The Oregon public employe., January 01, 1994, Page 2, Image 2

Marked distinctions separate candidates for Governor
For public employees, the
positions that distinguish die Demo­
cratic candidate, John Kitzhaber, and
the Republican candidate, Denny
Smith, are highly contrasted.
In Kitzhaber, a physician and
former state Senate President, public
employees face a candidate who un­
derstands and highly regards our work.
Where there are problems, he pledges
to take the lead in making public em­
ployees “part of the solution.”
In Smith, the owner of a string
of newspapers and a former U.S. Con­
gressman, public employees face a
candidate who will cut government in
response to Measure 5 and will sup­
port the public employee-bashing pe­
titions on the November ballot.
The excerpts that follow of
the interviews conducted by the state­
wide CAPE Committee show where
Kitzhaber and Smith diverge on the
issues. CAPE unanimously recom­
mends Kitzhaber. Enclosed in this
paper is a ballot card for members to
equivocal in his support of our bar­
indicate their preference for endorse­
gaining rights and would veto any bill
ment. The Board of Directors will take
that reduces them; Smith believes we
its endorsement vote on March i2:
shouldn’t have the right to strike.
• Accessibility * While Smith
• PERS Benefits ~ Kitzhaber
says he has “no problem” talking with
is concerned enough about the Tieman
us, Kitzhaber makes a specific com­
initiative passing that he said he would
mitment to meet with the membership
take the leadership in finding a way to
regularly and provide “immediate ac­
defeat it; Smith said employers have
cess” to our leaders as needed.
an obligation to provide retirement
• Salaries and Benefits *
benefits, but believes we should pay
Kitzhaber ‘‘takes exception” to the
half (7+%) the cost of our retirement.
characterization that our salaries and
(For more on initiative, see Page 8.)
benefits are a problem; Smith believes
• Health Care * Kitzhaber
our salary and benefits should be in
wrote the Oregon Health Plan; Smith
“parity” with the private sector.
opposes an employer mandate.
• Fair Compensation Initia­
• Measure 5 Budget Gap *
tive ~ Kitzhaber opposes it ancl speaks
Smith believes there will be rid more
out against it; Smith favors it. (For
revenue from taxpayers, and would
more on initiative, see Page 8.)
cut, merge, and privatize programs to
• Shifting Services *
Kitzhaber would not shift services un­
bridge the gap; Kitzhaber agrees there
will be no new revenue this biennium,
less the “infrastructure” exists locally
to accept them; Smith says doing a
but is concerned about the level of
support for public services and be­
“better job” of delivering services may
lieves taxes fairness is needed between
mean doing them locally.
•
PECBA* Kitzhaber
individuals
is un and
­ corporations.
• Davis-Bacon * Smith
doesn’t support the concept; Kitzhaber
opposes the initiative to eliminate the
prevailing wage law.
• Contracting Out *
Kitzhaber opposes contracting out and
understandshow itleads to lower wages
for all Oregonians; Smith supports the
lowest cost, including wages, for de­
livering services. (For more on initia­
tive, see Page 8.)
• OCAInitiatives~Kitzhaber
said he is “passionately” opposed to
the measures and speaks out against
them; Smith said no one should have
special rights, except disabled persons.
• Budget & Workload *
Kitzhaber said workload should be
commensurate with staff; Smith’s an­
swer seemed to indicate he doesn’t
appreciate what budget cuts have al­
ready done to workload.
• Eisenzimmer Initiative ~
Smith favors it; Kitzhaber opposes it
and is actively campaigning against it.
(For more on initiative, see Page 8.)
Denny Smith
John Kitzhaber
Introduction
Introduction
My modus operandi in the Legislature was
to try to get as many people to the table as collabo­
rators and allies and try to work out common solu­
tions to problems. As I prepare a budget document for
presentation, I want you involved in that because it’s
going to involve some difficult choices and it’s much
better to have people invested in the choices we have to
make as opposed to having them dictated to you.
0-1. Access to theGovernor is an important issuefor us. Howwouldyou rate youravailability
and willingness to discuss important issues with OPEU and labor leaders during your career
I think this can be the best state in the nation. We
have the resources, we have the people, we have the
climate, we have the location on the Pacific Coast.
We ’re going to have to live within the revenue we have
plus the growth that we have in this economy. So die
best thing we can do is make ourselves as efficient as we
possibly can.
Now, the realities are: the Republican party is
going to win control of the State Senate, and we should
continue to control the House of Representatives. If we have a Governor of the same
party, we, working together, can get this state headed down the right road. All of you that
work for die state government have a great stake in this.
as a public official or public leader and what steps will you take to ensure accessibility in
Q-1. Access to theGovemor is an important issuefor us. How would you rate your availability
1995?
As Governor, what I would propose is setting up a regularly scheduled
meeting with your membership just to discuss anything that happens to be current with
immediate access to your leadership on an as-needed basis if something comes up.
A.
0-2. What role will organized labor have in your public policy making, including preparation
of budgets and appointments to Boards and Commissions?
A. It’s an open process and I would invite you now to participate in that. I want
you involved in that because it’s not going to work unless we all go in with a budget that
we understand and have come to some consensus on.
Boards and commissions, I would certainly consult especially on those boards
and commissions that have a scope which affects your membership.
Q-3. Public employees’ salaries and benefits are being characterized as the problem with
funding state government. What is your response to this characterization?
A. I have often taken exception with that characterization. The comparison that
needs to be made is compensation for like jobs in the public and private sector, and I think
when you do that, on balance there is very little discrepancy.
and willingness to discuss important issues with OPEU and labor leaders during your career
as a public official or public leader and what steps will you take to ensure accessibility in
1995?
A. I would welcome somebody in the inner circle from the Union to work with
me. I have no problem with talking with you and telling you where I think we are going
and where we are going to try to go, to become more credible with the Oregon taxpayer.
0-2. What role will organized labor have in your public policy making, including preparation
of budgets and appointments to Boards and Commissions?
A. I think you will see an even-handed choice of people from throughout the area.
I don’t see how you run a board, or a commission, or a board of directors without
somebody with a conflict of interest. Because, if you don ’ t have a conflict of interest you
don’t know enough about the subject to be able to be effective on the board. So I would
have no trouble having a labor representative on respective boards, no matter what area
it was in.
0-3. Public employees’ salaries and benefits are being characterized as the problem with
funding state government. What is your response to this characterization?
Q-3A. What is your position on the Fair Compensation Act ? Will you actively campaign on
A. I don’t think that you can characterize thatit’sthe salaries alone. Idothinkthat
you’re going to have to be on parity (with the private sector) with pay and benefits both.
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