Whatever you think of veteran initiative activist Bill Sizemore, you have to marvel at the high-wire act that is his life.



Within the last few weeks, he became a Republican candidate for governor. Then, he and his wife Cindy were indicted by Oregon Attorney General John Kroger for failing to file a state income tax return over the past three years. That, of course, follows years of battles with union lawyers and a 2002 ruling by a judge that organizations run by Sizemore had engaged in racketeering.



In an interview that will be broadcast on KGW's "Straight Talk" show at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sizemore continues to insist that he paid estimated taxes and had a good reason for not filing his state returns.



And he talked about his legal strategy for Monday, when he is scheduled to be arraigned in Marion County Circuit Court.



"I think we'll ask for an expedited trial because I am running for governor," Sizemore said. "And there's a primary in May and I'd like to have this settled and behind me by then."



Sizemore did acknowledge that he was "scared" by the indictment. "If we get a jury and we get a fair trial, I think we will walk away fine, but my wife is terrified," he said. "It was very cruel of them to include my wife in this indictment. My wife only signs the tax returns, she doesn't earn the money."





