Molalla Pioneer: Candidates answer questions

By: Pioneer Staff

Published: 10/13/2010 3:20:28 PM

Ballots for the Nov. 2 general election will start arriving in voters’ mailboxes later this week.

To help voters make informed decisions, the Molalla Pioneer sent questionnaires to the three candidates for Oregon House District 18 (Molalla, Silverton).Their responses are printed below.

Look next week for a Q and A with candidates for the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners and Molalla City Council, as well as information on Molalla River School District Bond Measure 3-365, which would provide funds to build a new middle school.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 18 candidates:

Rodney E. Orr, MD

Occupation: Family physician for 31 years in Silverton

Political Party: Democrat

Endorsements: Chose not to submit

Website: www.rodneyorr.org

If elected, what will be your top 3 priorities as representative?
Creating new jobs and maintaining jobs that are currently in place by supporting small business economics primarily by creating an environment where operating capital and credit are more available.

Education. Education brings people opportunity and through opportunity people are more likely to succeed.

Affordable health care by reducing the conditions that drive health care costs.

What is your strategy for working with fellow legislators of different political parties?
First of all is recognizing that we have more in common than we have differences; that we need to emphasize that commonality and recognize that our job is to find solutions for all people throughout the district regardless of political affiliation. People’s desires for a job, the ability to put their kids through school, the possibility of a secure retirement and affordable health care are issues of all people regardless of political affiliation. I am a person that is open to new ideas regardless of where they come from and am willing to accept the viewpoints of others, regardless of their political affiliation.

How do you plan to help Oregon balance its budget amidst a struggling economy?
We have heard the calls to cut spending and certainly reduced spending is a major part of the equation, however simply cutting spending is not going to continue to achieve our obligations to those who are poor, disabled, at risk and to education and public safety. We need to find strategies that allow us to spend smarter and achieve the goals that we are trying to achieve more efficiently and effectively. To do this we need to incentivize state agencies to become more efficient and effective and to constantly evaluate whether they’re achieving their goals.

We need to delay plans for the purchase of new equipment, hold off on training, travel and program development until we have additional funds which will support those activities. We need to work hard on reducing the cost of health care, which affects every part of our economy, particularly state budgets, taxes that are used to pay for supplementing health care for indigents and the costs to businesses for increased health care premiums. Reduced health care costs would dramatically improve the economy in this state.

Why should voters choose you to represent them in the Oregon House?
For 31 years I have practiced in this district so I have developed long-term relationships with people who represent the spectrum of families in this district. I see them every single day and listen to their struggles and their challenges. I am connected to these people, who I care a great deal about. I understand them and the issues of their lives. Who better to represent the people in this district than someone who is as connected to them as I am.

I have worked in a service industry for 30 years problem solving every single day. I am a common-sense thinker. I believe my job, as a representative, is to solve problems for people of this district but to do that you have to understand what the problems are. I will work hard to create an economic environment where jobs will expand and businesses will prosper; where agricultural businesses can maintain a sustainable lifestyle, where education is a priority and where affordable healthcare is a possibility.

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Vic Gilliam

Occupation: State Representative, Self-employed

Political Party: Republican

Endorsements: National Federation of Independent Businesses, Oregon Nurseries PAC, Clackamas County Farm Bureau, Marion County Farm Bureau, Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, Oregon Seed Council, Oregon Forest Industries Council, AG-PAC, National Rifle Association of America Inc., Oregon Right to Life, Oregon Police Chiefs for Safer Communities, Oregon Business Association, Taxpayer Association of Oregon, Associated Builders & Contractors, Pacific NW Chapter, Oregon Cattleman’s Association, Oregon State Police Officers Association

Website: www.repvicgilliam.com

If elected, what will be your top 3 priorities as a representative?
One: Our Constitution grants legislators broad authority but only one directive: balance the budget. Why mimic the current federal administration's example of a death spiral of endless debt, bail-outs, tax increases, “stimulus packages” and un-checked spending? Yet that is what Democratic leadership in Oregon has done - copied the fed’s doomed policies.

Two: Realize that government cannot create lasting jobs, but can help create an atmosphere where employers are welcome. Partnerships of trust yield healthy businesses willing to hire or re-hire. If companies are laying-off workers and the economy retracts, why is government hiring and expanding? Can we just continue to lose private jobs and add public jobs?

Three: Face our labor burden. This isn’t a referendum on state workers’ worth – rather it’s a courageous game-changing move to honor public servants with leadership that actually negotiates contracts and faces the impossibility of obligations created by reckless legislators, governors and union bosses. If the public patient is to be saved, there will be pain.

What’s your strategy for working with fellow legislators of differing political parties?
Find ways to laugh. If you don’t at least laugh at a legislature that considers a bill on "the right to dry clothes on a clothesline" and then decides to tax our way out of recession - then you may just end up crying. Find what unites rather than divides – like my hydrogen initiative. This renewable energy source leverages our northwest bounty while creating jobs and has attracted both parties resulting in at least one unanimous vote on the House floor - a rare occurrence.

How do you plan to help Oregon balance its budget amidst a struggling economy?
Ask the Governor and agency directors:

How many consultants were hired last year - at what cost? How many out of state vendors were used - why? How many middle managers are spending over 50% of their time on tasks not directly related to your mission?

Fund education in a session’s first 60 days. Come to grips with the fact the state cannot do everything for everyone but can prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable. Start zero-based budgeting. Repeal 66 and 67. Require state employees to pay a portion of health insurance (49 states do).

Why should voters choose you to represent them in the Oregon House?
I’m unafraid to vote no on out of control spending and taxes. We need folks on both sides of the aisle with common sense who know we have a jobs problem not a revenue problem. Most of all, I provide service in any way I can to the people of this district where real power and the wealth of human riches is vested. They are the hope for the recovery of our state and nation.

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Martin Soehrman

Occupation: Electronic Equipment Sales

Political party: Libertarian

Endorsements: Chose not to submit

Website: www.SoehrmanForOregon.com

If elected, what will be your top three priorities as a representative?
Our schools and our children are probably the most important things, both in our short run and our long run, whether we have our own children or not. Public safety is an important function for government. And, our economy may be among our top priorities, a healthy economy being the most important element affecting anything else that government does. Governments often do have a very significant negative impact on national and local economies and government is usually not equipped to “fix” an economy. Governments must know when to stay away from what it can only destroy. Excessive taxation of individuals and businesses along with unnecessary regulation filters down to increased costs to the public and drives away jobs. A government that doesn't see a problem in picking and choosing which individuals will pay for government and those who will benefit from government will likely destroy an economy leaving few winners.

What's your strategy for working with fellow legislators of differing political parties?
I believe that most of us have more in common than we have differences. Most of us have common ground in what we feel would be important in the good life. Somewhere we must first provide for the common, long term good and consider the costs of supporting too many special short term interests hurting us more than helping us. There can never be any kind of harmony if short term special interests are always the priority.

How do you plan to help Oregon balance its budget amidst a struggling economy?
I as a citizen must realize that government usually can't give anything to me without first taking it away from somebody else. It's not my place as a citizen to decide what should be taken away from somebody else to support my desires. Government should realize that even a majority must be very, very careful when it decides what any minority must give up. To summarize, we must understand that resources are usually limited and we must set priorities realizing that we cannot always do everything that we want to do right now. We must search for and concentrate on the common ground that we have.

Why should voters choose you to represent them in the Oregon House?
People are often drawn into government service in search for the power to make government better serve their personal needs. My priority is finding better ways for government to serve not ME, but a long term US. I believe that government should not try to do what government cannot do. I believe that the people can express their needs in both the wise use of their vote and their economic influence. Their representatives will represent the People. People cannot express their needs with a government that repeatedly tries to counteract these needs from “leaders” who do not know better than the People, their bosses.

Silverton Appeal Tribune: Gilliam hopes to encourage business

The Republican incumbent is seeking a third term in the Oregon House of Representatives.

"This is a very frustrating job and a very rewarding one, and I am willing to go one more time if the folks in District 18 want me to," Gilliam said.

The self-employed, part-time actor lives in Silverton, but also has properties in Seattle, Portland and California.

Among Gilliam's top priorities is balancing the budget.

"If our seniors or state troopers or kids are our first priority, whichever it may be, fund them first," Gilliam said. "And we haven't been doing that. We play political football and hold the greatest things until the end."

Gilliam, 57, said his focus will be on protecting funding for elementary schools, higher education, public safety and human services without raising taxes, but by prioritizing state spending.

As far as priorities statewide, Gilliam said job creation is first.

"People run around saying we've got to create jobs," he said, "and I want to make this clear, I do not believe that government creates any type of sustainable long-term jobs.

"What we can do is help create an environment where private businesses feel like they're not being over-taxed and that they can trust government. We don't have that right now. We have a horrible business climate."

Gilliam said he will also continue to oppose tax increases.

"In fact, I will work to repeal Measure 67," said Gilliam, referring to a measure that raised taxes on corporations. "I think that was a horrible mistake."

Of his accomplishments over the past couple of years, Gilliam listed his efforts toward creating renewable energy policies that are cost-effective and energy efficient.

Hydrogen energy is one example.

"I have had significant hydrogen traction in both sessions," he said.

Gilliam also said he has been a constant voice for the agriculture industry.

"I have every single agricultural endorsement there is to get, and I've worked very hard to listen and fight for agriculture," he said. "It's very important to me."

Gilliam said he is seeking another term because he wants to be part of a team that can "bring spending under control and do something to encourage business, rather than discourage it."

cpallone@salem.gannett.com

Read more: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20101006/COMMUNITIES/10060371/1132/NEWS#ixzz11acon5eg

Our Town: Vic Gilliam: Incumbent targets 'ending-fund' balances

October 2010 Posted in News, People

By Jay Shenai

When he’s not representing the people of Oregon House District 18, or seeking their vote, Vic Gilliam is a part-time actor.

His work is mostly comprised of the kind of roles Portland-area actors can expect, he said, niche, industry-specific training films and voice-overs for local restaurants and car dealerships, but he did once land a bit role on an episode of the TNT television show Leverage.

From his living room couch, feet up on the coffee table, he joked about his unusual career arc.
“I don’t really want to be the governor, I just want to play him on television,” he said.

It’s this sense of humor that is the most defining characteristic of the incumbent Republican, said his friends, colleagues and adversaries alike.

“Anyone who has spent five minutes with Vic sees his sense of humor that most days I can’t keep up with,” said Megan Danilson, coordinator for the Gilliam campaign.

Former Silverton Mayor Ken Hector, a friend of the Gilliam family, agrees. He recalls one particular moment during a previous Legislative session that stands out as a perfect example. While speaking on the House floor, Gilliam moved to formally recognize constituents from Molalla who had come into the chamber’s balcony to witness the proceedings, in a formality that’s known as a “courtesy.” But along with the handful of people in attendance, he also snuck in a shout-out to a rather obscure attendee, named “Y. U. Taxme.”

Not many people caught on to the joke at the time, Hector said.

He’s “one of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” he said.

“Initially that was all I knew about him,” said Brian Clem, Democrat Representative for neighboring District 21, “good floor speeches, very witty.” But since they both began serving in the House in 2007, he has come to respect Gilliam as an informed partner in the Legislative process, he said, and a cordial colleague willing to reach across the aisle.

“I think he’s coming into his own as a legislator,” he said.

He’s “getting to be himself,” Clem said.

Both Clem and Gilliam serve on the House committee for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Communities. In 2009, they co-sponsored the Farm to School bill (HB 2800), which mandates giving reimbursements to school districts that serve local, Oregon-grown foods as part of their breakfast and lunch programs. They also co-sponsored HB 2763, which allows state agencies, in certain circumstances, to choose local suppliers even in the face of cheaper, out-of-state alternatives.

But in case he forgets that Gilliam is political adversary, Clem need only look at HB 3298, a bill he sponsored and Gilliam voted against, which creates environmental protections for 400 square miles of the Metolius River. He said that it’s a source of consternation between the two to this day.

“I’m certain I’m right, he’s certain he’s right,” he said.

As a politician, Gilliam adheres to conservative positions. He is pro-life and anti-gun-control. He doesn’t regularly attend church but he expressed the importance of his faith in policy-making.

“My dad’s a minister, and I went to [more] church services, from the time I was zero to 18, than most people will go in a lifetime,” he said.

And on the campaign trail this season he has come out swinging against restrictions on property rights and excessive government regulation of businesses. In multiple speeches, he has railed against those he calls “extremists,” environmental advocates who he says have locked up the state’s natural resources with litigation and obstruction.

“I believe rural Oregon is going to hurt more than the rest of the state,” he said. “Natural resources have been under siege, property rights have been under siege for a long time in this state.”

Add to that the economic turmoil, and “our area will be one of the last out [of the recession].”

He said the Democratic leadership in Salem is “hell-bent on ruining the economy of this state.”

“Pretty strong, isn’t it?” he said with a chuckle.

A review of his voting record shows a pattern of “no” votes on bills that would affect budgets, taxes and spending; businesses and consumers; and environmental regulation, consistent with his party’s pro-business, limited-government positions.

Specifically, on 24 such bills Gilliam voted “no”: spending bills, various tax increases, budget appropriations, and regulations on workplace meetings, field burning, nutrition-labeling, petition signature-gathering and off-shore oil drilling.

All 24 bills passed, however. As a member of the minority party, “you measure progress in inches, not miles,” Gilliam said.

During this election, he is striving not only to keep his seat, but support and campaign for fellow Republicans across the state, to achieve more balance in the Legislature, he said. Just one more Republican, he said, would remove the ability of Democrats to pass tax measures unilaterally. For the time being, in the minority, he can continue to raise his voice for his district, he said.

Regardless of who comes out on top this election, the winner will face one of the state’s worst crises in ages: a crippling budget deficit projected at $577 million, with the potential to exceed $1 billion by the next biennium, brought on by a recession that has tested the area’s social and economic resilience.

“We haven’t seen a decline in personal wealth like this in decades,” Clem said.

“You go into [Silverton] and you look at all of the empty storefronts,” Hector said.

If re-elected, he will support a restructured, back-to-basics budget, Gilliam said, one that also targets nearly $3 billion in ending-fund balances, the collective leftover money that every state agency has at the end of their fiscal year. The idea was quashed in the last session, but Gilliam is steadfast: Without risking Federal matching grants, every agency can give back something.

“You’re telling me, that when we’re in this kind of a recession, this is the rainy day, that you can’t [give up] 20 percent of that $3 billion to balance the budget?” he asked.

Everyone is going to have to tighten their belts, he said.

“But we can provide basic services and still balance this budget.”

What constitutes “basic services” will be the biggest bone of contention for the next Legislature.

A legislature Gilliam hopes to be on, representing the constituents of District 18.

And one “Y.U. Taxme.”

Vic Gilliam, 57
Hometown: Born in Ohio, lived in Indiana.
Moved to Oregon in 1966

Education: master’s degree in
Higher Education Administration,
University of South Carolina, 1982;
bachelor of arts degree from Warner Pacific College, 1975.

Family: Wife, Becky, married 7 years,
They bring to the family three children from prior marriages.

Job: Representative, Oregon House District 18.
Owns several investment properties and part-time actor.
Former legislative liaison for
Oregon Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, 1976 – 1981.
Former fundraiser for OHSU, Willamette University.

Favorite Music: Blues, particularly John Lee Hooker,
George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Muddy Waters

Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride

Favorite Book: Abraham Lincoln,
Theologian of American Anguish
by David Elton Trueblood

Press Release: FRIENDS OF VIC GILLIAM HOST TOWN HALL ON NORTHWEST HYDROGEN ENERGY

note: change in location

SILVERTON—Friends of Vic Gilliam will host a Town Hall on Hydrogen on Thursday, October 7th at 4 PM. The event will be held at Silverton Inn & Suites at 310 N Water Street in Silverton.

Representative Vic Gilliam and special guest, Jack Robertson, founder of the Northwest Hydrogen Alliance will deliver a presentation on Hydrogen Hubs and what they mean for our energy future, specifically in Oregon.

“Oregon can be a leader in natural and renewable alternatives” says Rep. Gilliam. “We need renewable energy policies that are cost-effective and energy efficient. Hydrogen energy is one example of using Oregon’s unique resources, allowing for the production and storage of this clean-burning fuel.”

Friends of Vic Gilliam invite the community to learn more about this exciting new technology. Rep. Gilliam stated, “I am looking forward to sharing Oregon’s Hydrogen Hub future with the community, as well as my past and future efforts in the Legislature to make this a reality.”

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Molalla Pioneer - House District 18 candidates: Vic Gilliam (Republican)

By: Bethany Monroe

Published: 9/8/2010 10:11:35 AM

Rep. Vic Gilliam (District 18 - Molalla, Silverton) will look to retain his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives in November’s election.

Gilliam, a Silverton resident since 1998 and an Oregonian since 1966, has served in the House since being appointed after the late Rep. Mac Sumner resigned his seat due to a battle with cancer in 2006. After serving Sumner’s term, Gilliam was elected by voters in 2008.

“Dismal” was the word Gilliam, a Republican, used to describe Oregon’s past legislative session.

“While I am proud of my voting record, I am not proud of the legislature and that is largely due to our inability to stop spending,” Gilliam said. “This session was about jobs and we failed miserably.”

When the state economist announced the budget forecast last month, Gilliam said the news of a shortage came as no surprise.

“I knew we were in trouble and when you’re in trouble, you stop spending. And we haven’t done that,” Gilliam said. “We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a jobs problem — let’s get to work on it together.”

From his view, Gilliam said he sees a lot of “rubber-stamping” going on in Salem, especially when it came to accepting the governor’s proposed budget. Gilliam said he earned the reputation of being a “no” voter.

“I have some great colleagues on the Democratic side who honestly believe the only way out of this recession is taxing and I disagree,” Gilliam said.

He said the atmosphere at the state capitol would change dramatically if the House returned to a 30-30 split between Republicans and Democrats, rather than the current Democrat majority.

“I’m about balance and we don’t have it. We need conservatives and we need liberals,” Gilliam said. “I would like to be there for a change. It would be fun to not vote no all the time … I would like to be part of a group that’s effective.”

One place Gilliam said the state could make cuts is in health benefits for state employees.

“We’re the only state in the nation where public employees don’t pay anything on their health premiums,” he said.

While he admitted the “Cadillac plan” was nice — as a member of the legislature, he’s one of the beneficiaries — he said he can’t rationalize continuing it when he knows many constituents in his district cannot afford healthcare.

Gilliam supported a bill to have all state employees begin paying a small portion for their healthcare, but said it never received a hearing.

As an alternative, he encouraged at least the members of the Oregon House and Senate take on a portion of their healthcare expenses, but again, it was not accepted.

Gilliam said that while his fellow legislators were willing to work with him on most issues, when it came to money and budget talk, he feels Republicans in the House were marginalized and their ideas left unheard.

Government spending is one of the biggest complaints Gilliam hears from constituents. He said one constituent — a Democrat employed by the state — gave him multiple examples of bloated bureaucracy.

As he watches jobs in the private sector drop, Gilliam said it is unsustainable to have public employee jobs continue to increase.

Not everything that went on in the past legislative session was negative from Gilliam’s viewpoint. He said one bright spot was that a proclamation he presented for looking at hydrogen hubs as a potential alternative energy source for Oregon passed unanimously in the House.

While he’s not looking to use state money to fund hydrogen energy projects, Gilliam said the state can take steps to make such development more feasible for the private sector.

Ever since his first political job working as a constituent liaison for Senator Mark O. Hatfield, Gilliam said communicating with members of his district and working as their advocate has been one of his favorite parts of being a politician.

“I’m excited to go back if people want me,” he said.

Gilliam said that he and his Democrat opponent, Dr. Rodney Orr, know each other well and even attend the same church.

“He really wants to keep this clean and so do I,” Gilliam said.

GILLIAM’S REVENUE FORECAST: FIX THE JOBS PROBLEM FIRST

REPRESENTATIVE VIC GILLIAM

OREGON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE DISTRICT 18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 26, 2010

CONTACT

Rep. Vic Gilliam 503-960-0128

GILLIAM’S REVENUE FORECAST: FIX THE JOBS PROBLEM FIRST

SALEM—Today’s economic forecast confirmed the gloomy predictions of last week. “We should’ve easily anticipated that today was not going to be encouraging-- economic gurus won’t fuel an Oregon comeback in the near future” Rep. Gilliam said. “Oregon’s 1.1 billion dollar decrease in the General and Lottery Funds since the close of the 2009 Session illustrates our need to stop hinging our budgeting system on these economic forecasts. We need leadership in the executive office and in the legislature that realizes Oregon has a jobs problem-- not a revenue problem” Rep. Gilliam added.

Rep. Gilliam stated that even after the 2009 Legislative Session in which the Legislature increased Oregon’s Total Funds budget by 9.3 percent and raised taxes by $733 million, we saw a 3.7 billion dollar increase in State spending in the 2010 “Special” Session. Rep. Gilliam pointed out that: “The Legislature ‘relies’ on these economic forecasts yet ignores them by refusing to address our spending addiction.”

“With PERS increases looming, federal bailouts evaporating and rampant unemployment showing no sign of recovery, it’s time we acknowledge these forecasts as one source of many useful references, but also heed advice from the private sector about their calls for tax relief and listen to their strategies for re-hiring Oregonians.” Gilliam insists that adding public sector jobs, burdensome regulations and job-killing taxes are not examples of government partnering with private enterprise.

“I’m not one to shoot the messenger” Gilliam concluded, “but, again, the state economist’s predictions are not even as enlightening as the forecasts on the weather channel. We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a jobs problem – let’s get to work on it together.”

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