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Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 21, 2016 Thompson challenges Nearman for HD 23 By Jolene Guzman House District 23 The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — The race for Oregon House District 23 is a rematch between incum- bent Republican Rep. Mike Nearman and the man he unseated in a primary elec- tion two years ago, Inde- pendent Jim Thompson. In May 2014, Nearman defeated Thompson in the Republican primary and won the seat in November in a race against Democrat Wanda Davis. He is seeking his second term in the Oregon House of Representatives. Thompson would like to regain the seat he held from 2008 to 2014. Nearman did not respond to a request for an interview for this story, nor did he re- turn the questionnaire sent to both candidates in this race. A lifelong Republican, Thompson said running as an Independent does not change his views or stands on any issue. He said he considers himself a “moder- ate Republican.” He said he was encour- aged to run by constituents in the district. “Initially I wasn’t planning on it, but we were contacted by a number of local busi- nessmen and ag people that didn’t feel that Mr. Nearman was doing what he said he was going to be doing,” he said. “I said OK, we will try it one more time.” Thompson said he thinks the top issues in the upcom- ing legislative session will be economic development, ed- ucation and health care. He said there were some successes in the state’s at- Who: Jim Thompson, Independence, of Dallas Age: 69 Current employment: Prescription Drug low Cost Task Force/ Retired Education: Taft High School, Bachelor of Science from Western Ore- gon University Previous government experience: monmouth City Council (1980-85), Polk County Fire District No. 1 (1985-1994), State Representative (2004, 2008-2014) Campaign phone: 971- 259-3049 Thompson Campaign website: www.jimforhouse.com Why are you running for office? This is one way I can serve my community and utilize skills I developed over the years in corporate management. I especially enjoy serving con- stituents and helping them solve problems. I have many years’ experience in health care policy and management that are useful in pursuing solutions to current issues. What is the biggest single issue facing the U.S., the state of Oregon, and, more specifically, Polk County? How would you address it if elected? There is no single issue. We need to address our sagging high school graduation rates; upgrade our trans- portation infrastructure to support economic development; and provide better health care at lower cost for more people. We need economic development to cre- ate jobs and a plan to encourage increased tourism to support our growing wine indus- try and communities. We need to pull the legislature back to- ward the center and focus on moving the state forward instead of political in-fighting and division. most of our local and regional problems are symptoms of a lack of planning and uni- fied vision at the state level. tempt at health care reform, noting the achievements of “coordinated care organiza- tions.” “The CCOs we set up are doing, in most cases, a won- Anything else you wish to note about the position you are seeking? I have been a Republican for most of my life. However, I have always been able to work with others who I disagree with to work toward a common goal. The partisan bicker- ing and name calling needs to stop. Oregon needs representation in Salem, that is willing to come together to solve the issues Oregon is facing. Within the legislature, I am well re- spected among both Republicans and De- mocrats for my ability to work together on issue we need to address. Who: mike Nearman Current employment: State Representa- tive; software engineer Previous government experience: State Representative; Central School District Budg- et committee Campaign website: http://www.near- man4oregon.org/ Of note: Last week we emailed Nearman our election questionnaire and a request for an interview to his campaign email ad- dress. We didn’t receive a response. We also made a call Fri- day to Polk County Repub- lican Party Chairman Alan Minton who said he would ask, but doubted Nearman would respond to our requests. A subsequent call invit- Nearman ing Nearman to return the questionnaire and answer questions about the race was not returned by press time. To find out more about Nearman’s campaign and his stances on issues facing our state and District 23, see his campaign website: http://www.nearman4oregon.org/. His legislative website is https://www.ore- gonlegislature.gov/nearman. Nearman and Thompson also will appear at a debate on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Polk County Fairgrounds & Event Center in Rick- reall. derful job of getting the peo- ple covered that we set out to cover,” he said. He would like to see more economic development in- vestment in the transporta- tion system and rural Oregon. Places like Beaverton and Hillsboro have been the tar- get of much of the invest- ment, Thompson said. That needs to change, in Would apply to recreational pot By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer his opinion. “They are booming, but I don’t think anybody would look at Polk County and say, wow, they’re booming,” he said. “We’ve got opportuni- ties. We have property avail- able. Workforce develop- ment is an issue, but we can bring in workforce.” In education, Thompson said the state needs im- proved graduation rates, which are currently toward the bottom of the list na- tionally. He said the approach thus far has been backward. “We get hung up on how we would like it to be, but we don’t get hung up on where we are right now. That’s the starting point,” he said. He said investing more money won’t achieve the same results as first diagnos- ing the problems facing schools. He noted those could vary by community. He said one of the most im- portant perspectives he would like to take to the House is a sense of cooperation. “We are at a time that we need to do some bold things,” he said. “There has to be bipartisan consensus to make it happen.” Corsages & Woman dies after rollover crash on Highway 22, milepost 14 Boutonnieres vealed a 2001 Volkswagen scene. Her name will be re- 15% Pre-order Discount When you mention this ad. Order now! Heartstrings Florist & Artisans 503-831-1410 • 137 SW Court St, Dallas www.heartstringsonline.net Itemizer-Observer staff report POlK COUNTy — On Satur- day at about 10 p.m., Oregon State Police troopers and emer- gency personnel responded to the report of single-vehicle crash on Highway 22 near mile- post 14, just west of the High- way 99W interchange, accord- ing to a report by OSP. Preliminary investigation re- Jetta was traveling westbound on Highway 22 near milepost 14 when it drifted into the cen- ter median, rolled over and came to rest on its passenger side on the south side of the highway. The driver, a 49-year-old woman from Keizer, was pro- nounced deceased at the Voters will decide on 3 percent sales tax leased pending her family being notified, the OSP report stated. OSP was assisted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Dallas Police Department, Polk Coun- ty Fire and the Oregon Depart- ment of Transportation. This is an ongoing investiga- tion. MONMOUTH/INDE- PENDENCE — The cities of Monmouth and Inde- pendence have both put a measure on the November ballot regarding recre- ational marijuana sales tax. If voters approve, a 3 percent sales tax will be collected by the state on recreational marijuana sales and go to the cities’ respective general funds, which are used to pay for law enforcement. “The voters have to say yes,” Monmouth City Manager Scott McClure said. “This isn’t one where the council, on its own, could pass an ordinance putting in a new tax. As per state law, it has to go to the people.” So far, there are two shops where someone can purchase recreational marijuana in Independ- ence. Both started as medical dispensaries, and both began selling recreational pot when the Oregon Liquor Control Commis- sion allowed it on Oct. 1, 2015. Right now, a 25 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana is collected. By the end of the year, the OLCC will have separate licenses for medical and recreational cannabis. State sales taxes on recre- ational pot will go to 17 percent. If voters approve the additional tax, it would be on top of the 17 percent. Visit us online at www.polkio.com EXCLUSIVE HISTORICAL PIECE! When the nation is at war. Life on the Front during WWII was a significant part of the war effort for all Americans— EVEN IN POLK COUNTY It had a major impact on the outcome of the war. Advertise in this unique Historical Special Section! Publishes just before Veteran’s Day! November 9th, 2016 All ads include full color! * Inserted into the Itemizer-Observer and distributed through Polk County Museum and various businesses! Deadline to reserve is Oct. 21st 1/8 page $80 1/4 page $150 503-623-2373 • www.polkio.com 1/2 page $290 Heidi, ext. 115 • Rachel, ext. 110 Full page $450 Itemizer-Observer Karen, ext. 118
