Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2016 Primary Election

Thank you for responding to this questionnaire.

Why this matters: The Statesman Journal Editorial Board will use this questionnaire in deciding whether and whom to endorse for the May 17 General Election. Reporters, who operate separately from the Editorial Board, may use these answers in writing stories. Your answers may be published on StatesmanJournal.com and/or in the print newspaper.

We also ask that you respond to every question, instead of simply attaching campaign materials, resumes, etc. If you wish, you are welcome to send us lists of supporters, a resume, etc., in addition to this questionnaire.

Please return the finished questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an email or an attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com. (Handwritten, pdf, WordPerfect or fax responses don’t work.)

Important: Please return the questionnaire by the end of the day April 14.

Questions? Contact Editorial Page Editor Dick Hughes, 503-399-6727, dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com, or Editorial Assistant Nancy Harrington, 503-399-6864, nharring@StatesmanJournal.com.

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Your name as listed on the ballot: Kurt Schrader

Age: 64

(If your age will change before May 31, please indicate your birthday. We want to ensure we use accurate ages in pre- and post-election editorials and news coverage.)

City/town of residence: Canby, OR

Political party, if this is a partisan office: Democrat

Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): United States House of Representative, Oregon District 5

Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific area (ward, district, county, etc.) that you seek to represent? Yes.

Number of current, consecutive years living within the district you seek to represent: 39

Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home or number of grown children):5 grown children

Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate any degrees you earned): Cornell University, BA; University of Illinois, BS, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties: United States Congressman

Previous employers and when: self-employed Veterinarian and farmer for 35 years.

Military service and when:

Volunteer/civic/religious service and when: Canby Chamber of Commerce, Clackamas County Children’s Center

Please list all public offices to which you’ve been elected, and when:State Representative 1996-2002; State Senate 2002-2008, US House of Representatives 2008-present.

Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when: 1994 State Representative

Other prior political and government experience: Canby Planning Commission, Blue Heron Recreation District

If you are running for a position that involves a governing board in Oregon – such as city council, county board of commissioners, Legislature or State Land Board – how many meetings of that board have you attended in person during 2015 and 2016? How many have you watched online or on TV, if applicable?

How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be made public):

Mail address: P.O. Box 3314, Oregon City, OR 97045

E-mail address: campaign@kurtschrader.com

Web site URL: www.kurtschrader.com

Phone: 503-723-6147

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KurtSchraderOregon

Other social media: twitter: @VoteSchrader

Please limit your response to each of the following questions to about 75 words.

1. To an outsider, how would you describe the region you wish to represent -- geographically, economically, politically and socially?It is a microcosm of Oregon and the United States and is diverse in all aspects. The district is made up of rural, urban, and suburban areas with low, middle and high-income residents. There are roughly equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and Non-Affiliated voters.

2. What are the positives and negatives of this region (ward, district, county or state) that you wish to represent?Nothing is wrong or necessarily right with a diverse district, such as CD-5. If more districts were like mine we would have a better and more balanced discussion in Congress that would be much less partisan.

3. What specific skills and experiences do you bring to the position, especially ones that would help turn those negatives into positives?My experience as a veterinarian has made me a good listener and better able to explain some complicated material in a way people understand and have confidence in. These skills are valuable in congress.

4. What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific. I have raised a family when times were tough. I have not been in government service my whole life. I know what it is like as a family man and small businessperson to live with the decisions legislators make. Unlike my opponent, I have support across the spectrum. I have made tough progressive votes in Congress for the Recovery Act, the Affordable Care Act, renewable energy, and voted to rein in Wall Street. These were very controversial in this district. I am the only Democrat in the race that matches the district and can win.

5. Please list five specific accomplishments that you have achieved in politics or civic affairs:1. I created the Oregon Opportunity Grant with the Governor, which gives thousands of Oregonian students access to a more affordable higher education2. I successfully led Oregon through a budget crisis in the early 2000’s as co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee in the State Senate.

2. I led the fight in Congress to bring the NOAA pacific fleet to Newport from Seattle3. On the Ag Committee I was instrumental in delivering for organic agriculture and Oregon’s specialty crops in the 2014 Farm bill.4. Working with my colleagues, I saved the coast guard rescue helicopter on the Oregon coast.5. I established and chaired the No-Labels Problem Solvers caucus in Congress delivering a bipartisan forum in congress.

6. How much will your Primary Election campaign cost? (be specific) Approximately $300,000

7. Have you ever been convicted of a crime, been disciplined by a professional licensing board/organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so, please give the details.No.

8. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your taxes or other major accounts, or been sued personally or professionally? If so, please give the details. I have had late payments on my personal property taxes.

9. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words for each issue)

A. Jobs for Oregon. We need to continue federal investment in transportation and infrastructure and deliver on bipartisan healthy, sustainable forest policy for the economic future of our forests and rural communities.

B. Education. We need to closely monitor the implementation of the recently passed “Every Student Succeeds Act”. While important to replace No Child Left Behind, we need to ensure the new act delivers for our students, parents, teachers and communities. We need to pass my bills allowing students to refinance loans at today’s lower interest rates and have the federal government pay its share of special education so state dollars go further in the classroom.

C. We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The current system is broken for businesses and families as well as farms and farm workers.

10. What do you see as other important issues? We need to overturn the Citizens United decision that allows unlimited money into our political system. I will also continue to advocate for seniors and veterans through casework in my office. We have returned millions of dollars in earned benefits to deserving Oregonians.

11. What online and/or print publications do you regularly read to keep abreast of issues in the district you seek to represent? The Statesman Journal, The Oregonian, The Capital Press, Politico, The Economist.

12. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you should disclose before it comes up in the campaign? Anything (including health issues) that would affect your ability to serve your full term? Any changes in your life situation that are contemplated or expected before the election or before you would take office?No.

Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by April 14, 2016.