2018 ELECTIONS
Page 10
W ÏF M
y W
Street Roots •
a BB vt ftffi housing crisis , revenue , climate chan ©
Street Roots asked the candidates for Oregon governor to respond to five questions in 1,200 words o r fewer.
A ll candidates were asked the same questions, with the exception o f the final two, which were specific to them.
PATRICK
STARNES
KATE BROWN
DEMOCRAT
INDEPENDENT
■ Assumed the office in
February 2015, completing the
term of John Kitzhaber who
resigned
■ Cabinetmaker for 30 years
■ Elected twice to Douglas
Education Service District and
once to McKenzie School Board
■ Won a special election to the
office in 2016
■ Former Oregon Secretary of
State, 2009-2015
1. This past year, we’ve been reporting on the housing crisis across the
state, with a focus on rural areas. While each community faces unique
challenges, we found several reccurring themes. We’d like to know how
you would address each of the following issues we found tohavea
1. This past year, we’ve been reporting on the housing crisis across the
state, with a focus on rural areas. While each community faces unique
challenges, we found several reoccurring themes. We’d like to know how
you would address each of the following issues we found to have a
significant impact on housing insecurity in our state:
significant impact on housing insecurity in our state:
(a) What would you do to support communities that are finding licensed
and unlicensed vacation rentals are contributing to low vacancy rates
among rentals and rising housing insecurity in their
area?
BUEHLER?
(a) What would you do to support communities that are finding licensed
and unlicensed vacation rentals are contributing to low vacancy rates
among rentals and rising housing insecurity in their
area?
I know this is an issue in cities across Oregon, including
on the coast I’m watching closely how cities like Portland
are regulating this emerging industry and if state law is
presenting barriers to their efforts, I look forward to
working with communities around Oregon to address them.
(b) The only houses being built in rural areas are luxury
homes that most community members cannot afford.
How will you spur construction of workforce housing in
rural areas to correct shortages?
I have been working for the past three years to improve
housing affordability in rural Oregon. I launched five housing
pilot projects throughout Oregon in conjunction with Future
Ready Oregon. This Workforce Housing Initiative creates
partnerships between local communities, the business sector
and private developers to tackle the housing shortage for working families and
vulnerable communities in Oregon. We must stabilize existing affordable
housing so it remains affordable into the future, as well as generate more
affordable housing options for communities across our state, and enable local
governments to streamline housing development
(c) From skyrocketing rents and substandard housing to rashes of
no-cause evictions, tenants across the state are crying foul. What new
tenant protections would you champion as governor?
I want to end unreasonable nocause evictions, ensure renters have relocation
assistance so they stay in housing and provide technical support for renters. By
empowering renters, we can ensure they have the ability to save for college, for
a down payment or for retirement I am proud to have received the
endorsement of the Community Alliance of Tenants Action Fund.
2. Oregon is already seeing the impacts of climate change. As governor,
how will you prepare Oregon’s infrastructure and emergency systems so
See BROWN, page 11
BUEHLER?
Republican candidate Knute Buehler did
not respond to Street Roots’
questionnaire, which was sent to all
three gubernatorial candidates. Despite
multiple emails and phone messages,
we did not receive any reply from the
Knute Buehler campaign. This is the
first time in Street Roots’ histoiy a major
candidate for public office declined to
acknowledge our election questionnaire.
See my Oregon Shelter Fund, page 11.
(b) The only houses being built in rural areas are luxury
homes that most community members cannot afford.
How will you spur construction of workforce housing in
rural areas to correct shortages?
See Oregon Shelter Fund, page 11.
(c) From skyrocketing rents and substandard housing to
rashes of no-cause evictions, tenants across the state
are crying foul. What new tenant protections would you
champion as governor?
As one who rents a home to a family in Eugene, I do not
support no-cause evictions, and support lifting the statewide
ban on rent controls. For more details see the Oregon Shelter
Fund attachment on page 11.
2. Oregon is already seeing the impacts of climate change. As governor,
how will you prepare Oregon’s infrastructure and emergency systems so
that we are better prepared for the increasingly disasterous effects of
climate change?
Revenue from fossil fuels can be shunted to a Climate Disaster Fund.
3. From foster care and education to housing and PERS - Oregon needs
more money. How will you get it?
See my Grand Bargain. This will free up more money for classrooms, etcetera.
4. You’re running on a platform focused almost entirely on campaign
finance reform. Why is this your No. 1 priority when there are so many
other issues facing Oregonians?
See STARNES, page 11