Kyle Markley
for Oregon Secretary of State

Below is a copy of the candidate statement I published in the Voters' Pamphlet for the 2012 general election. I will update this page when I write my 2014 candidate statement.

Occupation: Technical Lead Engineer, Intel Corporation

Occupational Background: Computer microprocessor debug architecture and tools; system validation and debug

Educational Background: BS Computer Science, Iowa State University

Prior Governmental Experience: none

My political philosophy is the Declaration of Independence. All people have natural rights, and "to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The purpose of government is to protect individual rights, and it is illegitimate to use government power for any other purpose. All government authority is delegated by the people, and can be withdrawn by the people.

Government is our servant, not our master, and elected officials are our employees, not our rulers. Government is too arrogant. I will deliver the attitude adjustment it needs.

My professional background has given me experience with complex systems and the ways they behave incorrectly. My intellectual interest in the field of economics has given me an understanding of how the incentives of government are broken and have costly unintended consequences. I will apply a logical, engineering problem-solving approach to fixing government. For example, when elected, I will seek a change from cash to accrual accounting to increase transparency and reduce the temptation for politicians to make fiscally irresponsible promises in order to get elected.

Oregon has billions of dollars of unfunded liabilities. We can't afford to spend taxpayer money on mere "worthy causes." We must focus on the essential functions of the state, like public safety and the courts.

As a political outsider, I am beholden to no special interest groups, and my commitment to legal equality makes me opposed in principle to any special favors benefiting the politically-connected.

I will be a consistent and principled advocate for personal freedom, individual rights, and legal equality, and I will work to revise or repeal laws at odds with these principles. I will get Oregon's government off the backs of individuals and small businesses.