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Primary Conversations: 5th Congressional District (D)

AIR DATE: Thursday, May 15th 2008

Download the mp3 for this show.

What would you like to ask the Democratic candidates for the 5th Congressional District?

Posted by Sarah Jane Rothenfluch

LISTEN TO "Primary Conversations: 5th Congressional District (D)" (24MB MP3)

In February, Darlene Hooley, the U.S. Congresswoman representing Oregon's 5th District, surprised Oregonians by announcing her retirement after six terms -- with less than a month left for people to register to run. Since then the District has been buzzing with excitement as Republicans and Democrats vie for the hotly contested seat. Tomorrow we'll be joined by three Democratic candidates.

Andy Foster is a small business owner in Corvallis and a graduate student and researcher at Oregon State University. This is his first time seeking public office, though he has volunteered for the Benton County Democratic Party and the British Labour Party in the past.

Steve Marks lives in Marion County. He's best known for his work as chief of staff and senior policy adviser for Governor John Kitzhaber. He continues to work with Kitzhaber as an advocate for his health care reform organization, the Archimedes Movement. He also represents economic and agricultural interests in Oregon.

Kurt Schrader has been in the Oregon State Senate since 2003, and in the Oregon House of Representatives for six years before that. He is also a small businessman and veterinarian, currently running clinics in West Linn and Oregon City. Previously he raised organic produce on Canby's Three Rivers Farms.

What would you like to ask these candidates? How they want to reform health care? What they think the U.S. should do about the war in Iraq? Or, more broadly, why they think they're best suited to represent the District in Congress?

GUESTS:

Andy Foster: a small business owner and graduate student/research assistant at Oregon State University

Steve Marks: past chief of staff for Governor Kitzhaber and an advocate for the Archimedes Movement

Kurt Schrader: an Oregon State Senator and a veterinarian in West Linn and Oregon City

Tagged as: 2008 primary · 5th district · congress

I would like to know who these people think is most suited for President of the United States. I think their choice of the leadership of our nation reflects what type of politician they are.

I would like to ask Andy Foster, with so little political experience, why he thinks he can fill such a huge position in Oregon politics.

I would like to ask all three candidates how they feel about Kevin Mannix.

textchampion — Wed May 14th 7:26p.m.

TextChampion,

I'm curious about your take on the importance of experience -- and age. I feel like you've mentioned your age in the past, but perhaps I'm remembering wrong. How old are you? Would you vote for a 25-year-old for Congress?

David Miller — Thu May 15th 11:06a.m.

I am 27 years old. I would vote for a 25 year old for Congress, but only if I felt they had enough experience to bring to the table. I don't know if I would consider Andy Foster, as I feel he would need to start out at a lower office first to gain more experience. But then again if he has profound ideas that are better then everyone else's, I would consider changing my mind.

I am worried about younger candidates for a few reasons. Number one, I think that they lack the ability to be taken seriously by seasoned political veterans (I'm not saying that's right, but I feel it's true none the less). I also don't know if they are fully aware what they are getting into. I always think of what a disaster Billy Dalto was for Oregon, as he was in way over his head. Luckily he was voted out, oddly enough by another young politician Brian Clem, who I feel is doing a better job.

I think that experience is the biggest asset you have as a politician, as you need to build coalitions, which require experience. You also need experience to determine when you need to break away from the coalition. I feel that if you are too young, you will simply do what older politicians tell you to do (such as Billy Dalto) regardless if it's right or if you really know what is going on. On the other hand as an inexperienced politician, you may break away from the pack when it is completely unreasonable (such as Billy Dalto).

textchampion — Thu May 15th 12:38p.m.

I would like to know how each of them as rep for the district that includes coastal fishing communities, envisions assisting these areas facing the current crisis with the fishing closure-- in a broader way than the usual "we'll get them disaster loan funding." What future steps do they see to help these communities in transitioning to a new approach that will prevent future closures-- marine reserves, improvements to river conditions, more research, other ideas? Or should we just accept the future holds a different outcome for this industry and move toward a different economic base, and how would they encourage such a change.

This closure, along with the reduction of timber payments, signals a major shift in the non-tourism economy of our coastal communities and deserves attention from the candidates. I have yet to hear of them coming to the central coast for open forum/debate to present their ideas.

coastalview — Wed May 14th 11:11p.m.

Given the relative strength of the Democratic party heading into this election cycle, it seems likely that a Democrat may be elected President.

Although their plans different somewhat, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have put forward plans for universal health care systems.

If elected, 1) would you support a universal health care system, 2) would it differ from either Barack's or Hillary's plans (and how), and 3) how would you propose funding such a universal health care system?

Thank you.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey — Thu May 15th 11:01a.m.

How would each candidate propose funding a universal health care plan?

Thank you,
Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey (gowey as in "I got an owee")

Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey — Thu May 15th 12:44p.m.

If elected, how do you propose to represent the Tribal interests of our state? Thank you, Cathleen Osborne-Gowey

Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey — Thu May 15th 11:04a.m.

Some politicians use terms like Amnesty and Control the Border to talk about the debate over immigration reform. Those cliches cannot describe the good efforts of Democrats and Republicans to come together and achieve meaningful reform that will ensure our safety and economic prosperity.
Earned legalization is not Amnesty because it requires the applicant to demonstrate past work history, pay significant fines, work prospectively for a number of years, pass stringent security and background checks, learn English and American civics, and pay taxes. ?Get control over our borders? enforcement only talk threatens to waste our resources on a broken policy that does not work. We need enforcement and earned legalization together. Immigrants are good workers, good parents, and good neighbors. We owe it to ourselves to create an immigration system that is good for families, good for business, and good for America. How will you work together with Republicans to ensure our future safety and prosperity?

brent@entrylaw.com — Thu May 15th 11:40a.m.

To Kurt Schrader. Why in the world, as a Democrat and knowing the multitude of needs of this country, did you vote in 2001 for the resolution in the Legislature to support the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy?

jrpavelich — Thu May 15th 11:46a.m.

Increased biofuel production, primarily from corn and soy crops, has led to skyrocketing food/feed crop prices for uses other than ethanol (i.e., food and feed). The result has been a severe decrease in food availability, both regionally and internationally and the UN recently called the crisis a "silent tsunami".

If elected, how would you work to address food prices and environmental concerns regarding domestic and international energy plans?

Thank you.
Jeremiah

Jeremiah Osborne-Gowey — Thu May 15th 11:48a.m.

Kurt Schrader,

Time Magazine, the New York Times, and the Journal Science have issued condemning reports of corn-based ethanol as environmentally irresponsible, and immoral to fellow humans in food-insecure situations.

How can you defend the Oregon State Legislature's decision to require 10% of each gallon of gasoline in Oregon to come from this pseudo-environmental source? People are literally starving to death because of this decision!

Thank you for your explaination,
--Ansel in Corvallis

Ansel in Corvallis — Thu May 15th 12:44p.m.

One of the biggest environmental issues in the 5th is the Bush administration's "Western Oregon Plan Revisions" that would remove BLM lands from the Northwest Forest Plan and increase old-growth logging by 700% over current levels. It has been criticized by scientists for the harm it would cause to salmon and clean water, and has created a lot of conflict and acrimony in rural communities.

Where do the candidates stand on the WOPR? Do they support it?

KlamathAngler — Thu May 15th 12:14p.m.

I want to know where the candidates stand on Iraq. Specifically, Mr. Schrader, the frontrunner, does not mention Iraq under "Issues" on his website. Where he does mention it (curiously, in the "About Me" section), he says he just wants to bring home the troops "with honor," whereas Mr. Marks says on his website (prominently under "Issues") that he wants to bring the troops home as "rapidly as possible." Does Mr. Schrader really want to bring the troops home from Iraq and, if so, why is he not mentioning the issue more clearly and prominently on his website?

PDXvoter — Thu May 15th 12:19p.m.

I'd love to understand better what kind of justification is offered as to why timber payments should be maintained, when the whole point of these payments was to allow the communities time to move to another basis for their economies. Sure, they haven't made this change yet, but wouldn't a better approach be to offer a diminishing payment over the next couple of years, to enforce a gradual transition? But certainly not to simply maintain the payments ad nauseam.

SnowyRiver — Thu May 15th 12:25p.m.

Darlene Hooley has been a staunch defender of civil liberties despite the Bush administration's attempt to eviscerate them under the guise of the "war on terror." She bravely voted against allowing warrantless wiretapping and against eliminating habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. Would each of you continue her legacy of defending constitutional liberties and opposing the expansion of unchecked executive power? Are you willing to publicly defend such stances against a "law-and-order" demagogue like Kevin Mannix?

PDXvoter — Thu May 15th 12:26p.m.

The candidates just talked about how to address global warming and both Andy and Steve mentioned a "cap and trade" system. A "cap" can mean 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, it can mean 20% below 1990 levels by 2050. How much exactly are these candidates hoping to reduce our emissions and by when?

sofiag — Thu May 15th 12:34p.m.

I was glad to hear Steve Marks talk about sustainable stewardship of Oregon's natural resources. Fishing and timber are important to the cultural and economic aspects of Oregon's 5th congressional district. I would like to know the two other candidate's positions on marine reserves and marine protected areas.

annieb — Thu May 15th 12:40p.m.

A question: One of the candidates said that "there needs to be a 'robust GI bill' funded" for troop transitions. Actually, there is the "Montgomery GI Bill" which funds education. I'd like to know if he's aware of this and what he would do to improve it.

FredPDX — Thu May 15th 12:47p.m.

Kurt Schrader has proven himself to be a slimy double-talking politician! He condemns negative political tactics and dishes them out in the same breath! I was undecided before this forum, but now I know who I'm NOT voting for!

Ansel in Corvallis — Thu May 15th 1:01p.m.

In case hearing these guys isn't enough -- if you want to see them, too -- check out the Willamette Week's endorsement video:

http://wweek.com/wwire/?p=11659

There are some entertaining moments.

David Miller — Thu May 15th 1:11p.m.

+ Endorsements are the modern religion of politics. Yes, it was asked on this blog; so perhaps it makes it okay to ask on air---a sort of ABC. What is less fine, is that candidates were willing to answer---except one. I'm with the DJ---way to go endorsers!!!

+ I used to idolize democrats, but I grew up and realized they are almost as bad as the others... . What to do? Who to vote for? There's no one left. A nation of the lesser of two evils.

- Portland, Oregon

scottmil — Thu May 15th 1:20p.m.

Comments are now closed.