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Primary Conversations: U.S. Senate

AIR DATE: Wednesday, May 7th 2008

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What do you want to ask the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate?

The Democratic race for U.S. Senate is next in our continuing series Primary Conversations. It has been the most watched (and certainly the most debated) contest so far in Oregon this year. The Democrats are working hard to remove incumbent Gordon Smith -- who's running uncontested in the Republican primary -- from his seat. Jeff Merkley, Candy Neville and Steve Novick are all vying for the chance, as is Independent candidate John Frohnmayer.

Jeff Merkley is Oregon's speaker of the House. He was born in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, spent his younger years in Roseburg, and was the first member of his family to go to college. Merkley served as a national security analyst, first for the Pentagon and then for Congress. He returned to Oregon to lead Habitat for Humanity, and became the first Democratic House Speaker in 16 years.

Candy Neville is a real estate broker from Eugene who admits she has no experience in politics. She's been a real estate developer and a freelance writer for the Chicago Sun-Times. She says she has "guts born of sorrow and agony over the state of the nation."

Steve Novick is a senior project manager at Pyramid Communications, a consulting firm that works primarily for non-profits, tribal and public sector clients. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Cottage Grove, Oregon. After graduating from the University of Oregon he went to Harvard Law School and then worked in law firms in New York and San Francisco and in the Environment Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

What do you want to know from these prospective Democratic nominees for U.S. Senate? Their takes on healthcare reform? The War in Iraq? Timber Payments? Social Security? Or simply why they think they're best equipped to take on Gordon Smith in the fall?

GUESTS:

Jeff Merkley: speaker of the Oregon House and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate

Candy Neville: a real estate broker and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate

Steve Novick: senior project manager at Pyramid Communications and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate

Tagged as: 2008 primary · jeff merkley · senate · steve novick

Has Jeff Merkley committed as a superdelegate? If not, why? If yes, for who?

textchampion — Tue May 6th 11:33a.m.

Thanks for the suggestion, but Jeff Merkley actually is not a superdelegate. Here's a list of who is:

Gov. Ted Kulongoski
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer
U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley
U.S. Rep. David Wu
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
Secretary of State Bill Bradbury
Democratic Party officials Meredith Wood Smith, Frank Dixon, Wayne Kinney, Jenny Greenleaf and Gail Rasmussen

Sarah Jane Rothenfluch — Tue May 6th 2:33p.m.

I thought all elected Democrats, both House and Senate, were superdelegates. You learn something new everyday!

textchampion — Tue May 6th 8:38p.m.

Well, it all depends on the House and Senate! U.S. Congress, yes; state legislatures, no.

David Miller — Wed May 7th 9:52a.m.

Well, it all depends on the House and Senate! U.S. Congress, yes; state legislatures, no.

David Miller — Wed May 7th 9:53a.m.

I would like each candidate to respond to these two questions that are essential information for my vote.
1. How will you improve the mental health system in Oregon and the US? It is currently demolished (not just broken) and needs the citizens and legislators to devote serious attention to providing services to our vulnerable members.
2. Will you set education reform as a priority for legislation? Currently, the citizens of Oregon consistently demean education and educators by not supporting bond issues or other financing packages for public education (primary through higher ed). Our educators are notoriously poorly paid. What will you do to improve these conditions? What role do you see the federal government has in setting national standards for educational support?

barbara j — Tue May 6th 12:54p.m.

Thanks. Those are good questions to consider. Your comment about teachers being poorly paid is something we took up very recently on Think Out Loud. If you didn't catch it live, you may want to listen here:
http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/posts/list/1/1009809.page

Sarah Jane Rothenfluch — Tue May 6th 2:38p.m.

I've got a question for Mr. Novick...

Mr. Novick, I greatly appreciate the candor you exhibit in discussion of the issues and the problems facing our country. However, being a US Senator is much more about nuance and compromise than it is about telling "truth to power". Are you prepared to work with moderates and Republicans in forging policy that will address our problems? What in your background can you point to as evidence of your ability to work with those whom you may disagree with?

Finally, you've made a number of inflammatory comments about prominent Democrats and Republicans. What will you do to ease strained relations with those representatives you've been so candid in criticizing? Do you worry that these negative comments may hurt your chances in the general election?

Thanks

elektro87 — Wed May 7th 1:15a.m.

While Gordon Smith has pretended to be a moderate, he's voted time and time again with the George Bush agenda. As an Oregon Democrat, I am very committed to defeating Gordon Smith in the November general election.

I want to be sure that all of the candidates here are equally committed to the cause. I was concerned when I heard that Steve Novick would vote for former Republican John Frohnmayer over any of his fellow Democrats should they win the May primary.

Here's my question: Will you commit today to do everything possible to defeat Gordon Smith, no matter who the Democratic nominee is?

jackmurray — Wed May 7th 2a.m.

I think you heard wrong, Jackmurray. Novick has NEVER said he would vote for Frohnmayer over a Democrat in the general election. In fact, he has said exactly the opposite, and urged Frohnmayer to consider dropping out. And truth be told, the chances that Frohnmayer WOULD drop out are much better should Novick win than Merkley; Frohnmayer has made his preference among them fairly clear.

torridjoe — Wed May 7th 1:25p.m.

Hey Torrid Joe, I know you work for/with Novick, but that's no excuse to distort the truth and/or lie. Novick, very clearly, suggested that if he were not the Democratic nominee, he would support Frohnmeyer. This occurred during the WW endorsement interviews, which are posted on their website. "NEVER" is a complete fabrication and your choice of words betrays Novick's message, that of being truthful and fair-minded.

BTW, I don't work for any candidate, though I do pay attention.

elektro87 — Thu May 8th 1:15a.m.

I?m a retired military officer ? one of a large and growing number of veterans who are actively supporting progressive causes and candidates in this election. My question for you all is this:

Our sons and daughters and friends have died and are being wounded, both physically and mentally in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as I first saw after Vietnam, once again, our returning veterans, now coming back into our communities, are quickly dropping under the radar ? their basic needs for health care, education, jobs, and housing are now being crowded out once again by other important priorities. How will you work to support our veterans before time runs out to do so and we repeat history. Jon in Portland

jzall1 — Wed May 7th 11:17a.m.

A question for all the candidates:

What is your position on the death penalty?

AaronW — Wed May 7th 11:46a.m.

The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, supported by Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick.

Update at 9:28:
And, apparently, Candy Neville. They should put her on the list!

David Miller — Wed May 7th 12:10p.m.

In sports, we compare new players to established vetrans, i.e. - "This guy's the next Ichiro. Obviously a blanket statement, but it can serve as a good reference to general style.

What Senators do each of you look up to? Who's style would you like to take after?

Chad Balcom — Wed May 7th 12:11p.m.

I judge a person by what they do, not by what they say they are going to do.

Can you, the candidates, please give us a quick list of former bosses and or co-workers that endorse and support your race?

PSJackson — Wed May 7th 12:20p.m.

When Jeff Merkley had a chance to stand up against the war (at the start), he wanted to have a "debate or a conversation another day." Five years later, what does he have to say for himself? He claims that he was against the war from the start.

http://loadedorygun.net/showComment.do?commentId=4500

It turns out the "anti-war column" the Speaker supposedly published was bogus. (h/t to Harry Esteve at the Big O)
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2008/04/from_the_vault_merkleys_antiwa.html

I have already voted for Novick, but I welcome Candy Neville to the debate (and support her as well). She is the strongest Democrat in this race on impeachment. And for those of you content with the politics of wait, every month we leave Bush in office and our troops in the occupation, we lose 12 BILLION dollars and 30-60 Americans.

EastbankThom — Wed May 7th 12:20p.m.

Two questions regarding the environment.
1) Do the candidates support casino development in the Columbia River Scenic Area? (if yes, would you support casino development in other protected areas. if no, how would you provide economic development assistance to Oregon tribes)

2) Do you support efforts to remove pacific corps Klamath River Dams, which are currently seeking Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing?

Thanks,

jason

JasoninPortland — Wed May 7th 12:43p.m.

Just a point about permits for LNG terminals:
I currently work for OR DEQ and previously worked for Washington State Department of Ecology where I've had responsibilites for permits related to natural gas infrastructure. Currently, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) can override state laws. So permits issued on the basis of state law may be ignored. State permits issued under the delegated authority of a federal law given to a state to implement (such as a 401 permit for in-the-water work which is required by the federal Clean Waer Act but issued by the state) can not be ignored by FERC but what is important to note is that these laws often limit the basis for the state to deny the permit to enivironmental concerns that can not be mitigated or false information. We can not deny based on reasons such as need for the facility. The land use approval process, which for the Bradwood Landing LNG proposal has already been issued by the local government, is the first and most important step in permitting in Oregon. If a project passes this step, the legal basis for denial allowed under environmental laws are more limited.

Tiffany Yelton — Wed May 7th 12:50p.m.

May I point out that Oregon has almost natural gas. LNG terminals have an almost perfect safety record. US and Canada are running out of natural gas. I think that certain land owners have hopes of selling to developers for more money. There is no use of developing if natural gas can not be supplied. A sea terminal has the flexibility of recieving gas from many places including Alaska. I was outraged about all the misinformation I heard on air. Where were all the informed people?

vernonhuffer — Wed May 7th 1:10p.m.

Question for all...

My wife and I are Peace Corps volunteers that will be leaving this September. One of the biggest complaints of other volunteers is funding. For example once a volunteer immerses in a community they are expected to help out in any way they can, but they are in competition with other volunteers for funds. Do any of the candidates have plans for increasing these?

monteith — Wed May 7th 12:53p.m.

Gosh. What a selfish question. I hope 'the candidates' can see through this...

BrianR — Fri May 9th 2:24a.m.

Earlier in the hour,Novick said that he had received absolutely no contributions from drug companies. But that's just not true.

Open Secrets says Novick got a total of $2000 from people at the drug company Galderma in Texas.
Susan Lively $1000
Paula Lively $1000

AaronW — Wed May 7th 12:57p.m.

how are "employees of" a drug company the same as "a drug company?"

torridjoe — Wed May 7th 1:27p.m.

The question of whether an individual represents a company when making a donation is an interesting one, and difficult to answer. I can tell you that the law, according to the Federal Election Commission, is that while individuals and political actions committees (PACs) can make political contributions, corporations and labor unions cannot. You can read more about the rules, and search for campaign donations, here: http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/citizens.shtml

You can also check out Open Secrets, the website of the Center for Responsive Politics. But note that while Open Secrets lists top donors for each candidate, it does so with this explanation: "The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families."

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/contrib.asp?ID=ORS1&cycle=2008&special=N

What's your experience? Do you donate as an individual, or do you make contributions because you work for a company with a particular interest in a campaign?

Sarah Jane Rothenfluch — Wed May 7th 7:14p.m.

Comments are now closed.