If you would like me to respond to an issue not listed here, please drop me note.

• Education
• Public Safety
• Healthcare
• Corporate Tax
• Transportation
• The Environment
• Campaign Finance
• Accountability/transparency in state funding

Education:

As a life long educator, I have watched the state legislature meddle with the concept of locally run public schools.  I’ve seen focus of our assessment and accountability efforts shift from teaching and learning to compliance with dubious state testing mandates and failed initiatives like CIM and CAM.

As your legislator, I will work with our local school leaders to develop and champion an accountability system that focuses on continuous improvement in teaching and learning rather than the fad-driven dictates of state bureaucracies.

In the past 20 years I have watched as locally elected school boards have had their governance authority stripped only to be replaced by dictates from Salem.  

As your legislator, I will work to restore local control of schools and ensure that the State Department of Education is responsive to the priorities of our local schools not vice-versa.

Since I was elected to the school board 1999, Reynolds School District has become the state’s leader in providing educational options for students and parents.  As a result, in September 2008, Reynold’s students and parents will be able to choose from a range of educational alternatives including five public charter schools! 

As your legislator, I will work to give local school boards the flexibility to create innovative public education options that reflect the needs of students and parents in local communities.

Public Safety:

I applaud the fact that crime rates are going down throughout Oregon, but in our community this is just not the case.  As a fiscal conservative, there are not many problems that I think adding more money can address.  Public Safety is one of them.

Across district 49 I see moms and dads increasingly afraid to let their kids walk to the corner of the block, let alone the neighborhood park! Increased gang activity and violence threatens security in our homes and has our kids close to a place where they are frightened in there own schools.

As your legislator I will work with local leaders to address local priorities like opening Wapato jail, building and East County Justice Center, enhancing security on and around the MAX.  I will work to ensure that our locally elected councils have the capacity to address public safety needs in their local jurisdictions.

For us, these are not political issues on either side of a platform.  These are real problems that affect our daily lives.

Healthcare:

In today’s world, there is little reason for folks not to have access to affordable health care.  While I am not in favor of mandating universal participation in a full-blown healthcare system funded on the backs of Oregon wage-earners and businesses, I will work with leaders in both parties to explore and implement tax incentives to businesses that provide health care to their workers and tax credits for individuals who purchase coverage for themselves and their families.

As a legislator I will look closely at health insurance mandates that are driving increases in the costs of coverage for individuals and small businesses. By reforming the state’s insurance regulations we can make a wider variety of affordable plans available for Oregonians to purchase. Our health care system needs market reforms to enable Oregonians to get the insurance they need at lower cost.

Additionally, as an educator, it makes sense to expand school-based health centers and reforming Oregon’s health care bureaucracy to ensure eligible children are receiving the care they need.

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Corporate tax:

Prosperous businesses are the backbone of our society. Thriving companies create jobs which in turn create opportunities and security for our families. Oregon’s corporate tax structure must encourage growth in our business base and capital investment.

It has been reported that 23,000 corporations pay $10 a year in Oregon income taxes, including more than two dozen with Oregon profits of more than $1 million each. Clearly, the corporate minimum tax needs to be re-examined as part of comprehensive solution that will improve our tax system while simultaneously fostering economic growth and encouraging capitol investment.

Oregon’s capital gains and estate taxes are among the highest in the nation. We need a strategic plan that establishes Oregon as an attractive place to invest and do business.

However, lacking such a plan, I would not be in favor raising any business taxes simply for the purpose of increasing revenues for the government.

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Transportation:

As a legislator I will champion a balanced approached to the development of a transportation infrastructure.  Limited funding requires that our law makers prioritize transportation spending in a thoughtful manner that reflects an understanding of regional priorities, the need for economic development, and our state’s long standing concern for the environment.

I am very concerned about what seems to be a trend towards increasing funding for non-highway projects. I support focusing on new highways, reduction of congestion, and other infra-structural improvement that foster economic development.

I would support a transportation package that prioritizes new roads before over expanded light rail and bicycle lanes. Further, I support prioritizing state transportation spending by region to ensure that all Oregon taxpayers receive their fair share of resources.

In 2007, the Legislature approved a $3.39 billion transportation budget (an increase of 18 percent). The state transportation spending has increased by 95 percent over the past decade. Oregonians shouldn’t be asked to pay more taxes until the State can demonstrate that current transportation dollars are being spent responsibly and yielding value to the people.

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The Environment:

Oregon is a wonderful place. In my lifetime Oregonians have continuously demonstrated their commitment to the stewardship of our natural environments. I will always keep this value when making public policy decisions.

Our parks, forests, rivers, and wide range of natural resources help define the quality of life in Oregon. I do not believe that our industries and economic base need suffer as a result of this commitment.

I support sustained and sound agriculture, natural resource use, physical environment, wildlife management and land use policies build around the principles of private property rights, multiple uses of public lands, and science-based management tools.

I believe that the private development and management of economically feasible and efficient energy resources, in all forms existing and developing, must be encouraged by the State of Oregon to meet long-term needs.

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Campaign Finance:

In recent years Oregon’s strong campaign finance reporting system has become increasingly accountable and transparent. It is currently illegal for candidates to use campaign contributions for personal gain. By ensuring public access to campaign account statements, Oregon’s reporting system gives citizens access to information needed to decide whether any candidate is appropriately/legally receiving and spending campaign funds.

Other reforms such as the prohibition on double compensation for expenses charged to a campaign combined with stiffer penalties for violations have sent a clear message to candidates: ‘play it clean and fair or else.’

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Accountability/transparency in state funding:

We should all be able to agree that Salem owes Oregonians a much higher level of transparency in, and accountability for, state spending.

Oregonians rightfully feel disconnected from our state government. We believe there is a lack of accountability in Salem. And rightfully so! Over the past eighteen months, Salem has produced record-breaking state spending. This rampant spending is accompanied during a time of economic downturn by hundreds of millions in tax and fee increases and new government debt. The people of Oregon deserve and should demand that there be accountability measures in place that ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely, and that state funded programs are achieving desired results.

When elected, I will join House colleagues on both sides of the aisle in calling for the creation of a Legislative Audits Office that will give the Legislature tools needed to monitor the efficiency/effectiveness of state functions.

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Let’s restore confidence in state government:

We need to make good decisions in order to move our state forward. Citizens are asking for an opportunity to grow! We want to have a safe place to work, raise our diverse families, and educate our kids.

I care passionately about our community! I’m committed to providing the leadership needed to protect our community, make our neighborhoods secure for all of our residents, and ensure that our schools are safe places

Dedicating over twenty five years to education and social services, I have learned how to work effectively with folks who do not always share my core beliefs. I have learned how to find and build enthusiasm around common ground. As a member of the Oregon Legislature, I will continue to do the same. I have a deep respect for the democratic process needed to bring people together, find common ground, and get things done while staying true to the core values that make us who we are as individuals.

We have many issues to address to better protect our citizens and improve the economic environment to allow businesses to flourish in East County and in our entire state. I look forward to the opportunity to represent you and your values.

Moving forward with you. 

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