As the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Douglas County, I would first like to extend our party’s condemnation of the attempt on Donald Trump’s life. We want to defeat Donald Trump and the MAGA philosophy in the November general election, fair and square, in the arena of public opinion. As a civilized society, we must make sure we can safely air our differences and survive discourse without the threat of harm. The great power of democracy is civil debate of the issues. That provides citizens with what they need to choose who will most effectively represent them. The way we do that is with respectful dialogue and debate.
In the last series of elections Douglas County Republican candidates have avoided public debate or forums with Democratic candidates. How can the voting public choose the best, most effective and successful leaders to represent us, if the Republicans hide from facing challengers in any sort of public setting? Maybe they figure the average Republican voter is so thoroughly indoctrinated they can take their vote for granted and don’t need to bother. Most of these Republican representatives became incumbents by being appointed to office. Are they now scared of facing the voters? Maybe they realize the record of the local Republican Party to deliver results is so poor they don’t want to hear about their failures? Maybe they just don’t want to admit in public they do not have the political power or will to deliver results? These questions are only conjecture because the Republicans will only meet with supporters to make inflammatory exaggerations, wild accusations and espouse culture war conspiracies.
Any money that comes from the federal or state governments to fund county or community projects, from more than just property taxes, comes from political leaders who are Democrats, like Val Hoyle. Republicans, such as Congressman Cliff Bentz, vote against appropriations in Congress but claim the credit for the money when they return to Oregon.
Huge amounts of money are being raised to advertise, mail, and text propaganda about individual candidates. A debate or forum is free and creates an opportunity to hear both sides of an issue, but more important; to let voters see how a candidate handles the situation. This is a way to get the corrupting hand of big money out of our elections and give the voters a chance to make up their own minds.
The urban Democrats control the majorities of both houses in Salem. Who should take our local and rural perspectives into this lion’s den? On the many issues being scheduled for the next legislative session, which party can send effective people to represent us? Candidates like Noah Robinson who says his job is to say no and block legislation or Richard Chasm who has decades of experience and whose credentials would make him a respected member of the majority caucus?
As a political leader, I have an obligation to encourage civil political debate. In this election cycle local Democrats have produced a slate of smart, motivated and progressive candidates for the state legislature and voters deserve to hear them and be able to compare them side by side to determine who is best suited to represent our interests in Salem. Democrats believe the voters should have the right to ask questions and not be taken for granted. We believe candidates should face one another and let the voters decide for themselves who will work best on the local and state level.
Maybe this is why the Republicans are unwilling to face challengers in public. They know voters have the common sense to realize who the better candidates are. We applaud The News-Review in their willingness to give the two parties the chance to have these guest editorials but also believe the paper should do more. We encourage the paper and radio stations to ask the public to submit questions to be put to the candidates and the answers be printed side by side. The radio stations should interview candidates on the radio with tough questions.
This is not about the candidates or political parties as much as political results for the people of Douglas County. These elections matter to the welfare and success of our homes. Who we elect matters to the respect Douglas County has in the rest of the state. The Democrats feel we deserve more respect than we get. The candidates nominated by the Democratic Party are willing to meet in public, at any reasonable time and place and talk about the issues. How about the Republicans?
This article was published in the News-Review on Aug 4 2024.
Comments