OREGON ~ 4th Congressional District

I LOVE OREGON. 

(I was born in Ashland in 1953.) 

Much of my youth was spent in Ashland, Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, Burns, and Coos Bay. It was important for me to return to my roots after retiring from the USAF (Age 40) to raise my then three sons in the family hometown atmosphere I had enjoyed growing up and to have my sons attend high school where my mom and grandparents graduated.

Being a proud Marshfield Pirate, it was not an easy transition rooting for the Cavemen. My blood runs purple and gold to this day!

I have such fond memories growing up in Coos Bay (Empire) during my formative years. At age 10, (5th grade, Michigan Avenue)  I won First Place in the citywide Punt Pass & Kick (PP&K) annual contest, beating everyone, even the 13-year-old men! I became a two-peat winning the next year too. I was sponsored by the S. F. 49ers and wore my letterman jacket to school the next day.  But only once. Seems the real jocks were a tad bit jealous of the new kid.

My grandparents were avid rock hounds. We kids tagged along beachcombing Bandon, Brookings and Good Beach shorelines looking for treasures.  I remember it always being windy and messing with my golden locks. We loved the Dunes, Winchester Bay, Pony Village and the county fair at Myrtle Point. We all loved to bowl and skate at the roller rink. We swam at North Bend's Olympic sized pool. 

I had my first real girlfriends, Susan Renchausen and Donna Shadley. (She had a horse--Ribbon.) Her mom taught me to drive on the roads of Bastendorff Beach Park--three on the column, baby. 

As early as age 10, I earned my own money peeling chittum bark and picking all manner of berries--cranberries, blackberries and huckleberries. My mom made a delicious cobbler. I would spend the summers at my grandparents in Hazel Dell, WA picking strawberries, raspberries and beans. I saved most of my money but I also never met a banana split I didn't like. I had money for fun-filled Saturdays at Jantzen Beach--my first and LAST rollercoaster ride!!

 Tired of riding the bus from Empire to Marshfield, I bought my first car, a 

'56 Chevy, for $225! 

I remember hitchhiking to Eugene a hundred times with two of my best Empire Rat friends, Kerry Crane and Doug Wright, as underclassmen supporting our MHS varsity football and basketball team games. Eugene & Springfield are such fun cities, and so alive and beautiful. 

Growing up in the shadow of Pre was such a gift.

During my alternating summers to Grants Pass, with my other grandparents, 

I was neighborhood friends with Steve Fosbury. His older brother Dick Fosbury won gold in the '68 Olympics. (Mexico City)

I learned to "flop" in our backyards and likely could have beat 'Fos' record but landing on sawdust smarts. The higher you go, the harder you flop. It was counterproductive to achieving a personal best (PR). High Jumpers and Pole Vaulters have it SO easy nowadays landing on soft, cushy, foam pillows. 

My paperback novella, Stevie Tenderheart Billy Jack (The Great Escape) memorializes my wonderful childhood growing up in Coos Bay, Empire, Klamath Falls, Burns, Grants Pass and Pismo Beach, CA.

(Available on Amazon in Print, Kindle & Audiobook.)

I enlisted in the USAF right out of high school, Class of '71. Go Pirates!

 I served my nation faithfully and honorably as a Mustang for 22-distinguished years, (Enlisted 14 years, Officer 8 years) retiring from my last tour of duty in Korea as a Commander supporting two F-16 fighter squadrons, on New Year's Eve 1993 as a captain. 

* * * * *

My seminal work is documented in my book

"America the Beautiful Resumé to Serve"

Congress is broken!

Oregon is broken!

They've been broken for a long while now.

Leadership doesn't insist on blocking anything meant for the good of the people. Tribal politics has morphed into do-nothing agendas.

We simply MUST STOP anointing aristocrats, bigots and bullies, conspiracy theorists and obstructionists as our Rulers.

We MUST Raise the Bar!

OREGON DEMANDS BETTER

As your representative, I need to know where your focus is.

I have my own ideas how to make Oregon the best state in the union but it takes like minds to accomplish this. There is nothing we can't accomplish if we work [together]. 

I wrote this website as a macro vision for America the Beautiful. It's now become a published book available on Amazon in Print & e-Book under the title:

America the Beautiful

Résumé  to Serve

Oregon requires micro vision.  

Top Priorities

Mental Health

Homelessness

Addictions

Forest Management

Lawlessness

Responsibility

Accountability

Small Businesses

Jobs

Education

The Secretary of State approved my application to run for Congress as an unaffiliated candidate in the last election for the 2nd District. I only needed 3,942 signatures to make the general election ballot. Unfortunately, Covid stopped that effort in its tracks. 

This is the dawning of a new election. When I learned that Peter DeFazio was retiring and I could represent my hometown 4th district, I filed my application on 1/6/2022 as a meaningful tribute to honor and correct the horrific and disgusting display and attack on our democracy on the Capitol grounds by the underbelly of ugly Americans. 

It was a sickening display of mob mentality. All based on insightful arrogance and utter ignorance! It proves just how gullible sick minds are. The fact RED GOP leadership still cowars to a belligerent dark force  is beyond my comprehension. I intend to be a counterbalance to decency and sanity if elected as your representative. I will never embarrass or dishonor my state of Oregon!!

I would appreciate your primary vote. Then your General Election vote. 

Having a creative nature, I find politics both exhilarating and at times boring. 

It gets so old with all of the rhetoric blah, blah promises and alike.

 Government ought to move quicker, be leaner and way more efficient.

I will never lie to you!

You may not like the truth but it's all I know. 

USAF Commissioning Honor Code:

"I will never lie, steal, cheat or tolerate those who do."

I coined another one too:

"Choose Integrity as Your True North and You Will Never Get Lost."

I am simply dumbfounded how many nut jobs occupy a seat of government. And how they are reelected time and time again baffles me.

It really comes down to:

Whomever you vote for speaks more about YOU than any candidate. 

While our country is devolving as a democracy, it's going to take everyone of us to make sure it stops! You do that by vetting the candidates you want to represent you.

Make sure they have YOUR best interests at heart.

Having spent two tours of duty in Wash DC 

(The Pentagon/Joint Chiefs of Staff and the USAF Honor Guard) 

I've seen the dirt and grime from the inside and the good!

I will never suck up to you to get your vote or to stay in office.

Country first. Then You. Then Party. Then me.

I have lived in Grants Pass for 30 years now since retiring from the USAF and returning to my hometown roots to raise my then young sons as a single dad. We have devolved as a state, counties, and cities. Growing up in Coos Bay (Empire) from age 10 through high school was the best childhood any kid could have! 

Playing varsity football against all the brilliant, brave and tough Lane County / Eugene schools instilled core values and pride in me that have lasted a lifetime. Playing on the new Autzen Stadium field remains a cherished memory.

I want every kid to relive their own magic moments taking their pride and values with them out in to the world.

I published a book about my childhood. I wrote it for 10-year-old MEN & the kid still inside you!

Stevie Tenderheart Billy Jack (The Great Escape) available on Amazon in Print, e-Book and audiobook. Giggles Assured. It's a really, really FUN ride you should read. #CowboyPromise

I think Congress is broken because of a conflict of interest. Imagine how ineffective any team or organization would be if they were continually being undermined!  It's as a direct result of a lack of will, vision, 

priorities & leadership. 

TERM LIMITS WOULD RESOLVE THIS NONSENSE!

Oregon is so rich with people, ideas, resources.

We don't have border issues, that is, unless you count Californians.

We do have big city thinkers and rural thinkers.

Despite Congress being in such chaos,

 I need to focus on the 2nd District of my state.

Together, we need to create our own bucket list.

I have a big vision for our country.

But first, I'd like to see what I can do to improve our state 

and my district as your middle class representative.

(We deserve truer hard-working, middle-class representation!)

I think as you read this website, you'll get a fairly good bead on me.

Depending on the issue, I am all of these: Left, Right, Conservative, Moderate, Progressive,

and even Liberal.

I value Common Sense and Common Good most. 

Who I am, what I think, what I believe:

Honesty, Truth, Justice, Integrity, Values, Moral Compass, Manners.

Character Still Matters!

Government is lacking is innovation. New ideas. 

They operate much too slowly.

They are horrible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

If just one of my ideas improved our nation

it might serve as a propelling catalyst.

Oregon has very specific issues that demand immediate attention. 

Uppermost in my mind, as I contemplate a ballot measure initiative changing Grants Pass to Smoke Valley, I think it's imperative to improve the quality of life for all the  congressional districts in Oregon and the nation. That includes, air quality, forest management, water rights, agriculture, farms, ranchers, hemp, traffic, recreation, crime, housing, homelessness, violence toward women, pay/jobs, addictions, etc... 

We must foster a NEW NORMAL!

While I may have my own opinions on all manner of topics, I do listen.

I AM NOT a Keynote speaker but rather a Keynote listener! 

I intend to serve as YOUR representative. What is it that YOU want? I am capable of asking for directions and changing my mind if the data or logic makes better sense to me than my own contrived biases. 

Thank you for reading my website.

Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Thank you.

Bright Smiles,

Happy Hearts,

Always, 

Steve

Steve William Laible, MBA

Captain, USAF (Ret)

2022 

4th Congressional District

Candidate

Children's Author

Stevie Tenderheart Books

Creator 

Stevie Tenderheart Comic Strip

(First Draft Cartoons)

Publisher

The Kodel Group, LLC

KodelEmpire.com

KodelEmpire.com

Founding Architect,

The Kodel Party vision for

America the Beautiful