Issues Facing Oregon

Overview of the big issues facing Oregon

Lack of leadership: Failing to solve our States biggest problems (see below). Failing to deliver solutions to problems that have timetables, goals, objectives, benchmarks, accountability, and transparency.

Out of control crime & lawlessness in the Portland area that is spreading to other parts of Oregon.

Rampant homelessness and campers on our streets and neighborhoods that are unsanitary, garbage filled, unsightly and becoming a base of rampant drug use.

Growing drug use and crime and the unintended consequences of passing Ballot Measure 110 (legalizing heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamines, and others). Measure 110 needs to go back on the ballot and have Oregonian’s judge for themselves the unintended consequences of measure 110, including increasing drug use, crime, homeless and attracting out of state drug abusers.

Tax and spend policies with automatic budgetary increases. These budgetary policies and their automatic increases in expenditures come with little to no accountability for current or future spending. Throwing money and clichés at problems, with little or no evaluation or accountability on how the money is spent, has to stop.

Burdening small business with more regulations, taxes, and hurdles that disincentives Oregonians from expanding or starting new business in Oregon.

Seeking and achieving excellence in our public schools by empowering parents, supporting teachers, and providing school choice and options, including charter schools, home schooling and a voucher program to help lower income parents.

A Governor who understands rural Oregonians and the problems and challenges they face in their communities. Being a Governor for ALL OF OREGON — recognizing differences, fixing problems, finding solutions, and improving the lives of ALL Oregonians is one of my highest priorities.

SPECIFIC ISSUES AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS

Crime

Crime is increasing in many parts of our state making our neighborhoods and communities less safe. In Portland, crime is rampant, lawlessness and riots have become common occurrences. Moreover, the Governor has let out hundreds of felons from prisons and the problem will no doubt get worse. My solutions are as follows:

Stop felons from being released early from state prisons. Cancel previous executive orders. Replace the parole board and other criminal justice advisory councils that report directly or indirectly to the Governor.
Hire additional State Police officers to enforce our laws and assist other law enforcement agencies in time of need.
Provide supplemental funding for police in communities that need it.
Augment funding to County jails so those committing serious crimes and sentenced to jail will be locked up to keep communities safe.
Work with DAs to assure that those committing crimes and being arrested are being prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Offer proven programs that work to reduce recidivism and to ensure the offenders getting out are being monitored and receiving the services, jobs and “tough love” needed so they don’t become repeat criminals.
Provide increased mental health programs and drug programs to the chronically ill and addicted so that they may have a chance at recovery to lead a normal life

Homelessness

The Homeless / campers / people sleeping on our streets, parks, highways, and neighborhoods is a Statewide problem and has to stop now.

Homelessness is a multifaceted problem. There are no easy answers, but there are answers. Allowing the homeless / campers, etc., to live on the street in squalor, is not being kind / compassionate or understanding — and is NOT part of an answer.

The homeless deserve better. At the very least, a temporary roof over their heads, bathrooms and some health and mental health services. Allowing the homeless to live on our streets is allowing one big problem, to create MANY Bigger problems. Unsanitary conditions, diseases, pestilence, ruining our public thoroughfares, public gathering places, small businesses and turning our clean and pristine city and town environments into third world looking landscapes. Homeless camping on our city streets cannot be tolerated. Again, it must stop.

What would I do?

Short-term solution:

Immediately implement a solution that gets the homeless off the streets, parks, etc. immediately.
Established on State lands or privately held leased lands, shelters that mirror shelters that are established in time of emergency, floods, hurricanes, tornados, or other disasters. These temporary transitory homeless camps with military style quality tented transitory barracks, with portable bathrooms, storage areas, food facilities, medical tent, security services, will include lounge areas, pet areas and outdoor camping areas for pre-approved tents, shelters or camping trailers/motor homes. Estimate camps can range from 100 to 500 resident capacity.
Provide portable office space for county and city services, including, urgent care services, mental health services, transition services and job services –

Long-term Solution:

Assemble a group task force of 8-10 experts on homeless solutions that will establish a long-term plan– with goals, objectives, a budget, timetable, milestones, with evaluation/accountability oversight —-and charge them with the responsibility of determining the long-term solution.

Accountability:

Accountability for all funds spent, goals / objectives met, and problems solved must be the cornerstone of any “homeless” rescue plan. How was the money spent? How many homeless people were helped off the street? How many went to mental health facilities? How many made it to permanent housing? These are some of the key questions that must be answered and part of the plan. We must have measurements and accountability for all the tax dollars spent. Coordinating county governments’ homeless spending, with the city governments and Metro — as well grants and federal assistance must be taken into consideration before additional State dollars can be spent.

Repealing Ballot Measure 110

Ballot Measure 110 legalized the widespread use of heroin, methamphetamines, and other dangerous addictive drugs. Measure 110 needs to go back on the ballot and have Oregonian’s judge for themselves the unintended consequences of measure 110, including increasing drug use, addiction, crime, homeless and attracting out of state drug abusers.

Second Amendment

I fully support the 2nd Amendment and oppose any measures that impinge on the people’s right to keep and bear arms. In my Oregon Legislative career, I have always been supported by the NRA.

Right To Life

I am pro-life, always have been. My Catholic faith guided me in my early years, my personal experience has taken over in my later years. I have been endorsed by Oregon Right to Life.

Education

Oregon’s schools are failing all our children. Oregon’s graduation rates are some of the lowest in the country. School standards are slipping. Politics and political agendas are taking precedence. Oregon needs school excellence—which means focusing on excellence, recruiting the best teachers, paying them well, teaching core subjects and all schools competing for kids. This means school choice, vouchers, more charter schools, home schooling support and remote learning for ALL CHILDREN.

Taxes and Spend Policies

Reduce state spending. Reevaluate overall agency spending. Stop the automatic budget increases without sound, solid evidence that increased spending is a necessity. As part of the process of proposing a new budget, demand an accounting on the existing budget and how it was spent.

Stop sneaking tax increases and user fees on the public, like the new car sales taxes.

Rural Oregon

Our current politicians seem to think that Portland is the center of the universe and that the rest of Oregon doesn’t exist. This lack of understanding of the differences around our State is creating divisions. We all need to realize, especially our elected leaders, that Southern Oregon, Coastal Oregon, Central Oregon, and Eastern Oregon— and all the parts in-between —- have their own needs, wants, problems and solutions. Our state government must serve ALL OREGONIANS. We are one State and one Team. A problem in Fossil, Oregon, Brookings, Klamath falls or Joseph, Oregon —- is and should be a problem —for ALL OF US.

As Governor, I would pledge to set up office, for two weeks at a time, in 4 different geographical areas in Oregon —each year. That way, I would experience FIRSTHAND, the needs, wants problems and challenges of all Oregonians. And all Oregonians would have a chance to interact with the Governor.

Helping Small Business and Increasing Economic Growth

Stop increasing taxes on Oregon’s small and large businesses.
Reduce mindless regulation that unnecessarily strangles small business, such as new construction mandates and nonsensical regulatory rules. Streamline the new building permit process, so small, medium, and LARGE businesses can grow and expand without needless delay and unnecessary expense.

Wildfire Solutions

Manage state forests for the benefit of all Oregonians. This starts with creating and logging fire breaks, removing fuel from the forest floor, thinning forests and building roads for access. Moreover, do everything possible to stop wildfires once they start, including:

Utilize predictive software to predict where fires might start;
Pre-position equipment and manpower and forward deploy them to places fires are likely to start;
Contract with fire-fighting planes and helicopters and forward deploy them so they are standing ready to jump on fires as soon as they start.
Listen to all groups impacted by wildfires and the use and management of our State Forests— especially the privately owned forests, to coordinate actions and preventive measures.

Reducing Traffic in the Metro Area

Study the existing traffic numbers, reports and studies and look for opportunities to expand road capacity by adding more lanes. For instance, I-205 north from I-5 to Oregon City and beyond. There are many opportunities.
Expedite the five -six targeted road expansion projects that will reduce traffic the most.
Stop any consideration of toll roads or bridge tolls. No Congestion pricing.
Yes, on HOV lanes

OTHER ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE STATE

My approach to solving other major issues not mentioned above is as follows:

Each Problem first needs to be defined, outlined, and accepted as an issue that needs a resolution. Next, set forth an action plan with realistic objectives and goals to solve the problem with a set strategy, actionable items, and a timeline for implementation. Finally, create an oversight / executive group to monitor progress, constantly evaluating, pushing for results, and producing an update on a quarterly basis that is published and made available to the public.