Oregon Public Broadcasting

One of the most familiar names in Oregon politics has unexpectedly jumped into the race for Governor.

Initiative activist Bill Sizemore filed to run for the state's top office Monday. Chris Lehman reports it could be a replay of a race more than a decade ago.

Sizemore is one of the best-known figures in Oregon politics, despite having never been elected to public office.

He's authored more than a dozen ballot measures and has been involved in lengthy legal battles with public employee unions.

As a result of one of those battles a Multnomah County judge barred him from raising or spending any money in politics.

Sizemore says that won't stop him from his mission of undercutting the political influence of public employee unions.

Bill Sizemore: “Frankly I think I'm the only person who's actually willing to take on that task. None of the other candidates running on the Republican side would actually do that.”

The Republican field includes businessman Allen Alley and former state lawmaker John Lim.

Sizemore last ran for governor in 1998, when he lost in a landslide to Democrat John Kitzhaber.

Coincidentally Kitzhaber is running for governor again himself this year.