Candidates for Oregon state
and local offices appeared in Astoria Wednesday night in a candidates forum sponsored by the Astoria Chapter of the
American Association of University Women.
In a standing room crowd of over 70 at Clatsop Community College’s
Columbia Hall, Audience member submitted their questions for the candidates. District
32 State Representative Debbie Boone and challengers Jim Welsh of the
Constitution Party, and Perry Roll, a Libertarian were asked what each would do
to encourage more private sector, unsubsidized jobs.
Jim Welsh favored tax reductions:
Welsh1.wav “Do
away with capital gains taxes. We are in
competition with 49 other states, and several countries in the Pacific Rim – and every dollar that we cost a business,
cause businesses to go away from this state and settle in other states – are jobs
lost in this state.” (:20)
Perry Roll encouraged de-regulation and working with the
laws we already have:
Roll1.wav “The regulations we have in this state – and all
of the states for that matter, have really become quite daunting. I’ve talked to a lot of people who would like
to get an enterprise started – who would like to step up the one they already
have – and they’ve continually run into one regulation after another, and most
of them seem – at least from a grass roots level – nonsensical.” (:18)
Incumbent Boone stressed education for job promotion, adding
that the education system could be improved by asking employers what they
need. She also stated Oregon jobs could be created in the
renewable energy field, including wave energy and biomass.
Boone1.wav “We can produce workers in these industries,
and these sectors, and we can do it here in our area – in the north coast, and
I think that that’s going to help us improve our economy, put people back to
work, and provide good clean energy.” (:14)
Incubent Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin and his
Challenger Jim Pierce were asked about their top issues. Sheriff Bergin said he would continue to
involve the community in the ongoing strategic plan, would seek ways to
increase jail staff while getting more deputies out on the street, and cited successes
with improved community relations:
Bergin1.wav “We’ve
improved accountability of the staff by publicly investigating complaints. That was never done before. We do post survey contacts where we ask them –‘How
did my deputies do?’, and we had a 93 percent approval rating. We reach back out, when we have a case, whatever
it might be, a burglary, a homicide, whatever, we reach back out and ask the
public ‘How did we do?’, and currently we’re at a 93 percent approval rating.” (:23)
Challenger Jim Pierce cited the drug issue:
Pierce1.wav “I think that we have to...drug problems” (:14)
With what he called preventative peace, Pierce said engaging
officers and citizens should work jointly to reduce crime.
Pierce2.wav “I’d like to see our entire department
getting into some preventative type measures. (:16)
City Councilors Peter Roscoe and Russ Warr, also Ward 2
Candidate Drew Herzig, were asked about concerns that unelected individuals,
like JP Moss, are driving city council actions.
Candidate Drew Herzig said community concerns should drive
council decisions:
Herzig1.wav (:19) “I know the city councilors have the best
intentions, but when people are that unhappy, that stresses out, something is going
wrong. They’re not supposed to
micro-manage the City Manager, but I really believe the city councilors need to
step up, be more engaged, be more responsive to the public and look very carefully
at future contracts that they make.”
Ward 2 Councilman Roscoe said Moss had made many positive
contributions, but that it is time for a change to the structure of the Parks
Department.
Roscoe.wav (:10) “I have
been advocating for a couple of years that we move away from having a consultant,
to having a permanent Parks Director.
And councilman Warr expressed misgivings about the departure
of Mr. Moss.
Warr1.wav “I think it
was an absolute travesty what we did by not taking care of our parks, uh, however,
if your take a take a debit and credit sheet of Mr. Moss’s accomplishments and
his cost to the community I think you’d have to agree that under his leadership we’ve
accomplished some very very good things, many more good things than bad things. We’re very upset with the condition of the
parks, that was a mistake, but I certainly wouldn’t use that to condemn a whole
career.” (:37)
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad
Avakian also participated in the forum, emphasizing his advocacy for working
people. His challenger Bruce Starr did
not attend.
The forum was moderated by Trish Garner and Donna Wright of the AAUW.
The forum is available for download from the 'on demand' section of our website: coastradio.org.
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