Some voters are just discovering the Oregon Abagail Adams (OAA) Voter Project website. However, it has been functioning since 2011 providing voters with extensive information on how to take our civic duty seriously. The goal of this nonpartisan group is to equip voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process.

The website features current candidates and candidate comparison guides. What makes the questionnaire unique for state legislative offices is that many questions are based on actual bills in recent legislative sessions. For incumbents running that don’t submit the questionnaire, their voting record is posted for comparison.

The past two years have been an eye-opener for many Oregonians, watching Portland plundered and burned. Our liberty depends on everyone being engaged as civic responsible citizens. Nothing reflects the political climate more than the number of candidates running in the Primary Election.

This Primary is a prime example of the unrest of Oregonians.

The governor’s race stands out with 37 known candidates, more than doubled from 2018 and triple from 2014.

Of those 37, 19 are on a Republican comparison guide, 15 are on a Democrat comparison guide, plus an Independent, Constitution and Nonaffiliate candidate.

Compare that with 10 Republicans, three Democrats and two Independent candidates in the 2018 election.

Some interesting takeaways comparing those responding. Six Republican candidates responded showing major differences in how they would reduce state government. Three supported moving more authority to local control. Two republicans would reduce the number of state programs and one would reduce government employees. There is some disagreement including areas of forest products, an Oregon owned bank, Governor’s emergency powers, and who should be the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Five Democrat candidates responded and not all completely agree with the party’s direction.

Two candidates said they would reverse Governor Brown’s equity agenda back to the Constitutional equality standard. Not all support more firearm restrictions, electric vehicle rebates, removing hydro-dams, prohibiting mineral mining, or tolling.

The U.S. Senate and House have always been highly contested races, there are vacant seats making that even more so. This election, Peter DeFazio leaves District 4 vacant and there are eight Democrat candidates competing to run against Alek Scariatos on the Republican ticket.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

To add to the furry, the newly carved out U.S. District 6 is a challenge for both parties with seven Republican and nine Democrats competing for a chance at the new Congressional seat.

The three responding disagree on domestic terrorism, right to bear arms, federal access to criminal records, and raising Medicare age.

Among the four Republicans responding to the U.S. Senate Comparison Guide, they disagreed on development of 5G, cyber security, wilderness areas, domestic terrorism, federal funding of child care, and privatizing social security.

The one competitive nonpartisan statewide race to be determined May 17 is the Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner.

Seven candidates are competing and three responded illustrating a wide range of differences.

Candidates running for the Oregon State Legislature includes responses and voting records for 80 candidates to help voters make informed decisions.

Below the state candidate listing, the website lists candidates running for judge and District Attorney. At the bottom are listings for County Commissioner for counties that responded.

The OAA website is also a helpful resource. You will find ways to get involved, a personal get-out-the-vote campaign ideas, and tutorial training in several areas, information on being a precinct committee person, and history of county and state election processes including a Party Platform comparison.

What happens when we stop watching over government? That answer is what OAA wants to help avoid.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-04-29 08:59:14

Last Update: 2022-04-29 09:56:15