It’s an election year – and the primary election is coming up May 21st. There are several important positions on the primary ballot, including state representative. Here are the Republican and Democrat candidates for state representative
Here again is the link to the AAUW Candidate’s Forum that was held on Sunday April 21st.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Cyrus Javadi (incumbent)
Why I Decided to Run for Office:
I decided to run for office to bring a practical, results-driven approach to governance, aiming to counterbalance the extreme voices and partisan politics that too often hinder progress. Drawing from my diverse background in dentistry, where detailed analysis and precise action are paramount, and aviation, which requires strict adherence to rules for safety and efficiency, I am committed to applying these principles for the betterment of District 32. My family life, navigating a blended family of nine children, has instilled in me the importance of communication, compromise, and understanding differing perspectives. In today’s increasingly polarized environment, I believe my unique blend of experiences equips me to bridge divides, focusing on practical solutions that enhance our community’s well-being rather than succumbing to divisive rhetoric. My candidacy represents a departure from extreme positions and a move towards moderate, conservative governance that prioritizes the needs and values of our constituents.
Specific Goals if Elected:
Upon election, my primary goals will focus on establishing better access to more healthcare services locally, increasing the supply of affordable housing and enhancing local infrastructure with an emphasis on sustainability and efficiency, supporting small businesses by reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and exploring tax relief options, ensuring public safety through community-led initiatives, fighting to continue cleaning up our streets from deadly illegal drugs, and advocating for educational reforms that prioritize student achievement and teacher support. I aim to reduce the local unemployment rate by at least 2% within my first term through targeted economic policies and to increase funding for emergency services by 5%, ensuring our community’s resilience in facing natural disasters and emergencies.
Experience in Assessing, Preparing, and Evaluating Public Agency Budgets:
Both my experience in managing a dental practice and my degree in accounting have equipped me with the skills necessary for budget assessment, preparation, and evaluation. I have successfully navigated financial planning, resource allocation, and operational adjustments to maintain profitability and efficiency. Although the scale differs, the principles of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability directly apply to public agency budgets. I plan to leverage this experience to continue to scrutinize public spending, advocate for efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and ensure budget allocations reflect our community’s priorities.
Experience in Preparing and Evaluating Public Policy:
Throughout my first term in the Oregon House of Representatives, I have had the privilege of serving on committees directly aligned with critical issues facing our district and state: healthcare, economic development, and housing/homelessness. This placement has provided me with invaluable insights into the complexities of policy-making in these vital areas. In the healthcare committee, I have worked towards policies that aim to improve access to quality care, emphasizing the importance of mental health services and the need for affordable medical options. On the economic development front, my focus has been on creating a conducive environment for small businesses and fostering initiatives that drive sustainable growth and job creation. The housing and homelessness committee has allowed me to address one of our community’s most pressing challenges, advocating for innovative solutions to increase affordable housing stock and support services for the homeless. My legislative experience has equipped me with a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of these issues, guiding my approach to developing, debating, and evaluating policies that are not only effective but also reflective of our community’s values and needs.
Top Five Campaign Finance Donors:
My campaign is supported by people and groups who believe in our work. Evergreen Oregon PAC helps support candidates who believe in limited government, tax relief, a strong job market. Bring Balance to Salem PAC supports fair and even-handed government. Dentists of Oregon PAC, a group of fellow dentists, backs better health policies. Koch Industries, Inc., a big company, supports strong businesses. Tillamook County Creamery Association, from our local dairy farms, helps us look after our farms and food. They all trust in our plan for a better Oregon. I work with them based on shared goals, not promises.
Bridging Community Divides:
The growing divide in our communities is a concern that requires a nuanced approach to bridge. My strategy centers on open, honest communication and the establishment of common ground. By focusing on shared values and goals, such as the well-being of our children, the prosperity of our local economy, and the safety of our neighborhoods, we can begin to see past our differences. I believe in proactive community engagement, listening sessions, and inclusive decision-making processes that bring diverse voices to the table. Conflict resolution will be approached with empathy, emphasizing understanding and compromise over divisiveness.
SWOT Analysis of Tillamook County:
Strengths: Rich natural resources and a strong agricultural sector, robust tourism industry, and a close-knit community spirit.
Weaknesses: Lack of affordable housing, limited infrastructure, economic dependence on a few key industries, challenges in healthcare access.
Opportunities: Growth in sustainable tourism, potential for renewable energy development, and expansion of high-speed internet access to boost economic diversity.
Threats: Natural disasters, particularly flooding and wildfires, economic volatility in key sectors, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture and fisheries.
GLENN GAITHER – We did not receive a response from Mr. Gaither.
DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Logan Laity
1. Why did you decide to run for office?
Oregon’s motto translates to She Flies with Her Own Wings– We are innovators and I firmly believe that by listening to our own communities we can solve many of the problems we face today. In the public service I serve as Chair of the Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency and in the civil service I have worked in the legislature and for Netarts Water District. Through my service I have seen that we need dedicated representation in Salem. I’ve had the opportunity to invest in workforce housing and local optometry services, but without state investment our communities are limited in our ability to thrive. Current representation skipped out on votes and sponsored extreme bills that would expand clearcuts next to our drinking watersheds and restrict abortion access. These are not the actions of a serious legislator claiming to truly represent our home or our values, and I am energized to run again to protect our fundamental rights, our water sources, and to provide dedicated, consistent leadership. I can promise you that I will show up every day asking: “How do we build bridges among legislators and community leaders?” and “What can I do to ensure that every resident can continue to call our coast home?”
2. What specific goals do you have if you are elected?
Workforce-Housing
Rockaway Beach spent a full year trying to hire a firefighter because applicants could not find a home. Our retirees are unable to find careworkers. The solution to the housing crisis starts with building more homes, because the only way prices come to Earth is if we address our chronic housing shortage. My educational background is in Real Estate Property Management and I’ve financed middle-income housing through my economic development agency. I know that the only way to address this issue is through supply– I’ll prioritize:
- Stabilize costs by building middle, workforce, and income-based housing.
- Hold developers accountable for public dollars.
- Support planning reform.
Accessible Education
Our schools empowered me to start my own business. I advocated for school funding in our legislature and expanding Oregon Promise to every student. I’m focused on:
- Career education and apprenticeships.
- Investments in Pre-K–12 and teacher raises.
- Daycare and nursing programs.
Comprehensive Healthcare
The ER should be the last resort, not the only option. As a patient coordinator, I saw patients defer treatment because of insurance gaps. I’ll work tirelessly to:
- Lower prescription costs and allow any Oregonian to buy into OHP.
- Expand healthcare, especially dental, vision, and family planning.
- Protect reproductive freedom.
3. What is your experience in assessing, preparing, and evaluating public agency budgets?
- I am a two-time Budget Committee Chair of the Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency.
- As the Board Chair of the Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency I manage the budget for a public agency whose entire mission is to manage financing for projects in the public interest including workforce housing, city infrastructure, and small business loans.
4. What is your experience in preparing and evaluating public policy?
- I have worked in our state legislature, served on the legislative committee for our county party, and kept a close eye on education policy.
- As President of ASTBCC I joined our state educators in advocating for a fair school funding formula. The Student Success Act invested significant new funds in our K-12 school system, helped to close the teacher wage gap, and worked to improve student achievement to prepare students for living-wage work.
- My education is in Urban and Public Affairs and Political Science: Public Service. My education is in the preparation and evaluation of public policy and how to build the prerequisite coalitions necessary to get it passed.
5. Who are your top five campaign finance donors? What is your relationship with them?
I am proud to run a grassroots campaign and continue to refuse donations from corporate interests, the fossil fuels industry, and related PACs. Our average cash donation is $150 and our top five donors this election include:
- Councilor Mary McGinnis, Rockaway Beach, a close friend and my interim Campaign Manager. Mary donates her time in-kind.
- Kathryn Stock, Manzantia. Kathryn is an avid writer and donated $1,000.
- Kathy Blevins, Tillamook. After a long career in treating sick and injured animals as a veterinarian, Kathy is currently engaged in our civic process. Kathy was among our first donors and contributed $750 at the start of the race to finance our primary Voter’s Pamphlet Statement.
- Matthew (James) Lawonn, Tillamook. James is a Wildlife Biologist who shares my belief that corporate donors are polluting our democracy. James donated $550.
- David Raahahn, Beaver. David is a retired civil servant, avid fly fisherman, and classic car enthusiast who can be seen driving in many of our parades. David donated $500.
- Debbie Boothe-Schmidt, Warrenton. Debbie is a good friend, a retired trial assistant for a district attorney, my finance chair, and donated $500. Debbie would like to remind me that you can donate to our campaign at com.
- Our campaign also received in-kind access to our organizing database through FuturePAC, the house democrats campaign arm who controls access in the state. The tool is essential for knocking on doors and speaking directly with my neighbors across the district.
6. There are many divisive issues facing our communities, and the divide is becoming greater. How would you bridge these differences and how do you resolve conflicts?
Great policy addresses community needs with the fewest unintended consequences. Getting to great policy requires consistent, deep collaboration:
- Sitting down and having face to face meetings with those with diverging viewpoints– in many cases what appear as opposing ideologies have the same core values, just with different contexts.
- Inviting as many people to the table as possible, especially those with diverging perspectives, and focusing on what we all share in common– starting with values and ending with policy outcomes. A literal Venn diagram of what we share is very helpful, here.
- Taking our common concerns and inviting everyone to contribute to solution finding. Frequently people attempt to shortcut the policy process by assuming their own solution will meet another’s needs. The goal is to work with people, not through.
7. Please provide a “SWOT” analysis of Tillamook County – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
Strengths
- Tillamook County has a wealth of community members and community based organizations that are eager to work together in service of the common good, from our volunteer firefighters’ halls to our nonprofits. I believe that what we do especially well as a county can be tied back to this good work, from environmental stewardship to emergency preparedness.
Weaknesses
Insufficient medical resources. In my opponent’s time in office we have lost:
- A community pharmacy, reducing drug competition and leaving some, like myself, in a hunt for a pharmacy that takes my insurance;
- A dialysis treatment center, forcing those that need lifesaving treatment twice a week to leave for Portland;
- A sleep center, forcing CPAP patients like myself to seek treatment elsewhere; and
- MODA Advantage, what was an affordable way to purchase additional coverage on Medicare.
The Representative spent this time sponsoring an abortion limiting bill.
I find this unacceptable, and you should too. I just signed an economic development contract to invest in rural Optometry– expanding jobs, increasing the number of patients like us they can see in a day, and enabling the clinic to accept more insurance plans. And yes, that means fewer trips to Portland for essential treatment. Investing in rural healthcare is one of the most important priorities for me in the State Legislature.
Opportunities
There is a major shortage of middle-income and workforce housing in this County, however there is a major opportunity here. I grew up here on the coast, went to Tillamook Bay Community College. Everyone from my great aunt to my parents continue to live on the Coast. I’ve personally spoken to thousands of neighbors from Pacific City to Astoria and Clatskanie, and by far the number one topic on everyone’s mind is housing. It furthers issues like homelessness, and is vital to ensuring we have the firefighters, teachers, nurses, care workers, and sheriff’s deputies we need to care for our communities. But it’s also challenging. How do we build more while preserving our natural beauty? Add multifamily housing while preserving property values? These are hard questions here on the Coast, but I’m honored to be working in a community with such an innovative county government– despite legislative inaction. Our county, cities, and economic development agencies like mine are collectively responsible for over five major middle-income housing projects in this county alone. And I believe with state resources we can capitalize on this momentum and greenlight more great projects and with even greater speeds.
Threats
Our overall economy is healthy and constantly diversifying. We are now a county of several industries, rather than two. This translates into healthier communities if we can keep a diverse economy. I fear that we are at risk of our industries becoming out of balance with our communities depending on tourism as their primary economic base. We need to be mindful of how tourism strains our critical resources like fire protection, police, public infrastructure, and housing. Forward looking policy making, and economic development in particular, requires us to consider the public resources being used and to develop plans to address shortfalls. The transient lodging tax, essentially a fee on lodging for tourists, was an innovative solution to portions of this problem, however our ability to locally determine how these funds are spent is consistently under threat in the State Legislature. It is up to us to protect this mechanism of funding our public safety and infrastructure, and to be forward looking as we continue to diversify our economy such that we can all continue to call the coast home.
Thank you for your vote,
Logan Cai Laity
