Listed below are candidates for Oregon State Senator who are running in Multnomah County in the 2022 General Election. The candidates running in the same Senate district were asked the same questions. Most candidates for State Senator were asked questions composed by the League of Women Voters of Oregon. The candidates for State Senator District 24 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 relevant LWV videos of candidate interviews are provided, when these are available.

Oregon State Senate, 16th  District – Candidate Information

Melissa Busch, Democrat, Independent
Campaign Phone (public): 503-893-9635
Town: Warren
Experience/Qualifications: Registered Nurse
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/PSV41cdV1h4%20
Campaign Twitter Handle: @melissa4oregon
Suzanne Weber, Republican

Suzanne Weber has not yet provided information to Vote411. However, she submitted a statement printed on page 36 of the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet. Her web site is https://www.weberfororegon.com. She has also served as the Oregon State Representative for House District 32. Information about her recent work in the Legislature and a link to a biography are on the State Legislature’s website here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/weber

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?

Melissa Busch: Everyone should be able to see a nurse or doctor to promote health, treat illness, & get affordable medications. I’ll work to ensure healthcare for all Oregonians (including reproductive care), address rising costs of medications, & remove barriers to care in underserved communities. As a nurse, I see the impacts of inadequate housing in our communities. Everyone deserves a place to live. I’ll support public-private partnerships to build more affordable & workforce housing to solve this crisis.

Suzanne Weber: Candidate has not yet responded.

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

Melissa Busch: As a nurse & a mother of 3 children in public school, I’ve seen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our schools, educators, & kids. The lack of funding, support staff, & extra demands of the pandemic safety protocols have created unprecedented stress on our already burdened public education system & educators. It’s critical we work towards solutions to these challenges, fully-funding public schools to attract the best educators possible, & ensuring every child gets a quality public education.

Suzanne Weber: Candidate has not yet responded.

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

Melissa Busch: It is time for Oregon to create an election system that is not-for-sale. I support measures to bring transparency & clarity to the political process. I will work to create a system that eliminates financing of elections by special interests, particularly those spreading misinformation & funding candidates who are willing to do so. We must ensure money isn’t able to whittle away at our democracy by creating a thoughtful system that ensures accountability & honesty in our elections.

Suzanne Weber: Candidate has not yet responded.


Oregon State Senate, 17th  District – Candidate Information

Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, Democrat, Independent
Town:  Portland
Experience/Qualifications: State Senator, Family Physician
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/YnseF_ZmPf8%20
Campaign Twitter Handle: @ESHforOregon
John Verbeek, Republican
Contact Phone: (503)641-2212
Town: Portland
Experience/Qualifications:  Banking and Insurance (30+ years, Retired), Citizen-Politician (Engaged, but not employed or paid, in lawful (!) activities associated with governance as managed by political parties and special-interest groups)
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/staNr8lsK-c%20

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?

Elizabeth Steiner Hayward: 1) Pass a sustainable budget preserving funding for core services like healthcare, public safety & education. Revenue forecasts remain positive but economic impacts of the pandemic are still unfolding. 2) Significant legislator turnover due to retirements & redistricting means an unprecedented number of new legislators and a great loss of institutional knowledge in 2022. Neither challenge is fixed with legislation, but rather increased collaboration & integrity.

John Verbeek: Pursue freedom and justice with less government. Pursue freedom: Honor personal constitutional rights, maintain effectiveness of divided political powers, provide legal predictability and security. Pursue justice: There is too much lawlessness in our state. But a free and prosperous people require legal security and predictability, and public safety. Our laws are too numerous and multiply regardless. So reverse the direction. Also, until the penalty is paid, a criminal can not be released.

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

Elizabeth Steiner Hayward: The best ways to improve educational outcomes are to stabilize funding & use evidence-based policies that garner desired results. Passage of the Student Success Act in 2019 takes us a long way toward stabilizing funding. Improvements tied to new investments have already surfaced and will only continue. Good data on implications of graduation requirements & testing are key to identifying root causes of the barriers students face.

John Verbeek: Legislators must pay more attention what children are being taught when funding education. Not questioning anything but funding the programs anyway for an endorsement, that show be over. The purpose of public education is not to cultivate university professors and lawlessness, but to cultivate minors to learn to read, to write, to do arithmetic and to obtain other useful skills for leading productive lives. Including sports as part of a sound education, to cultivate self-reliance and character.

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

Elizabeth Steiner Hayward: Some aspects of the 2021 campaign finance reforms are being implemented this election year. For example, disclosure of a candidate’s political action committee ID and top funders are now required in print, audio and video communications. I am happily complying with this requirement in all of my campaign materials and will always do so moving forward. In terms of next actions on the state level, I will always support common sense campaign finance reforms that come before me for a vote.

John Verbeek: Legislators depend on staffers and on lawyers employed by Oregon Legislative Counsel (LC). I have concerns about activism and partiality by legal counsel (hopefully not LC) who signed off on this measure, including supposedly for constitutional compliance. After all, our nation’s highest court already ruled such measures unconstitutional. So it was not rightful this measure made it to the ballot and I would like to work with LC to get annulment and the attorneys responsible for it replaced.


Oregon State Senate, 19th  District – Candidate Information

Ben Edtl, Republican
Campaign Phone (public): 503-319-5976
Web Site:  http://benedtl.com
Town: Tualatin
Experience/Qualifications: 20-year business owner in Manufacturing, Software, Retail and Consumer Products.
Campaign Twitter Handle:  @twitter.com/benedtl
Rob Wagner, Democrat, Independent
Contact Phone: (503)705-4158
Town: Lake Oswego
Experience/Qualifications: State Senator; Portland Community College, Associate Vice President; American Federation of Teachers-Oregon, Legislative Affairs Director; George Washington University, MA; Portland State University, BA; Lake Oswego High School
LWV Interview Video: http://youtu.be/staQUwDC0u4%20

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?

Ben Edtl: Public Safety and Cost of Living are the two most important issues shared by the majority of Oregonians in the Portland Metro Area. Rob Wagner is directly responsible for the homeless crisis, historic crime rates and taxing us into the fifth most expensive state to live in. This is not rhetoric. You can read his bills on my website at benedtl.com/wagner. My first priority, as State Senator, is to repeal Wagner’s destructive bills, fully fund law enforcement and cut Wagner’s inflationary taxes.

Rob Wagner: When I meet with constituents in my Senate District, given the challenges they are facing, it is hard to identify just two issues. However, there is an intersection of need and a responsibility we have as elected officials to step up. Coming out of the pandemic, we have to address basic needs from housing, to food insecurity, to health care including mental and behavioral health. However, I also believe we must do more to invest in postsecondary education and pathways into meaningful careers.

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

Ben Edtl: Wagner voted to implement CRT and CSE, put tampons in boys bathrooms and allow boys to compete in girls sports. He also voted to remove federal assessment testing and high school graduation standards. He also took away local democratic control away from the voters. See for yourself at benedtl.com/wagner. I will eliminate CRT, CSE, protect girls sports, restore graduation standards, return democratic control of school districts back to the voters in the districts and support school choice.

Rob Wagner: This question is personal to me. I come from a family of teachers and I have four kids who are either in our local public schools, a community college, or in another degree program. Having chaired both the Senate Education Committee and our Local School Board – we need to be listening to the voices of our students and families. After years of inaction, the passage of the Student Success Act in 2019 provides a pathway forward for investment in our students and their futures.

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

Ben Edtl: I’ll work to implement what the voters approved. Unlike Rob Wagner. When he implemented Measure 110, which legalized hard drugs like Fentanyl and Methamphetamine for drug users. While the measure required funding for drug and alcohol treatment programs, Wagner passed it into law without appropriating ANY funding for treatment. Now, people are dying in our streets at historic rates with no mechanism to treat them. This is a humanitarian crisis imposed by Rob Wagner and his Senate Democrats.

Rob Wagner: I was a chief sponsor of the legislation that asked voters to change the Oregon Constitution to allow for campaign finance contribution limits. It is up to the legislature to pass legislation, or I will be personably supporting measures at the next general election. It’s time we work together to pass limits as well requiring political campaign advertisements to identify who paid for them.


Oregon State Senate, 24th  District – Candidate Information

Stan Catherman, Republican

Stan Catherman has not yet provided information to Vote411. However, he submitted a statement printed on page 39 of the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet. His web site is https://stancatherman.com.

Kaysa Jama, Democrat, Independent, Working Families
Campaign Phone (public): 971-361-6219
Town: Portland, Oregon
Experience/Qualifications: Kayse Jama has worked with the people of District 24 for twenty years as a community organizer, advocate, and now as State Senator. As Chair of the Senate Housing Committee, he spearheaded legislation to reduce homelessness, create affordable housing, and support home ownership. He expanded renters’ rights to cooling in extreme heat while directly investing funds in-district. Senator Jama led the bipartisan effort to create Oregon’s first Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement.
Campaign Twitter Handle: @https://twitter.com/kaysejama

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.

Stan Catherman: Candidate has not yet responded.

Kayse Jama: Yes, I support Measure 114 because research demonstrates it will save lives. Sadly, firearms are the leading cause of death for people 1-19 years old. Measure 114 proposes common sense solutions: requiring completed background checks, fingerprinting, safety training, a permit to purchase firearms, and limiting high-capacity magazines. As State Senator, I will support every effort to keep our communities safe and commit to action, passing policies that create safer schools and communities.

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

Stan Catherman: Candidate has not yet responded.

Kayse Jama: The wellbeing of our children—and future generations—requires that we take immediate action on the climate crisis. Rising temperatures, wildfires, and drought are impacting communities across the state, including our farms, forests, towns, and cities. There is no time to wait, and as Senator I have and will continue to support bold efforts that will make Oregon a leader in addressing our climate crisis, ensuring that the communities most impacted by climate change are centered in our solutions.

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

Stan Catherman: Candidate has not yet responded.

Kayse Jama: We must develop both short-term and long-term solutions. Available transitional shelter options do not meet the need, and people experiencing houselessness need adequate mental health support, addiction and recovery services, and economic stability. More broadly, lack of housing supply and affordability are central to Oregon’s ongoing housing crisis. We must encourage the building of new housing in communities across the state through sustained investment and passing policies that enable growth.


Oregon State Senate, 26th  District – Candidate Information

Daniel G. Bonham, Republican

Daniel Bonham has not yet provided information to Vote411. However, he submitted a statement printed on page 40 of the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet. His web site is https://danielbonham.com. He has also served as the Oregon State Representative for House District 59. Information about his recent work in the Legislature and a link to his biography are on the State Legislature’s website here: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bonham

Raz Mason, Democrat, Independent
Contact Phone: (503)381-1054
Town: The Dalles
Experience/Qualifications: STEM teacher and climate change educator, hospital chaplain trained in trauma-informed practices, now working in public safety.
Campaign Twitter Handle: @RazMason

 

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?

Daniel G Bonham: Candidate has not yet responded.

Raz Mason: 1. Access to affordable housing: Incentivize home owners who provide auxiliary dwelling units on their property and key rents to ⅓ of average hourly service worker monthly wages. 2. Wise action on climate change/clean energy: Develop an online dashboard to help Oregon residents/companies understand and easily access billions of dollars in grants Oregon will receive from the Inflation Reduction Act – for agriculture, renewable energy, and wildfire/drought protection (plus lower pharmacy prices).

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

Daniel G Bonham: Candidate has not yet responded.

Raz Mason: Since Measure 5 (1990), Oregon schools are underfunded. Teachers work hard while paid 22% less than same-educated peers. Students bring economic and mental stresses from home, leading to disrupted learning for all. Positively, recent Corporate Activities Tax (for business income over $1M) is helping. We need more childcare centers, to keep funding career/technical education, assist with mental health, pay teachers more, and improve the economy so stress for families lessens.

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

Daniel G Bonham: Candidate has not yet responded.

Raz Mason: I respect the will of the voters, and will vote to support campaign finance reform. It is important that any law passed allows campaigns to raise minimum funds for staff, printing, and media communication so voters will be well-informed. The current system leads to gross inequities and warped loyalties. In my race, for instance, my opponent has raised ~$240K, mostly from corporate PACs and wealthy donors. My campaign has raised ~$40K, mostly from in-state, individual donors.