StatesmanJournalminiquestionnairefor2016PrimaryElection

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Yournameaslistedontheballot:BenWest
Age:38
(IfyouragewillchangebeforeMay31,pleaseindicateyourbirthday.Wewanttoensureweuse
accurateagesinpreandpostelectioneditorialsandnewscoverage.)
City/townofresidence:Wilsonville
Politicalparty,ifthisisapartisanoffice:Republican
Positionyouareseeking(nameofposition,districtnumber,etc.):RepresentativeoftheFifth
CongressionalDistrict

Areyoucurrentlyafulltimeresidentwithintheboundariesofthespecificarea(ward,district,
county,etc.)thatyouseektorepresent?Yes
Numberofcurrent,consecutiveyearslivingwithinthedistrictyouseektorepresent:Iama
fourthgenerationOregonianandhavelivedinWilsonvillesince2014.
Family(nameofspouse/partner,numberandagesofchildrenifathomeornumberofgrown
children):PaulRummell,1sonJay10yearsold
Youreducation(highschool,trade,college,postbaccalaureate;indicateanydegreesyou
earned):
CityChristianHighSchool,Portland
PCC,A.D.ScienceofArts
PCC,DegreeinNursing(ExpectedJune2016)
Ifemployed,currentoccupation,employerandjobduties:Currentlyanursingstudentwith
completionexpectedinJune
Previousemployersandwhen:SeniorMortgageBanker,Portland,OR
Militaryserviceandwhen:N/A
Volunteer/civic/religiousserviceandwhen:
Pleaselistallpublicofficestowhichyouvebeenelected,andwhen:None
Pleaselistanyunsuccessfulcandidaciesforpublicoffice,andwhen:None
Otherpriorpoliticalandgovernmentexperience:None
IfyouarerunningforapositionthatinvolvesagoverningboardinOregonsuchascity
council,countyboardofcommissioners,LegislatureorStateLandBoardhowmanymeetings

ofthatboardhaveyouattendedinpersonduring2015and2016?Howmanyhaveyouwatched
onlineoronTV,ifapplicable?N/A
Howthepubliccanreachyourcampaign(rememberthatthisinformationwillbemadepublic):
Mailaddress:P.O.Box1847Wilsonville,OR97070
Emailaddress:ben@benwestfororegon.com
WebsiteURL:https://www.BenWestforOregon.com
Phone:(503)4844901
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BenForOregon/
Othersocialmedia:https://twitter.com/BenWestforOR
Pleaselimityourresponsetoeachofthefollowingquestionstoabout75words.
1.Toanoutsider,howwouldyoudescribetheregionyouwishtorepresentgeographically,
economically,politicallyandsocially?
Oregonishometoahostofpeoplewithdiverseeconomic,politicalandsocialbackgrounds.The
FifthCongressionalDistrictisaperfectrepresentationofthisdiversity.Withanearevenmixof
RepublicansandDemocrats,economicallyprosperousanddepressedcitiesandtowns,rural
areasandurbansectors,ourdistrictdeservesaRepresentativewhowilldomorethantowthe
partylineandofferemptytalkabouttheuniquechallengesOregoniansface.
2.Whatarethepositivesandnegativesofthedistrictthatyouwishtorepresent?
ImafourthgenerationOregonianandtheFifthDistrictiswhereIchosetostartmyfamily.The
peopleofmydistrictarehonest,hardworkingandopenminded.Unfortunately,ourdistrictis
oftenneglected.Withoutthenaturalwealthofaport,amonopolyonlumber,ortheeconomic
bustleofametropolis,wereoftenforgotteninthecommotion.Economicprosperity,jobgrowth
andboomingbusinessareallpossibleinFifthDistrictifwerewillingtofightforit,andIm
willingtotakethefighttoWashington.

3.Whatspecificskillsandexperiencesdoyoubringtotheposition,especiallyonesthatwould
helpturnthosenegativesintopositives?
Imanadvocate.Ihadasuccessfulcareerasabanker,butwantedtoreturnmyfocustoservice
andbecomearegisterednurse.ThroughoutmylifeIvebeencalledtodedicatemyselftothe
serviceofothers.Asatherapeuticfosterprovider,Isawtotheclinicalneedsofvulnerablefoster
children.Ispentdaysandnightscaringforthosewhomsocietydeemedtoodifficulttolove.In
2014,mypartnerandIadoptedoursonfromasystemthathaddeemedhimunadoptable.
Howwecareforthosewhocannotprovideforthemselvesistheclearestreflectionofour
character.IvededicatedmylifetoadvocatingforourstatesmostvulnerablepopulationsandI
believethatIwouldbeanidealchampionfortheinterestsofourdistrict.
4.Whatseparatesyoufromtheothercandidates?
Thevoterregistrationinthisdistrictisevenlysplit.ItisthemostcompetitiveraceinOregonand
oneofthemostcompetitiveracesinAmerica.Inordertowinthisseat,theRepublicannominee
willneedtogarneraround20,000independentvotes.Myuniquebackgroundandprofilemake
meaccessibletovotersandallowmetomarketcompassionateconservatisminacompelling
way.NoothercandidatecanappealtoindependentslikeIcan.
5.Pleaselistfivespecificaccomplishmentsthatyouhaveachievedinpoliticsorcivicaffairs:

AdoptingoursonJay,fightingforschoolchoiceforfosterchildrenandadvocatingfortheright
forallpeopletobemarried.
6.HowmuchwillyourPrimaryElectioncampaigncost?(bespecific)
Asamatterofpractice,wedonotpubliclydiscussourstrategybutwewillraiseandspendthe
necessaryresourcestoexecuteasuccesscampaign.
7.Haveyoueverbeenconvictedofacrime,beendisciplinedbyaprofessionallicensing
board/organizationorhadanethicsviolationfiledagainstyou?Ifso,pleasegivethedetails.
No.
8.Haveyoueverfiledforbankruptcy,beendelinquentonyourtaxesorothermajoraccounts,or
beensuedpersonallyorprofessionally?Ifso,pleasegivethedetails.
No.

9.Whatarethethreemostimportantissuesyouwouldaddressifelected,andhow?(75words
foreachissue)
A. Strengtheningnationalsecurity:Forthelastsevenyears,ournation'soutlookonnational
securityhasgonefromvigilancetonegligence,andwehaveseentheconsequences.
PresidentObamahasbeenasleepatthewheel.FromthegrowthofISIStothe
outrageousIrandeal,fromturmoilinSyriatothereemergenceofcoldwartensions,
threatstothehomelandandourallieshaveneverbeengreater.

B.ReformingtheVeteransAdministration:Nearly100,000veteransliveinCD5,butthey
cantaccesstheVA.In2014,160Oregonveteranscommittedsuicide.Oregonis
leaving$5billiondollarsperyearonthetableinearnedveteransbenefits.WhenI'm
electedtoCongress,overhaulingtheVAwillbeatoppriority.Iwillworktomakesure
wekeepthepromiseswemaketothemenandwomenwhoserveoutcountry.
C. SponsoringaBalancedBudgetAmendment:ABBAwouldbeoneofthefirstpiecesof
legislationthatIwouldsponsorasyourCongressman.Weallbalanceourcheckbooksat
home,andthatresponsibilitydoesntmagicallydisappearonceyougotoWashington.
10.Whatdoyouseeasotherimportantissues?
TheissuesthatfaceAmericaarealmostinnumerable.Fromimmigrationtohealthcare,toSocial
SecurityandMedicare,thereisalotthatneedstobedoneinWashingtonandweneedtosend
someonetherewhohasanintensedriveandafreshperspectivetofixthem.
11.Whatonlineand/orprintpublicationsdoyouregularlyreadtokeepabreastofissuesinthe
districtyouseektorepresent?
IreadOregonLive,TheStatesmanJournalandOPB;forlocalissuesandfornationalissuesThe
HeritageFoundation,ImprimisfromHillsdaleCollegeandNPR

12.Anyskeletonsinyourclosetorotherpotentiallyembarrassinginformationthatyoushould
disclosebeforeitcomesupinthecampaign?Anything(includinghealthissues)thatwould
affectyourabilitytoserveyourfullterm?Anychangesinyourlifesituationthatare
contemplatedorexpectedbeforetheelectionorbeforeyouwouldtakeoffice?
None.