November 2022 Candidates: State Representative, Districts 41,42,43,44,45

Listed below are candidates for Oregon State Representative who are running in Multnomah County in the 2022 General Election. The candidates for the same legislative district were asked the same questions, so you can compare their answers.  Candidates for State Representative District 41 were asked questions composed by the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The candidates for State Representative Districts 42, 43, 44  and 45 were asked different questions composed by the League of Women Voters of Portland. (In video interviews, candidates were asked as many questions as time allowed.)

Most of the information below is copied from the VOTE411 website of the League of Women Voters of the United States. Candidates have until Election Day to add their information to this website. Another way to easily compare  candidates running for the same position is to visit VOTE411.org. On this webpage and on Vote411, links to LWV videos of candidate interviews are provided, when these are available.

Oregon State Representative, 41st  District – Candidate Information

Mark F. Gamba, Democrat, Independent, Working Families
Campaign Phone (public): 971-236-2689
Town: Milwaukie, OR
Experience/Qualifications: 10 years: on Milwaukie City Council, 7 as Mayor
Campaign Twitter Handle: @@mark_gamba
Rob Reynolds, Republican
Town: Milwaukie
Experience/Qualifications: Business Development Manager

Candidates’ Answers to LWV Questions

1. Describe what you see as the two most pressing issues for the next legislative session. What legislation would you propose to address these issues?

Mark F Gamba: Climate change and houselessness. Transportation and buildings are the top two sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. There will be legislation on both fronts in 2023; whether the bills come from me or another legislator, I will push hard to pass them into law.

On houselessness, we have to attack the root cause from both ends: wages have stagnated for decades and we are not building nearly enough homes. I’ll work to increase the minimum wage and fund more affordable housing.

Rob Reynolds: Tolls and public safety. Amend the bill that started this tolling mess. Provide more money for state police officers. Make sure that the laws are being enforced.

2. What should the Legislature do to improve the quality of Oregon’s K-12 public schools?

Mark F Gamba: It’s not just about class sizes. When I talk to teachers in my district they tell me our mental and behavioral health supports are woefully inadequate. Even a single child who requires extra care in order to thrive can derail an entire classroom if their needs are not met. The legislature should require full-time behavioral health practitioners at each school, for starters. Also, starting teachers’ salaries need to be increased in order to inspire and retain new teachers.

Rob Reynolds: Make sure CRT is not in any of the curriculum. School choice, have the money to follow the student.

3. What state action will you take to implement the limits on campaign contributions and expenditures that Oregon voters approved in 2020?

Mark F Gamba: I have advocated loudly for years about the need for real campaign finance limits. I am also actively refusing all contributions from the pharmaceutical, fossil fuel, insurance, and other destructive industries for similar reasons. Wealthy individuals and corporations can literally spend unlimited sums on Oregon campaigns right now and this irrefutably gives them more influence than regular people. I am deeply committed to changing this in 2023.

Rob Reynolds: stop unions and pac’s from donating some much money to campaigns.


Oregon State Representative, 42nd  District – Candidate Information

Shira Newman, Libertarian
Town: Portland
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/eBzMo5JwMHg
Rob Nosse, Democrat
Campaign Phone (public): 971-235-9342
Town: Portland
Experience/Qualifications: Have served in the role since 2014
Scott Trahan, Republican

Scott Trahan has not yet answered the questions on VOTE411. He did submit a statement for the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet, which is printed on page 47. We cannot find a campaign website for him.

Candidates’ Answers to LWV Questions

1. Do you support or oppose the gun safety measure (Measure 114) on the November ballot? Please explain your answer.

Shira Newman: I do not support the measure. It is very vague and we already have laws in place regarding gun violence. There is little information or evidence that this would change anything.

Rob Nosse: I strongly support this measure. I support all the State wide Ballot Measures on the ballot.

Scott Trahan: Candidate has not yet responded.

2. What steps, if any, should the legislature take to address the climate emergency and its impacts on Oregonians?

Shira Newman: We should be looking at all the information available to us. The idea that we should be electrictrifying the entire state is not a good plan. We do not have the ability to do this — it won’t be quite as bad as what California is experiencing but it won’t be good.

Rob Nosse: We should focus on getting the transportation sector to transition to electric vehicles and having the power and grid infrastructure we need to make it work as the transportation sector — all of us driving, is the hardest part of this crisis to get our arms around.

Scott Trahan: Candidate has not yet responded.

3. What more could Oregon do to help people move into safe and stable housing?

Shira Newman: Make building so much easier. Get rid of so many rules and regulations that aren’t allowing buildings to be built. Get rid of so many rules and regulations that are pushing small business people (landlords who only may own a few properties) out of the business. Stop using the strong arm of government to force people with resources into a box. We are so far from where we should be with growth because it is so difficult to build.

Rob Nosse: We have so much to do. Minimally, we have to find funding to help people who are rent burdened, and we need to find ways to incent developers to build more housing particularly apartments, condos, and duplexes and triplexes.

Scott Trahan: Candidate has not yet responded.


Oregon State Representative, 43rd  District – Candidate Information

Tim LeMaster, Republican
Town: Portland
Experience/Qualifications: USMC Officer Retired 21 years
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/y8DSjXgCy3M
Campaign Twitter Handle: @TimforOregon
Tawna Sanchez, Democrat
Town:  Portland
Experience/Qualifications: Elected in 2016 served as Chair of Human Services, Judiciary, and Behavioral Health and currently Co-Chair of Ways and Means
Campaign Twitter Handle: @RepTawnaSanchez

Candidates’ Answers to LWV Questions

1. Do you support or oppose the gun safety measure (Measure 114) on the November ballot? Please explain your answer.

Tim LeMaster: The Portland police are extremely understaffed to the point they only respond to the most serious crimes. Required gun classes simply won’t happen due to police staffing priorities. I joined the National African American Gun Association in 2018. I believe communities most at risk to street violence are most in need of self-defense rights. Measure 114 will restrict the Black community, those most exposed to the record violence, from protecting themselves, their families and their property.

Tawna Sanchez: Absolutely support this measure

2. What steps, if any, should the legislature take to address the climate emergency and its impacts on Oregonians?

Tim LeMaster: Legislation shifting Oregon to a carbon free society that does not include nuclear energy, such as thorium, as an option is not a serious alternative energy proposal.

Green mandates have significant consequences to low-income people who have difficulty paying for compliance and maintenance costs.

Corporations directly profiting by selling electric commodities such as charging stations, vehicles, and even the electricity should absorb most, if not all, the cost of building new infrastructure.

Tawna Sanchez: Enact laws that require carbon reduction, clean energy transportation, and sustainable land use practices beyond current requirements.

3. What more could Oregon do to help people move into safe and stable housing?

Tim LeMaster: Oregon voters passed Measure 110 two years ago essentially decriminalizing all illicit drug use. This new law has magnified Oregon’s homeless problem. To ensure those who are transitioned to stable housing are safe we must focus funding toward organizations who provide individually tailored full-service support to get people off the streets and recovered.

Locally we spend over $2700 per homeless person a month.

The problem isn’t lack of money. The problem is bad processes.

Tawna Sanchez: Invest in building more housing that can be affordable for lower income Oregonians.


Oregon State Representative, 44th  District – Candidate Information

Morgan Hinthorne, Constitution

Morgan Hinthorne has not yet answered the VOTE411 questions and chose not to submit an Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet statement. We cannot find a campaign website for him. Information about the Constitution Party: https://constitutionpartyoregon.net/

Travis Nelson, Democrat, Working Families

Travis Nelson has not yet answered the VOTE411 questions. However, he did submit a statement which is printed on page 49 of the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet. His website is https://www.nelsonfororegon.com. He Is currently the State Representative for District 44: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson

Roth Schuler, Republican
Campaign Phone (public): 503-278-4595
Town: Portland OR
Experience/Qualifications: PCP, Bonus Deleate to Platform Convention, resident of Portland Oregon

Candidates’ Answers to LWV Questions

1. Do you support or oppose the gun safety measure (Measure 114) on the November ballot? Please explain your answer.

Morgan Hinthorne: Candidate has not yet responded.


Travis Nelson: Candidate has not yet responded.


Rolf Schuler: I oppose measure 114. This measure transforms the constitutional right to own into a privilege. It only adds further regulation for responsible law-abiding citizens. The gun problems we face are not from law-abiding citizens, but from criminals who have no regard for the law. Measure 114 will have no impact on criminals.

2. What steps, if any, should the legislature take to address the climate emergency and its impacts on Oregonians?

Morgan Hinthorne: Candidate has not yet responded.


Travis Nelson: Candidate has not yet responded.

Rolf Schuler: While many the “green” policies we’ve implemented so far sound good, when we take a hard look at the facts, they are economically and logistically unsustainable, and do little if anything to actually solve the problem. Let’s follow actual science rather than political agenda.

3. What more could Oregon do to help people move into safe and stable housing?

Morgan Hinthorne: Candidate has not yet responded.

Travis Nelson: Candidate has not yet responded.

Rolf Schuler: First off, we need to lower taxes and bring inflation under control. Secondly, we need to stop government handouts that cause people to become dependent on government. Also, we need to enable NGO’s to render assistance to those persons who are seeking to improve their situation. NGO’s’ are typically more effective than government bureaucracies.

Oregon State Representative, 45th  District – Candidate Information

George Donnerberg, Republican
Campaign Phone (public): 503-206-6795
Town: Portland, OR
Experience/Qualifications:Elected to the Board of Supervisors for the Multnomah County Drainage District, three terms. Self-employed real estate appraiser, consultant, and developer for four decades before retiring in 2021. Go-to authority working with dozens of government bureaus and agencies to provide private and public land values for roads, federal highways, and other infrastructure.
Thuy Tran, Democrat, Independent
Town: Portland
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/eUAdDV237fU

Candidates’ Answers to LWV Questions

1. Do you support or oppose the gun safety measure (Measure 114) on the November ballot? Please explain your answer.

George Donnerberg: It is more than time for conversation relative to the regulation of high-capacity assault-type weapons. Measure 114 is well-intentioned, but it goes well beyond addressing such weapons. The measure will require that even the most seasoned gun owners (including military veterans) be obligated to attend classes in gun safety. Oregon already requires criminal background checks. As written, Measure 14 will just create additional expenses, more bureaucracy & added burdens on law-abiding owners.

Thuy Tran: Yes, I support M114. I will take steps to separate a person in crisis from a firearm with time and space. 1. To prevent suicide, purchasing a hand gun or a semiautomatic longarm will need training in conflict deescalation, suicide awareness/prevention training 2. To safeguard children and victims of intimate partner violence with safe housing, requiring abuser to seek anger management, abuser prevention 3. A reporting system to report person who have manifestos and mass shooting ideation.

2. What steps, if any, should the legislature take to address the climate emergency and its impacts on Oregonians?

George Donnerberg: Our climate emergency is a global problem. The effects of climate change are obvious. However, we must move with caution in implementing local legislation which places Oregon’s producers in a non-competitive position. By doing so, many businesses will resort to manufacturing overseas in countries that lack environmental restrictions. We end up exporting our pollution, merely shifting the problem. Our legislature must support global solutions like fire-safe forests and flood protection.


Thuy Tran: The Legislature should support 1. Transportation projects that align with our state’s plan for Clean Energy for All by 2040 with a transportation system that serves all Oregonians not just cars. 2. Renewable Energy production by Oregonians for Oregon through small community renewal energy generators as well as large scale projects with Strategic Investment Program so money will go directly back to the community. 3. Coordinated management of Oregon’s water resources to decrease drought.

3. What more could Oregon do to help people move into safe and stable housing?

George Donnerberg: Safe and stable housing for all is an elusive goal. Housing costs have outpaced income for years; the combined result of limited land and ever-increasing development costs. An immediate solution could be achieved by government subsidies such as tax credits for first-time buyers or rent subsidies. Since all taxes are ultimately passed on to the consumer, every proposed legislative tax measure must be scrutinized for its inflationary impact and prioritized relative to other government services.


Thuy Tran: 1. Have a coordinated collaborative community plan prioritizing Shelter Now (with safe pop-up shelters) then lead our homeless neighbors to supported transitional housing (at various barrier levels, with needed holistic humane services) and eventually arriving at supportive dignified permanent housing that build community 2. Oregon can build more affordable working family housing. 3. Ensure money from our marijuana tax effectively fund much needed mental health support and addiction treatment.


Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial