10
candidate questionnaire
october15
2020
November 2020 Election Candidate
Questionnaire Responses continued from page 9
found that our parks are not well
maintained. I will look at creative
solutions to maintain and enhance
recreational opportunities for all.
With half our county owned by the
timber industry our recreational
spaces are slowly diminishing. I will
proceed with partnering with these
agencies to find solutions to open
space for the public to utilize. I will
champion support for and advo-
cate for our vulnerable populations
to make sure their needs are met
and we are taking care of our com-
munity as a whole. I will continue
to support our youth and senior
citizens by investing in programs to
serve them.
4. What is your vision for the
future of Columbia County?
Position 1
Brandee Dudzic – I envision Co-
lumbia County as a diverse array
of thriving communities. We will
have a robust farming community
that provides our towns with locally
sourced foods. Our downtowns are
brimming with restaurants, inde-
pendent coffee shops, storefronts,
including artists and florists, and
even a few breweries. Our river will
attract visitors from all over the
country who kayak, fish, and kite-
surf, and infuse our economy with
their spending. My vision is for us
to thrive economically without sac-
rificing our identity.
Under my leadership, Co-
lumbia County is a safe and inclu-
sive place for all. With input from
community-led discussion, we can
create a strategic plan to accom-
modate our expanding community
needs without cutting services or
leaving anyone out. I believe in a
Columbia County where we have it
all: economic prosperity, environ-
mental sustainability, accountable
leaders, and a transparent gov-
ernment. My vision for our future
is that we are led by people who
really care, not by politicians with
deep pockets and a few good con-
nections. The most important thing
I can do as commissioner to sup-
port this vision is to do my job and
do it well. Focusing on the health
and welfare of my community is al-
ways the correct answer.
Margaret Magruder – Our current
overarching need is to maintain the
health of our citizens and the health
of the economy of Columbia Coun-
ty during and following the present
pandemic.
My goal is to grow em-
ployment in all areas of Columbia
County while maintaining livability;
to achieve a balance between large
industries, small business, natural
resource industries and agricul-
ture; to expand existing businesses
and bring in new enterprises to pro-
vide the jobs we need and the tax
revenue that supports our county
services. I will strive to bring more
family-wage jobs while still being
conscious of our current resources
and the environment.
I am dedicated to provid-
ing county services in the most ef-
ficient ways possible with improved
technology, expanded collaboration
with private and public partners,
and the employment and retention
of high caliber staff. It is my goal
to ensure that all county residents
are represented, responded to, and
respected by all departments of
Columbia County Government. I
believe that through an open ex-
change of ideas, we can bring bal-
ance to the environmental, eco-
nomic, and cultural concerns of
county residents. I look forward to
continuing to work closely with my
fellow citizens to promote the pros-
perity of the county, while protect-
ing its livability.
Position 3
Casey Garrett – I envision Colum-
bia County as a place to be admired
by our neighbors. We can stand out
as one of the most desirable loca-
tions within our region to live, raise
a family, visit, and bring your busi-
ness to. We are a county that has a
lot of room to grow and takes great
pride in our independence. Our
residents enjoy the quality of life a
rural county has to offer, while still
having reasonable access to the
city.
My vision for our county is
to maintain our unique character
as we grow. I see our county as an
oasis of opportunity. We should le-
verage our assets to grow in a way
that strengthens our independence
and makes us a more attractive
place to do business, to work and
to live.
Alex Tardif – My vision for Colum-
bia County is one of prosperity and
opportunity for everyone. I envision
a county where everyone can work
making a family wage salary, where
everyone can choose their recre-
ational option and live in a safe,
healthy community with attainable
housing. I imagine a balance be-
tween our forests, farms and wa-
terways, working together to cre-
ate a strong sustainable economy.
I envision thriving downtowns full
of small businesses that showcase
our local talent. To achieve this we
need to utilize our forest, we need
to promote our farms, and shop lo-
cal at our small businesses. A place
where our children receive quality
education with access to youth ac-
tivities and services. A community
that values connectivity and invests
in roads and broadband to remain
competitive. A place where we val-
ue our senior citizens and veterans
and ensure their needs are being
met. I know that with my continued
leadership, hard work, team work,
and willingness to listen to you, the
community, we can build the strong
county we all desire.
5. Our country, our state, and
even our county are currently
politically divided. What do you
think we need to do to bring our
citizens back together?
Position 1
Brandee Dudzic – Allow me to
be blunt; we need a conflict reso-
lution expert to take the lead, and
that’s me. In order to come back
together, we need to prioritize our
shared needs and goals and work
backwards from there. When I fa-
cilitate mediations, I guide partici-
pants away from either/or thinking,
away from win/lose outcomes. We
have an entire community of sub-
ject matter experts, and I know
that together, we hold in our hands
all the solutions to our problems.
As a leader, I reject the scar-
city mentality that keeps us divided
and living in fear. In order to heal
and get to a place where good deci-
sions are made, we must listen to
each other’s perspective and lived
experiences. It is a county commis-
sioner’s job to ensure this is hap-
pening. In political theory there is
only one purpose of government,
to make the lives of its constituents
better. That is my goal. We aren’t
standing on two sides of an aisle;
we are trying to figure out the best
way to summit a mountain. You
asked how we can bring people
back together, but I assert that we
aren’t that far away to begin with.
the issues and address them head
on collaboratively. We need to com-
promise. The two party system cre-
ates a blame game, and that has to
end. We are all here living the best
life we can, we should be working
together to help each other. We
should be voting on the best candi-
date with the best policies to serve
our community, not by party. The
Columbia County Commissioner
positions are non partisan, this is
by design. In order to be an effec-
tive leader you must be willing to
listen to both sides, collaborate and
create the best policy for the com-
munity. As an Independent candi-
date I am that bridge to help each
side reach the best outcome for our
community.
Margaret Magruder – I believe
that most people want the same
things for themselves and for oth-
ers - physical and financial security,
and opportunities to pursue per-
sonal happiness. The problem is,
we don’t always agree on how to
achieve those things. We need to
adopt the attitude of the 18 th -cen-
tury French philosopher Voltaire,
who is translated as saying: “I may
not agree with what you say, but I
will defend to the death your right
to say it.” In recent years, our so-
ciety seems to have lost the ability
to respect the differing opinions of
others without demonization and
personal attacks. People of good-
will can disagree without one side
or the other being “haters,” “fas-
cists,” or “stupid.” Toning down the
rhetoric and adopting an inclusive,
bipartisan, open-minded and open-
hearted approach to our problems
would help immensely.
The response of the citizens
of Columbia County to the needs of
those impacted by the wildfires is
an example of how we can work to-
gether in a positive way to achieve
success.
My life, my past leadership
experience, and my service on the
Columbia County Board of Commis-
sioners is focused on team-build-
ing – uniting people from differing
viewpoints to find collaborative and
innovative solutions.
State Representative
31 st District
Position 3
Casey Garrett – As a county, I
think we need to focus more on
local issues and goals rather than
national politics. I do not believe
Columbia County residents are all
that divided when it comes to the
things that are most important to
us. We all want to live in a place
where we’re treated fairly and have
opportunities to better ourselves,
and our communities.
As your commissioner I
pledge to keep Columbia County
my number one priority. I will work
my tail off to ensure your tax dol-
lars are managed responsibly, and
to make a positive difference. We
need to stay positive and not allow
negative narratives to overwhelm
us.
If you are interested in
learning more about me and my
vision, visit caseyforcommissioner.
com.
Alex Tardif – We need to listen
to each other. We need to respect
each other. We need to examine
1. Please introduce yourself,
tell us about your qualifications
or background, and why you
are running for office?
Brian Stout – I live in Columbia
County with my wife of 30 years.
I’m a father, grand-father, and a
small businessman. Having been
a small business owner and local
community volunteer in this district
for most of my life, I have watched
our State fail the people time and
time again under leadership that
does not speak for our local com-
munities, people and values. I am
a strong believer that the citizens
know what is best for themselves
and their families as opposed to ca-
reer politicians who are continually
operating through the lens of their
special interests.
Oregon has gotten out of
control with overspending, poor fis-
cal management and never ending
taxation with little to show for it.
Extreme legislative actions being
passed in Salem under the one-
party supermajority is taking its toll
on rural Oregon. We must change
that now. My pledge to you is to be
your voice, the voice for the peo-
ple. I will work diligently to be that
voice of common sense and bal-
ance.
Brad Witt – As a young man, I
worked in sawmills to put myself
through college. After the spotted
owl put so many of us out of work,
I went on to advocate for work-
ers whose livelihoods depended on
the forests. I served on the Board
of Forestry and fought for my old
friends at the mills. Today, as your
State Representative, I am proud
to have supported Vernonia by:
• Rebuilding Vernonia Schools after
the devastating floods by securing
the final $4.5 million for the proj-
ect.
• Bringing comprehensive vocation-
al training and shop classes back to
our schools.
• Lowering the price of prescription
drugs.
• Protecting health insurance cov-
erage for over 1 million Oregonians.
• Supporting workers and public
health by passing Paid Sick Leave
for all workers.
• Increasing the supply of afford-
able and decent housing through
innovative programs.
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