BOARDMAN – At his first stop in the area Tuesday, Gov. Ted Kulongoski talked about economic issues in Eastern Oregon, including a possible expansion of the Tillamook cheese factory here.

“I think this issue is so important to Tillamook and the Port and the whole area,” Kulongoski said while speaking at the Port of Morrow. “I want them to make it here in Boardman.”

Tillamook Cheese is based in Tillamook and is one of the largest dairy product producers in the country.

Kulongoski signed a proclamation earlier this year creating an official state Tillamook Day.

There has been no official word yet if an expansion will take place in Boardman or how big it might be, but port representatives and Morrow County officials say they have had tentative talks with Tillamook and could know more by Thursday.

Kulongoski said he would like to see the entire county come together to offer a unified front for the expansion, a plan Port of Morrow Manager Gary Neal said has already been started.

“We’re working hand-in-hand on that effort,” Neal said.

“The Port, the county and Tillamook have had preliminary talks but nothing has been resolved yet,” said Morrow County Commissioner Terry Tallman, who was on hand for the governor’s arrival.

Tallman also said he appreciated this governor’s efforts to reach out to all of Oregon.

“He’s interested in the whole state and he’s trying to show that all Oregon needs to be impacted,” Tallman said.

The governor struck an immediate chord with the audience by wearing an Ione Cardinals baseball cap as he came into the port building.

“I feel he is listening and he’s going to help us,” Port Commissioner Dan Creamer said.

The governor also talked about issues involving imports and exports moving up and down the Columbia River, a subject vital to both the ports of Morrow and Umatilla.

Kulongoski talked about retraining workers who have lost jobs in their fields and making sure there is employment waiting for those workers.

“I think we spend a great deal of time arguing about things in the past and not looking forward,” Kulongoski said.