6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2016 Debate: Gov. Brown holds strong lead over Pierce in polls Continued from Page 1A Foster care crisis A KGW Facebook user asked the candidates — via moderator Tracy Barry — what their plans are to ensure all children in foster care are able to stay in an home envi- ronment, not a hotel or Depart- ment of Human Services Ofice. “We have to do a better job of recruiting families and tak- ing foster children and giving these families support,” Pierce said. “They deserve that. We can’t accept failure.” “How in the world can this happen?” Barry asked, turning to Brown. “Governor, this is happening on your watch.” Brown responded that she has brought in new leadership to Human Services. “We have done extensive work to change both the lead- ership at the agency and work- ing very hard to make sure we have the right systems in place, but some of this is a resources issue.” Brown said that casework- ers have too many cases and there aren’t enough resources to train foster parents. Health care KGW reporter Laural Por- ter noted that health care costs continue to increase, including insurance rates. “Some companies are choosing to leave the market,” Porter said. “What would you do to increase access to health care while also driving down the cost of health care for aver- age Oregon families?” Brown said her top prior- ity for the next two years is to make sure every Oregonian has access to health care. “In terms of reducing cost, we need to look at social deter- minants of health,” Brown said. “We know for example that out- comes are better in terms of health care if everyone has a safe and stable house to live in.” Pierce said having more Oregonians working would increase people’s access to health care. Competitive health care delivery, generic pharmaceuticals and promo- tion of health care innovation could help reduce costs. Measure 97 Brown sidestepped a question concerning how much of a $6 billion corpo- rate sales tax measure on November’s ballot she would dedicate speciically to edu- cation. Proponents of Mea- sure 97 — the 2.5 percent tax on certain corporations’ Ore- gon sales exceeding $25 mil- campaigns through 2018. Brown holds a strong lead over Pierce in polls so far and has raised about $4.5 million for her campaign. Pierce has self-funded nearly half of his campaign, which has raised about $3.2 million. President Barack Obama endorsed Brown on Thursday, commending her for accom- plishments such as increas- ing minimum wage, boosting career technical education and landmark renewable energy laws. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. lion — have said much of the revenue would support smaller class sizes and other education beneits. Pierce said his state budget proposal would augment edu- cation funding with $1.4 bil- lion. If Measure 97 passed, he said, he would provide full funding to meeting the stan- dard of the Quality Education Model of about $2 billion. Brown also declined to answer a question about whether if she wins election, she’ll seek another term in 2018. Her former campaign manager has said, however, that he was hired to run her Divided: Elective politics remains predominantly male turf Continued from Page 1A At the same time, deep and obvious gaps remain — not only in terms of eco- nomic inequality and continu- ing workplace discrimination, but in everyday actions and conversations. Consider this year’s reboot of “Ghostbusters,” with women replacing the male leads of the original. Misogynistic com- ments circulated on social media demanding the ilm’s stars appear nude or be “hot.” Or the way some sports commentators belittled wom- en’s accomplishments at the Rio Olympics. Backlash in Seattle Or the backlash in, of all places, progressive Seattle, after the ive female councilors voted against the proposed sale of a street to help make way for a new arena that could host an NBA team. One local attorney, in a signed email to all ive women, said, “I can only hope that you each ind ways to quickly and painfully end yourselves.” Council member Lorena Gonzalez, a lawyer who has represented victims of sex- ual abuse, said the controversy “hit a nerve” because it coin- cided with a presidential cam- paign that has exacerbated gen- der tensions. Resentment In many male-dominated domains, women’s strides have been slow-paced and, even then, greeted with resentment. “Cultural change often comes with some backlash,” said Emily Martin, the National Women’s Law Center’s gen- eral counsel. “Some people feel threatened by women’s progress.” That culture clash has become striking in this election year. As feminists celebrated Clinton’s glass-shattering nom- ination with the slogan “I’m With Her,” Trump claimed the only thing Clinton had going Gender in politics The gender gap in the presidential election, featuring the first woman to top a major party’s ballot, could be the biggest in modern times. A recent New York Times poll shows Donald Trump leading among likely male voters by 11 percentage points, and Hillary Clinton ahead among likely female voters by 13 points. Percentage of eligible adults who reported voting 70 percent Women 63.7% 65 60 Men 59.8% 55 Genna Martin/seattlepi.com City Councilwoman Sally Bashaw explains her “no” vote in May on the issue of whether to vacate a stretch of road where an investor hopes to eventually build an arena that could house NBA and NHL teams. For weeks after the vote, the abuse kept coming: Ven- omous, sexist phone calls and emails, venting rage at the five women on Seattle’s City Council who outvoted four men to derail a sports arena project. for her was “the woman’s card.” Some of his support- ers wear “Trump that Bitch” T-shirts. Polls show Clinton, a Dem- ocrat, beneiting from a gen- der gap that’s been a fact of American politics since 1980, with women voting for her party more reliably than men in each presidential election. This year’s gap could be the big- gest ever; a New York Times poll in mid-September showed Trump, a Republican, leading among likely male voters by 11 percentage points, while Clin- ton led among likely female voters by 13 points. Brooke Ackerly, a political science professor at Vander- bilt, said the sexist sentiments on display during the campaign aren’t new to American poli- tics, but are louder and more visible. “It suggests to me there’s some latent anger that’s being given permission to express itself,” said Ackerly, depicting Trump as the catalyst for this. “What’s new is that we’re see- ing it in public.” Clinton, of course, has been targeted by sexist taunts for many years, and says she takes them in stride. Still, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for Amer- ican Women and Politics at Rutgers University, “I’m con- cerned about what it means for younger women who see this as what you might confront if you dare to tread on what is seen as male turf.” Still male turf Indeed, elective politics remains predominantly male turf. Women comprise more than half the U.S. population, yet account for just a ifth of all members of Congress and one-fourth of state lawmakers, according to a recent Associ- ated Press survey. And that’s a better showing than for women in such ields as construction and video-game design. For two years, software engineer Brianna Wu of Bos- ton has been a target of the online harassment campaign known as Gamergate, which subjected several women in the video-game industry to misog- ynistic threats. It surfaced in the summer of 2014, and hasn’t vanished. “It’s still a constant drum- beat,” said Wu, who became a target after ridiculing those who decried women’s advances in the male-dominated industry. Unsurprisingly, Clinton is backed by the National Organi- zation for Women and Planned Parenthood. Trump’s support- ers include leaders of national anti-abortion groups. Some prospective voters don’t it easily into the obvi- ous boxes. There are conser- vative women who disdain Clinton, yet ind Trump’s rhetoric and behavior repug- nant. There are men planning to vote for Clinton who wish she would be more outspoken about challenges facing boys and fathers. One of those men is author Warren Farrell of Mill Valley, California, a igure in what’s loosely known as “the men’s movement.” “I’m supporting Hillary Clinton despite the people in her campaign who are less compas- sionate toward men, less under- standing of the importance of fathers,” said Farrell. As for Trump, “he rep- resents everything that women fear about men — blustery, 50 ’80 ’84 ’88 ’92 ’96 ’00 ’04 ’08 ’12 The gender gap in past elections YEAR WINNER MEN 2012 B. Obama (D) M. Romney (R) 45% 52 55% 44 B. Obama (D) J. McCain (R) 49 48 56 43 G. W. Bush (R) J. Kerry (D) 55 41 48 51 G. W. Bush (R) Al Gore (D) 53 42 43 54 B. Clinton (D) B. Dole (R) 43 44 54 38 B. Clinton (D) G. H. W. Bush (R) 41 38 45 37 G. H. W. Bush (R) 57 M. Dukakis (D) 41 50 49 R. Reagan (R) W. Mondale (D) 62 37 56 44 R. Reagan (R) J. Carter (D) 54 37 46 45 2008 2004 2000 1996 1992 1988 1984 1980 WOMEN GENDER GAP 10 pts. 8 7 5 7 10 10 12 11 6 4 1 7 8 6 7 8 8 SOURCE: Center for the American Woman and Politics grandiose, narcissistic,” Farrell said. Trump has many enthusias- tic female supporters, includ- ing Amber Smith, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army helicopter pilot. Smith says Trump “has a backbone” and perceives AP Clinton as seeking to portray women as victims. “We live in a country that provides equal opportunities for men and woman,” Smith said. “I wanted to be an air mis- sion commander based on my own merits and skill level, not because of my gender.” Stephen H ou ghtaling, DDS Fam ily Dental is proud to welcome Dr. Aaron Sm ith Re-elect Located at 1785 Exchange Street, Astoria Weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday 7 a.m. appointments Deborah BOOne D RINK C OFFEE ... S UPPORT S TEVEN Native Oregonian Rural homeowner in HD 32 since 1974 I have been a tireless advocate for seniors, veterans, children and families. Working for quality education, health care accessibility for Oregonians, and programs that protect our most vulnerable citizens are my top priorities. It is an honor to represent you. I ask for your vote so we can continue the important work of advancing legislation that beneits all Oregonians today and in the years ahead. — Rep. Deborah Boone US Bank/Steven Wentworth www.gofundme.com/2k6hs77K Art Sale Sponsored By: Astoria High School BEATS 6-8 PM OCTOBER 23 RD FOR LIFE! Victoria Holcom’s Senior Project AT F of a eath s d sha Ned e BE E! d Music Night Fundraiser to support Steve Wentworth er BooneforStateRep.org Paid for by: Boone for State Representative P.O. Box 637, Cannon Beach, OR 97110 R E B O OCT & 23 22 Direct donations can be made through US Bank or online: ATS Working Hard for Oregon Families and Businesses Y! ALL DA LIF As your state representative, I will continue to support emergency preparedness programs in the event of natural disasters, as well as pursue business, job and educational opportunities in renewable energy ields. 100 39 TH S TREET #2 A STORIA , O REGON 503.325.6900 TheCoffeeGirl.com All proceeds from Coffee Girl will support Steven Wentworth’s fight against cancer! Bi Ale r I have represented the citizens of House District 32 in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2004. During that time I have consistently supported job growth, business opportunities and workforce training, while protecting the resources that make Oregon and our coastal communities a place we’re proud to call home. FOR State Representative HD 32, Democrat To schedu le an appointm ent call 503-325-1470 C OFFEE G IRL Cancer Awareness Helpful Tips on: • Supporting cancer victims • Supporting families • Decreasing your chances of having cancer