Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 19, 2016 3A
Swartzendruber challenges Boquist for Senate seat
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — Both candi-
dates for Oregon Senate Dis-
trict 12 want to be a voice for
rural Oregon.
Incumbent Sen. Brian Bo-
quist is running for a third
term.
He believes the Legisla-
ture will be faced with nu-
merous challenges, includ-
ing the failure — or pas-
sage — of Measure 97, re-
forms to the state’s new
minimum wage law, in-
creasing cost of health care
and the lack of a solution to
the state’s transportation
woes.
Boquist, a Republican in a
majority Democrat Senate,
said he will use the lessons
he’s learned over his first two
terms about cooperation
and negotiation to work on
behalf of his constituents
and the state.
“In the Senate, we have a
little bit different approach,”
he said. “That’s trying to be a
little more congenial and
talk to our colleagues across
the aisle. Just saying ‘no’
doesn’t work.”
Challenger Ross
Swartzendruber, a Democ-
rat, said he can accomplish
the same by being a unique
voice within the majority
party.
“One of the main reasons
I’m running is to get a rural
voice back into the urban
Democrat Senate majority,”
he said, adding he doesn’t
believe urban legislators
have heard enough about
what is happening in rural
Oregon. “I’m really interest-
ed in telling these people
and persuading them, we re-
ally have the true spirit of
Oregon out here, and we
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CORRECTIONS
Senate District 12
NAME: Brian J. Boquist, 58, of Dallas (Republican, incum-
bent)
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Self-employed.
EDUCATION: Tillamook High School, 1976; Western Ore-
gon University, BS, 1985; Oregon State University, MBA, 1989.
PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT SERVICE: 2005 to 2016, State
Senator & State Representative, Oregon’s 12th Senate District;
1975 to 2011, LTC (Ret), Special Forces, U.S.
Army; 1987 to 1989, Program Coordinator,
GRA, Oregon State System of Higher Educa-
tion; 1983 to 1985, President, Business
Manager, ASWOSC, Western Oregon State
College.
CAMPAIGN PHONE NUMBER: 502-623-
4426
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: Facebook page
Brian Boquist
Boquist
HOW LONG HAVE YOU RESIDED IN THE
AREA YOU WILL REPRESENT: More than 20 years.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE? Unfinished work
in the legislature. The state remains unprepared for natural
and terrorist emergencies. Veterans programs remain under-
funded, but Measure 96 would be a fix. State government still
represses small businesses. Measure 97, passage or failure will
impact Oregonians in billions of higher taxes or billions of
budget cuts.
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?
Passage or failure of Measure 97, coupled with the pending
market corrections impacting the state budget. Either the cit-
izens want to increase overall taxes and spending by $6 bil-
lion or not. M97, if passed, will have to be completely re-writ-
ten by the Legislature. If it fails, then the Legislature needs to
reduce spending to meet federal ACA laws. With a market cor-
rection, this may be like 2009 when I voted for a budget that
was cut by nearly $5 billion. Not a reduction, but real dollar
cuts. This issue will impact health care costs, education, trans-
portation, and even environmental regulation.
,have something that they
could never have, and they
need to respect that.”
Swartzendruber said he
also will be watching the
outcome of Measure 97, a
bill that would create a gross
sales tax on corporations
with annual sales of more
than $25 million.
He supports the measure,
which is estimated to bring
in more than $6 billion in
Itemizer-Observer staff report
POLK COUNTY — Ballots
for the Nov. 8 general elec-
tion will be mailed out
Thursday. All ballots must
be turned in by 8 p.m. on
Nov. 8 — postmarks will not
be accepted.
With so many offices and
candidates on the ballot, the
Itemizer-Observer could not
print them all in the paper.
PORTLAND — Do you want to keep your farm or ranch in agri-
culture for future generations? Do you want to protect your agri-
cultural land from future development?
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Oregon of-
fers easement programs to help private landowners, state and
local governments, Indian tribes, and nonprofit groups protect
Oregon’s working agricultural lands and wetlands for future gen-
erations.
NRCS is accepting applications for the new Agricultural Conser-
vation Easements Program (ACEP).
Applications must be submitted by Nov. 18 to be considered in
the first batch of applications for Fiscal Year 2017 funding. For
more information: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov.
muninty Library, 111 N.
Main St., Falls City. Monday
(closed), Tuesday through
Thursday, noon to 4 p.m.,
Friday and Saturday
(closed), Sunday, 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. Election Day, noon to
8 p.m.
• Grand Ronde Gover-
nance Center, Building G,
9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde. Monday
through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. Election Day, 7:30
a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Independence City Hall,
555 S. Main St., Independ-
ence. 24-hour drop site in
front lobby.
• Monmouth Public Li-
brary, 168 Ecols St. S., Mon-
mouth. Tuesday through
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat-
urday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Election Day, 10 a.m. to 8
p.m.
• Western Oregon Univer-
sity, Werner University Cen-
ter, 345 N. Monmouth Ave.
Monday through Friday, 8
a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. Election Day,
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• West Salem Roth’s Mar-
ket, 1130 Wallace Road NW.,
Salem. Sunday through Sat-
urday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Elec-
tion Day, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Ballots may be mailed
into the Polk County Clerk’s
office, or dropped off in any
of these locations:
• Polk County Court-
house, 850 Main St., Dallas.
Monday through Friday, 8
a.m. to 5 p.m., closed from
noon to 1 p.m. Election Day,
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 24-hour
drop site located on the east
side of the courthouse.
• Falls Ctiy Wagner Com-
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the gross sales tax will sim-
ply be passed down, increas-
ing the cost of goods and
services.
He said the passage of
Measure 97 would prevent
the Legislature from negoti-
ating reforms to programs to
reduce costs because it will
be depending on what he
calls “mythical money.”
“Then the corporations
switch to benefit corpora-
Apply now for agricultural easements
WEBSITE
HIGH LOW
added. If it fails, we’ll have to
sort through the next budget
shortfall.”
Boquist said that may
happen regardless of the
outcome due to an excep-
tion written into the bill that
exempts companies that file
as a “benefit corporations.”
He said most of the targeted
businesses could become
benefit corporations.
Furthermore, Boquist said
Look for ballots in the mail this week
The Polk County Itemizer-
Observer is committed to pub-
lishing accurate news, feature
and sports reports. If you see
anything that requires a cor-
rection or clarification, call the
newsroom at 503-623-2373 or
send an email to
ementzer@polkio.com.
RECORDED
revenue.
Swartzendruber said the
measure levels the playing
field between large corpora-
tions and local small- and
mid-sized businesses.
“This measure is the re-
sult of the inaction by the
legislature to address major
tax reform since Measure 5,”
he said. “On passage, many
adjustments will be neces-
sary and accountability
—
NAME: Ross Swartzendruber, 52 of West Salem (Democrat)
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Self-employed 1997 to present.
EDUCATION: Amity High School, 1982; Chemeketa Com-
munity College; Oregon State University; Boston University BA
in biology, 1988.
PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT SERVICE: State Superintendent
of Public Instruction Student Advisory Committee Member
1981-82
CAMPAIGN PHONE NUMBER: 503-364-1403.
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: friendsofross.org
HOW LONG HAVE YOU RESIDED IN
THE AREA YOU WILL REPRESENT: 52
years.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OF-
FICE? Rural Oregon deserves a stronger
voice in the Oregon Senate. We have
solutions to address affordable housing,
health care and energy challenges that
face all Oregonians. As State Senator, I
will work to restore equality for rural cit-
Swartzendruber izens and establish new markets in our
district.
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?
The United States of America is under siege by billionaires
that want to be our kings and queens. Their assault on the
middle class uses our own tax money to break down commu-
nities and stifle our economy. Stopping this threat is the
biggest single issue facing all of us and history will be our
guide.
Polk County is taking the brunt of the unequal treatment in
education, health care and affordable housing. As State Sena-
tor, I will work to grow the middle class with new markets in
rural tourism, renewable energy and land development.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WISH TO NOTE ABOUT THE POSI-
TION YOU ARE SEEKING?
The Oregon State Senate is the first line of defense against
corporate buccaneers and small and mid-size businesses the
last. As State Senator, I will work to support both in growing
the middle class.
tions or leave,” he said. “The
Legislature will then have to
go back and cut the $6.2 bil-
lion as the actual tax rev-
enue that did not happen.”
Both candidates would
like to see education re-
forms, including a focus on
providing career and techni-
cal education (CTE) oppor-
tunities.
Swartzendruber said he
would like schools to move
away from standardized
tests and proficiency grad-
ing systems, both of which
h e b e l i e v e s a re b e i n g
pushed by corporate inter-
ests.
“As state senator, I will
work to return education to
teachers in the classroom,”
he said. “I will work to return
vocational education onsite
in high school and reduce
cost for community and
state higher education.”
Boquist said emphasis on
is part of his economic de-
velopment strategy, along
with helping local small
business expand, reducing
red tape on land use, and re-
solving water access issues.
The minimum wage will
be a focus as well.
“We need to repair the
three-tier minimum wage
passed in February,” he said.
“It was passed to keep it off
the ballot, and is on the
table to fix in 2017.”
Swartzendruber’s eco-
nomic development efforts
would focus on tourism, re-
newable energy and afford-
able housing, including zon-
ing for “tiny homes” and
multi-family units.
“I will work to create a re-
gional tourism policy for
District 12 where county
seats share best practices
and create a network of rural
hospitality zones,” he said.
$65 per household
within city limits
$75 per household
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Rain through Oct. 17 — 32.09in.
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