LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Big I Oregon Candidate Recap

Big I Oregon Candidate Recap

By: Roger Beyer

Big I Oregon Lobbyist Big I Oregon staff seized the opportunity provided by the first real competitive governor’s race in more than a decade and invited the three leading candidates to attend a forum at INSURCON2022. While we had last-minute cancellations for in-person, we did have Christine Drazan join us by video, and Betsy Johnson had a spokesperson participate in person. Unfortunately, Tina Kotek declined her invitation citing her booked travel campaign schedule. Lyndsay Kooistra, Big I Oregon’s 2022 President, led the discussion by asking each of them a series of questions dealing with public policy and personal items. The fun questions, such as how they met their spouse, were entertaining and gave insight into their families and what they each do in their spare time.

The policy questions, like how they would deal with the homeless crisis, gave the participants an idea of how they would govern and what their priorities would be. The chart below summarizes some of the critical positions each has expressed publicly.

RECAP OF POSITIONS TAKEN BY CANDIDATES AT BIG I OREGON CONVENTION. TINA KOTEK DID NOT PARTICPATE.

ISSUES CHRISTINE DRAZAN BETSY JOHNSON

COVID-19 MANDATES

PUBLIC SAFETY

HOMELESSNESS

COST OF LIVING

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Opposed to mask and vaccine mandates End mandates for business, schools and government workers

Increased funding for law enforcement, will use state trooper to uphold the law, governor overstepped power in releasing prisoners Will address the root causes of homelessness – addiction, mental health, and affordability – and work with our nonprofits, the faith community, and local governments to get people off the streets.

Voted against CAT tax as legislator. Will lead by vetoing new taxes, repealing costly regulations, and by supporting policies that allow Oregonians to keep more of their money in their own pockets. Will fight for lower taxes for families and businesses and streamline regulations that make it expensive to build everything from new housing to new factories. I will work with our job creators to bring new investments to our state. I will support critical industries like timber, trucking, and manufacturing. Increased funding for law enforcement, defend M11, not release violent criminals

Will lead with compassion – while also expecting personal responsibility. I will be honest about how the problem has been driven by our state’s mental health crisis, drug and alcohol addiction, access to recently legalized hard drugs, a sorely inadequate housing supply, poverty, and a tolerance for lawlessness. Voted for CAT tax as legislator. Will work to reduce some taxes and tap the breaks on runaway state spending. I will say no to new taxes, and I will lead to reduce and reform the CAT tax and the estate/death tax.

Will be on the side of Oregon jobs and job creators. Whether you make wood chips, computer chips, potato chips or fish and chips, state government doesn’t need to be telling you how to run your business or digging deeper into your wallet.

Will repeal Governor Brown’s climate scheme on first day in office. Worked against it while in legislature.

EDUCATION Will lead by keeping our schools open full time and in person. I will restore the graduation requirements that Kate Brown eliminated. I will expand access to school choice. HEALTH CARE I will lead by putting the focus back on patients and on how to provide them with care that is affordable and accessible. We need to recruit providers from out of state to join our ranks on an emergency and temporary basis. If that means suspending some of the licensing and red tape that can delay their ability to provide care

DRUG LEGALIZATION

Does not support legalization of drugs. Supports life sentence for drug trafficking conviction. Support repeal of Measure 110. Will revoke Governor Brown’s executive order to implement cap-and-trade plan. Worked against it while in legislature. Will lead the climate fight with practical, common-sense solutions.

I will immediately restore academic standards and lost graduation requirements. I believe in giving parents more options for their children’s education including charter schools and home schooling. I will immediately restore academic standards and lost graduation requirements. I believe in giving parents more options for their children’s education including charter schools and home schooling.

I opposed BM 110 and will work to repeal this failed experiment. I believe the state of Oregon should declare a state of emergency to address our crisis of addiction and mental health.

Some past governor elections might shed some light on what to expect this year.

In 1990, an independent candidate garnered just 13% of the vote, allowing Barbara Roberts to win the office with 46%. In 1930, when Julius Meier was elected as the only person to serve as the governor who was not a member of a major political party, he tallied an unprecedented 55% to win in a landslide. Even with both major parties being represented on the ballot.

With three well-known and well-funded candidates this year, recent data has moved Oregon from a likely democrat win to a tossup, as rated by national media. Local pundits have predicted that any candidate getting 40% support could likely win. The translation is that whoever is elected will certainly not receive a majority of the vote and will need to govern by reaching a compromise with whichever party is controlling the legislature. This unprecedented occurrence demonstrates the importance of being involved in our political system. Big I Oregon members need to take advantage of this opportunity by registering to vote, doing their homework on the candidates, getting involved with those they think will best represent them, and, most importantly, casting a vote for that person.

Getting involved can be done in many ways: • Financially supporting the candidate of your choice. • Donating to OIPAC (the political action committee of Big I Oregon). • Attending town halls. • Going to campaign events or volunteering your time. • Being involved in your local communities as decisions being made on how we live and work are also supported at the grassroots level.

Don’t miss this chance to be involved in the most exciting election in nearly a century.

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