AUTHOR & UNDERDOG

UNBRIDLED & UNBOUGHT
From the creator of the Stevie Tenderheart series of bedtime storybooks.

Oregon’s Dark Horse for Governor.

Independent. Self-funded. A story for the people.

WHY STEVIE ● WHY A DARK HORSE

The Story of the Dark Horse

I’m not a politician. I'm positioning myself as the antithesis of a career politician.

I’m a storyteller, a children’s book author, and for five years prior, I was the "voice" behind the local Stevie Tenderheart comic strip in Southern Oregon.

Mostly, it was based on a retelling of my youth. Which as you might imagine, made my late mom rather anxious, as she had a front row seat to all my youthful hijinks.

My comic strip was all about love.

First loves, lost loves, unconditional love, run, she's got a frying pan love...

A few years in, my editor, Curtis Hayden, wanted the strip to be more edgy, less mushy. Look, I created the comic strip out of thin air, with no background. In fact, I can't draw a lick. I had to commission real talent, like my son, Chase, a freshman at Grants Pass High School. And others, my favorite, Dennis Mertz.

I suffered terribly from Empty Nest Syndrome (ENS). It's a real thing.

When I "retired" from the US Air Force, I stayed retired. I was 40-years-old. I had been apart from my boys for 16 long months serving my last your of duty in the Republic of Korea. I had my $1600 monthly pension. Rent was $450 in a little green house directly across from the high school. I truck payment was $200. I was golden. I had high paying offers but I declined. The drive to Canyonville was just too far and too agreesive. 6-figures didn't change that. Shon Yazden traveled the world building hotel casinos. He effectively managed every aspect of building 7 Feathers Casino, from the color of carpet too the kinds of buttons on uniforms. It would have been a fantastic opportunity. I dont live with regrets.

I attended every practice, game, event, scout meeting and derby. I loved my life as a single dad. It was the most treasured aspect of my life.

So when they abandoned me, I was crestfallen. Whatever shall I do now?

Then, in the shower it cameto me, like mist terrific ideas, do. I'd create a comic strip. That's normal, right?

The Daily Courier assigned Tom Piper to me. As a cartoonist, he was a splendid mentor.

I would cut and paste the strip on my storyboard. And by cut and paste, I mean with scissors and gluesticks. This was before computers. It's all in my book, Stevie Tenderheart The Unknown Comic (First Draft Cartoons). A collection of my best toons.

This is a shift to a more edgy strip challenged me. But it helped me grow. I crafted my tongue-in-cheek leg-pulling style, as is my nature, by lampooning current events that made the news, politicians, city officials, dumb policies, the sheriff, Grants Pass High School and their banning inflatable beach balls at graduation under threat of withholding diplomas, Ulys Stapleton, City Attorney for Grants Pass, who threatened legal action on an 80+ year-old lady who penned a disparaging Letter to the Editor.

Ulys and I became fast friends. He's a remarkable person.

In fact, only seven weeks in, the Daily Courier tried to gag me on a strip where I was making fun of myself. They insisted on a disclaimer. I flat out refused. I took my pencils and went home.

Curtis had seen my strip and offered me a home in the Sneak Preview. It was a beautiful working relationship. He was 100% hands-off. I liked that. I only got in trouble once, with this uptight reader, who complained about one of my toons. He even called me sophomoric. (I had to look it up.) Curtis then put it up to a vote with the readers, cautioning me not to stuff the ballot boxes. (As if.) "-)

Should Stevie Stay or Go, was the siren call. My newly self-designed career, in peril.

(NOT really. It's called dramatic effect.)

The 'Letters to the Editor' (in my favor) poured in. A landslide victory.

After 5 years, I ended the comic strip to write more. I had to write more. Those panels were just so confining.

Writing a strip, is a solitude thankless endeavor. And you really never knew if my humor would land. You don't hear applause or laughter. And your fairly anonymous. On the upside, nobody's throwing tomatoes at your head or hooking me off stage.

At any rate, it was an easy transition to bedtime storybooks. Though the challenge is to write effectively and successfully entertaining two audiences, simultaneously, tired children and tired adults, is problematic. It's a much under-appreciated skillset.

There were many an evening when reading to My Three Sons, where I had to elbow, negotiate or otherwise trick them into reading my favorite bedtime storybooks. "-)

Bedtime is such a tender time. As a single dad to three young sons, Adam, Chase & Kyle, I loved reading to them every night.

Putting kids to bed can be a real pain point for parents. So by adding Stevie Tenderheart Books to a parenting toolbox, Stevie can honestly say, he can put your kids to bed on time, every time. GUARANTEED.

Just be mindful when you say, "It's Stevie time. As your kids will likely hear, "It's TV time." (And that's on you.) "'-)

Stevie books quiet the noises of the day helping kids feel silly, loved (safe, cozy & dozy) at bedtime. That's all any parent hopes for.

But I digress.

***

The "Dark Horse" moniker wasn't something I chose for myself—it's not a gimmick. It was given to me by my editor during my first run for Congress District 4. He saw someone who couldn't be fenced in by party lines or bought by special interests. He saw a candidate who was Unbridled and Unbought.

God

Country

Voters

Party

In that order.

In 2022, the top three candidates for Oregon Governor collectively spent a staggering $47+ million on their campaigns. $47,000,000.00+ (!!!)

I find that obscene. It cracks my brain.

I believe Oregon deserves better leadership--without the price tag.

I am a Dark Horse by choice: self-funded, fiercely independent, and running a campaign powered by ideas, not industry checkbooks.

I’m not running to join the political machine. I’m running to break the cycle.

HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE

Running as a Dark Horse, self-funded, underfunded, campaign in a world of multi-million dollar war chests isn't just an "underdog story"—it’s a direct challenge to the status quo.

I think it's time.

I hope you'll agree with the inherently powerful imagery assigned to me by my editor and the energy, independence, and confidence it projects.

I OWE NO ONE!

Beyond the speed (thoroughbred racing) and mystery, I refuse to be bought. It's just not in my DNA.

Support me in the best way you can.

Hold me accountable

CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS, CAN'T LOSE

Real Change Doesn’t Cost $47 Million
Self-Funded. People-Powered.

Oregon’s Dark Horse

The Dark Horse: Because Oregon Deserves a Governor, Not a Bill.*

(If there are any 'Bills' in the race, no offense intended.)

* A double entendre:

The Financial Bill: It suggests that when a candidate spends $47 million to get elected, the taxpayers or the state eventually "get the bill" (in the form of favors for donors or wasted resources)
The Legislative "Bill": Hinting that politics is often just about passing cold pieces of legislation (bills) instead of actually leading or helping people.