced economy.
“I know this issue, he said. “I have been in business.”
Lim believes this is his primary time for public service. Lim was in Malheur County Monday for interviews and other meetings and will be visiting again sometime next month, he said.
Lim immigrated to the United States in 1966 from South Korea “with no money in his pocket.” At the time, he opened a small grocery store and later had a real estate business.
He also founded American Royal Jelly Health Products, an international health and beauty supply company.
In the meantime, he continued his education at the Western Evangelical Seminary, which is now part of George Fox University, to study for his Master of Divinity degree and was later awarded a Doctorate in Human Letters from the same seminary.
Lim, who served eight years in the state Senate and four years in the House, said he would try to draw more national and international investments to Eastern Oregon to bring more development to rural communities.
He has heard plenty of comments about the rural-metro divide in Oregon and how people east of the Cascade feel, Lim said.
“They feel they are treated as second Oregonians,” he said.
Lim wants to be governor of all of Oregon, he said, adding he has seen that the eastern part of the state has a lot to offer. He would work to develop more markets for Oregon projects, he said, particularly in Asia.
“I’m opposed to tax increases.” he said. “This is not a time to increase taxes. I’m going to run a lean government.
“It’s time for change.” Lim said. “I have a goal to be the best governor in the nation. I think we have a better chance at it this time.”
Besides reducing government spending and the size of government, Lim preaches individual responsibility, working hard and saving.
“We need innovation if you want to grow,” he said. “The issue is how we are going to get the job done.”
Lim proposes to expand enterprise zones to help business starting up in Oregon and have special programs to help small business. He wants to have a venture capital campaign to spur business development, with funds to come from private business.
“We have neglected the small businesses,” he said.
Rainy day funds are needed to help the state get through economic downturns, Lim said.
Lim was in the eighth grade when the Korean War broke out. His father was forced to serve as a firefighter under the North Korean military occupation, and, because of this, was executed by the South Korean police after the North Korean troops were pushed back north. In his high school years, Lim suffered from tuberculosis but was able to graduate. However, he had to work for years as a houseboy for U.S. soldiers to pay for tuition so he could get his diploma.
He entered Seoul Theological College, finishing fours years of study in eight years, working part-time as a student chaplain on a U.S. military base. He was married in 1963. Lim and his wife, Grace, have three children and four grandchildren and have lived in the Portland-metro area for 43 years.
