Oregon Public Broadcasting

Allen Alley has become the first official entrant into the 2010 Oregon Governor's race. As April Baer reports, a wide-open field is filling up with some big names.

Alley's first major foray into politics was last fall, when he made a run for State Treasurer, losing to Ben Westlund.

A business entrepreneur and sometime advisor to Governor Ted Kulongoski, Alley is considered one of the few viable statewide candidates in the GOP field.

Alley says if elected, he wants to build up Oregon's tax system, transportation, and education structures to create an appealing economic climate.

Allen Alley: "I'm very focused on an environmental creation here, so we can create a great economy, rather than specifically putting a dollar into something and creating a job."

Other Republicans whose names have been mentioned include Congressman Greg Walden, who hasn't decided yet whether to run.

Among Democrats, former Secretary of State Bill Bradbury is a likely candidate. And Congressman Peter Defazio, and attorney Steve Novick are thinking it over.