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The Newberg Graphic
Wu will get a challenger in November general
election
2010 elections -- Rob Cornilles, formerly of Newberg, will vie for
the nomination in the spring 2010 primaries to face the six-
Amanda Newman
August 07, 2009
A former Newberg man has thrown his hat into the race for U.S.
Representative in the 1st Congressional District. Rob Cornilles
hopes to run on the Republican ticket against incumbent David Wu
(D-Oregon) in the 2010 election.
Cornilles, 45, has never run for public office before. But he's
run a business for 15 years and, with a background in helping
companies improve revenue and maintain costs, he thinks he is just
what the country needs right now.
"I'm running for my kids and my future grandkids, and for other
people's kids, because I don't think we're being very adult in
what we're leaving them," he said, decrying the "buy now, pay
later" mentality he thinks is pervading Congress. "I don't think
that's a responsible way of living."
Cornilles owns and runs Game Face, a marketing consulting company
that advises companies in best business practices, helping them
improve revenue while maintaining costs, through sales training,
management consulting and more. Although the company primarily
services major sports teams -- clients include the Chicago Bulls,
Miami Dolphins, Boston Celtics, New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals
and Los Angeles Dodgers -- they have also worked with companies
such as A-dec Inc. in Newberg.
He said he's particularly adept at helping companies get back on
their feet. "Normally, organizations don't call me when they're
successful; they call me when they're struggling," he said. "I
think we as a country are struggling, our economy is struggling,
Oregon is struggling."
Cornilles' main instigation for running was the economy and the
country's growing financial problems. But he said he also thinks
the people of the 1st Congressional District can do better than
Wu, now in his sixth term.
"I don't think our incumbent reflects and represents this
district," he said. "Ninety-seven percent of the time, he votes
with (Speaker of the House) Nancy Pelosi (D-California) ... but
last time I looked, this district wasn't 97 percent Democrat."
He said Wu has not encouraged the growth of business in the state
or the country, something sorely needed to improve the economy.
"The fact that we continue to send him back to Washington when
he's not accomplishing anything of merit is shameful, and we have
to do better," he added.
Cornilles said he is running to represent the people, rather than
a party. He wants to help fix the economy by producing sustainable
rather than temporary jobs; be more responsible with the people's
money, and improve the education system, which he says is the key
to our future. And he thinks his ideas will resonate with both
sides of the fence.
"Democrats, just like Republicans, are reasonable, thoughtful,
considerate people when it comes to the future they want for their
kids and grandkids," he said. "I think they'll be very quick to
join our cause, because I don't believe they've heard (these
ideals) from the other side for quite some time."
He describes himself as a "problem-solver" and a "solution-finder"
and said he's willing to reach across the aisle to make sure the
best solutions come forward.
Cornilles acknowledged he'll have an uphill climb taking on an
incumbent, but added, "I don't think he's had the kind of
competition for voters' attention that he's going to see now."
"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think my chances were very
good," he added.
Cornilles, a 1982 Newberg High School graduate who met his wife,
Allison, when he was NHS student body president and she was vice
president, kicked off his campaign last month as an entrant in the
Old Fashioned Festival parade.
He is now focusing on getting out the word on his campaign,
building a team, recruiting volunteers and raising money. He does
not know of any other candidates running for the Republican
ticket.
Cornilles is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He worked for
the Japanese Ministry of Education in Japan, as a marketer for the
Los Angeles Clippers, and for a Portland consulting company before
starting Game Face in 1995. He lives in Tualatin with Allison and
their three sons. |
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