Oregon Primary for District One

I presume most of you know that the House seat for Oregon’s 1st Congressional District is vacant, due to the resignation of David Wu.  Oregon has an excellent vote-by-mail election system, and I received my ballot in the mail today, to return postmarked on or before November 8.  Here is the complete list of worthy Republicans.  That was the list.  Here is a rundown on the three main Democratic candidates, and my own endorsement.

…The three leading candidates — state Sen. Suzanne Bonamici, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and state Rep. Brad Witt — have been careful to stay positive after being warned by top congressional Democrats to avoid any bloodletting that could weaken their nominee for the special election in January.

They’ve largely echoed the same standard Democratic talking points: save Medicare and Social Security, boost public works spending to create more jobs and pay more attention to the middle class, not the wealthy.

Bonamici plays up her background as a consumer advocate and supporters say it’s time for Oregon’s congressional delegation to include a woman again. Avakian focuses on what he says is his longer record of legislative successes and presents himself in his advertising as "ticked off" by the economic hardship many people are facing. Witt touts his long experience in the union movement and his kinship with average workers.

In their only televised debate of the primary last week — sponsored by The Oregonian and KGW — the three major Democrats agreed a lot. But they have some distinctive views:

Taxes: Bonamici and Avakian stick to the view expressed by President Obama and Democratic congressional leaders that the Bush-era tax cuts should be repealed only for wealthier taxpayers, generally individuals earning more than $200,000 a year. Witt disagrees. He wants the tax cuts repealed for all income levels, saying the revenue could be used to boost public works spending and create more jobs.

Trade: Avakian and Witt denounced free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, saying they continue to drive American jobs overseas. Bonamici won’t say how she’d vote, explaining that she would examine the agreements’ impact on the district. It puts her a little closer to such major businesses as Intel and Nike that support expanded overseas trade.

Marijuana: Witt wants to decriminalize marijuana, saying it could become a source of tax revenue. Avakian says the feds should let the states set their own policy on marijuana. Bonamici says the issue is up to voters to decide, although in the debate she defended allowing farmers to grow industrial hemp… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Oregonian>

Bonamici is ahead in the polls, largely because of her endorsement from Emily’s list, based on her gender.  While I have no problem sending a woman to Congress, the only things that should matter are the candidates’ qualities and positions, not things like gender of race.

I endorse and will be voting for Brad Avakian, because he has the longest and strongest track record of support for Main Street people and progressive issues.  That said, if Oregon elects any one of these three in the January general election, Oregon wins.  All three are highly qualified and worthy of our support.  No matter which one wins the primary, I will strongly support them.