Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2014 Primary Election

Thank you for responding to this questionnaire.

Why this matters: The Statesman Journal Editorial Board will use this questionnaire in deciding
which candidates to endorse at the May 20 Primary Election. The board is doing fewer in-person
interviews this spring. Your answers also will be shared with reporters and may be published in
the newspaper and/or on our website, StatesmanJournal.com, so the public will see what you
submit.
We also ask that you respond to every question, instead of simply attaching campaign materials,
resumes, etc.
Please return the completed questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an email or an attached Word
document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com. (Handwritten or fax responses dont work.)
Deadline for submitting your questionnaire: 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 16.
Questions? Contact Editorial Page Editor Dick Hughes, 503-399-6727, dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com, or
Editorial Assistant Nancy Harrington, 503-589-6944, nharring@StatesmanJournal.com.
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Your name: Vic Gilliam
Age: 60
(If your age will change before the May 20 primary, please indicate your birthday. We want to
make sure we use accurate ages in editorials and news coverage.)
Political party (if this is a partisan office):
Republican
Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, political party if applicable):
State Representative, District 18, Republican
Number of years living in the area you seek to represent:
Since 1999.
Are you a full-time resident of that area?
Yes
City/town of residence:
Silverton, Oregon
Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home, number of grown
children):
Married; Three grown children
Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate degrees earned):
Franklin High School, Portland
Warner Pacific College B.A.
University of South Carolina M.Ed.
If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties:
Oregon State Representative, Self-employed and part-time actor.
Previous employers and when:
Prior to serving in the legislature, I had a 24-year career as a Fundraiser and
Development Officer in the non-profit field. Institutions where I worked, include:
Willamette University, OHSU Foundation, The International Youth Foundations
Childrens Hour Campaign and Mercy Corps.
Military service and when:
N/A
Volunteer/civic/religious service and when:
Prior charitable board service: Salem Prison Ministries, Willamette Valley Young Life,
St. Josephs Shelter, Oregon Brain Injury Association, Salems Superintendent Advisory
Board
Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when:
Precinct Committee Person (PCP) in Salem mid-1980s
Current PCP Silverton Area
State Representative 2009-present
Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:
2 unsuccessful runs for State Representative in South Salem 1986 (but hey! I was second
out of three!), 1988
Other prior political and government experience:
In addition to serving in the Oregon House of Representatives since 2007, I was a
legislative aide to the late Senator Mark O Hatfield from 1976-1982 in Washington DC
and Oregon.
How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information may be made public):
Mail address: PO Box 158 Silverton, OR 97381
E-mail address: info@repvicgilliam.com
Web site URL: http://www.repvicgilliam.com
Phone:
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? What is it like
geographically, economically, politically and socially?
Economically, my district is heavily dependant on agriculture, and represents one
of the most important regions for this industry in Oregon. From farms to
nurseries, and all related vendors, it is a huge engine of economic productivity.
Oregon is of course a gorgeous state and our geography from the view from the
top of Mt Angel to the Abiqua Creek contribute to its beauty. There are of course
extreme political views, as in every Oregon community, but my district is blessed
with a calm conservatism fortified by friendly families and individuals.
2. When did you decide to run for this office, and why?
After being appointed to serve the second term of the late Mac Sumner in 2007, I
decided to run for this office and this will be my fourth time presenting myself to
the district for reelection. I believe that many times we move things in Salem by
inches not miles, but it is still very much worth the effort.
3. How much will your primary campaign cost (please be specific)?
A late filing primary opponent will cause a higher campaign bill. It is difficult to
be specific under the compression of such a short primary, but I expect it to run
well above $100,000.
4. Who are your key endorsements from within the Mid-Valley?
An incomplete list thus far includes: The NRA, Oregons Dairymen Association,
Oregon seed Council, Ag-PAC, Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Association of
Nurseries, Oregon Right to Life, Senator Fred Girod, Former Co-Speaker of the
House Bruce Hanna, Former Senator and State Representative Roger Beyer,
Representative Ken Cameron, Dick Withnell, Gerry Frank, Gene Cameron,
Former Silverton Mayor Ken Hector, Former Silverton City Council member
Judy Schmdit, Sandy Sumner, Dr. Daniel Cote, Tom Fessler, Glenn Barker, Steve
and Connie Johnson, Nick and Ginger Harville.
5. 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.
6. 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.
No.
7. Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific.
Of the two choices facing our district in this election, I believe I am the positive
choice for bringing fiscal sanity to state spending, advocating for families and
businesses who face economic and bureaucratic challenges, and that I have the
skill set, experience and positive attitude to help craft legislation that makes a
real difference and builds a better Oregon.
8. Describe your philosophy of governance:
After college, I worked for the late Senator Mark O. Hatfield in Washington DC
and Oregon, where I learned the importance of sticking up for your principles,
even when its not the politically popular thing to do. This philosophy, along with
a commitment to work with anyone willing to honestly come to the table to
solve problems, has guided my work in the legislature
9. Give an example of a political mistake you made and what you learned from it:
Early in my legislative career, I underestimated the importance of the Senate in
passing legislation. (Note to novices: you have to get a bill through both
chambers!) And I strive not to repeat that mistake again.
10. What specific steps would you advocate to make government more open and transparent?
Ive supported Representative Kim Thatchers extensive efforts for government
transparency, including the Transparency Website. I think that members of the
legislature should echo public meeting announcements, especially for committee
hearings in order to get the word out to their constituents, regardless of their
opinion on a bill. Also, I believe the legislature has much work to do to regain
their diminished audit authority over state agencies.
11. What specific steps would you advocate to make government more fiscally effective?
We desperately need an Oregon-specific zero-based budgeting policy. This is
especially true, for example in a recessionary period. Why should government
agencies base their budgets on last years budget plus essentially guaranteed
percentage increases when families and businesses are struggling and could
never make such unsustainable assumptions?
12. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words
for each issue)
A. I would like to see a hefty increase to the paltry 15% crop donation tax credit,
which we passed in the last session, in order to bring more farm fresh food
directly to hungry families, instead of going through the bureaucracy and
inefficiency of government programs, like Oregon Trail Cards.
B. Serious consideration of a bi-partisan bill to correct the states miserable policy
in areas of Information Technology and related contracting, that wastes tax payer
dollars, not only in the Cover Oregon situation, but in many other state
projects in the past.
C. Turning over management of state forests such as the Elliott Forest, to private
timber managers for the best in-industry technique, stewardship and high yields.
(i.e. Any fixation on Portland area vehicle emissions is miniscule compared to the
pollutants from just one forest fire caused by irresponsible forest management.)
13. What do you see as other important issues?
Ive had the honor of continuing as Co-Chair of the Elder Abuse Prevention Task
Force this past legislative session. We were able to introduce our third bill with
great success. HB4151 speeds up DHS investigations of reported abuse and
clarifies definitions around issues of vulnerable persons abuse. But there is more
work to do, and I am especially focused on clarification of Elder Abuse
definitions in all Oregon statutes, and look forward to continuing this work in the
2015 session.
14. What magazines, newspapers and Web publications do you regularly read to keep up on the
news, especially on issues related to the office you are seeking?
The SJ, of course. Also two local papers: The Silverton Appeal and the Molalla
Pioneer. I read the Oregonian occasionally, national newspapers rarely, and
during session, our caucus office provides a very helpful Daily Round-up of
what Oregon newspapers are saying about the session all over the state.
15. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you want to
disclose before it comes up in the campaign?
I have some pants in my closet that appear to fit a skeleton and I fear Ill never
wear them again!
16. If you are running for a governing board in Oregon (such as city council, county board of
commissioners or the Legislature), how many meetings of that board have you attended in
person during 2013 and 2014? How many have you watched online or on TV, if applicable?
It would be difficult to list all of the floor sessions, committee hearings, caucus
meetings, taskforce meetings, workgroup meetings, that I have attended just in the
last session. And to be honest, I wish I could have watched at least some of these
online or on TV!
Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document to
Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 16.