Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2016 Primary Election

Thank you for responding to this questionnaire.

Why this matters: The Statesman Journal Editorial Board will use this questionnaire in deciding whether and whom to endorse for the May 17 General Election. Reporters, who operate separately from the Editorial Board, may use these answers in writing stories. Your answers may be published on StatesmanJournal.com and/or in the print newspaper.

We also ask that you respond to every question, instead of simply attaching campaign materials, resumes, etc. If you wish, you are welcome to send us lists of supporters, a resume, etc., in addition to this questionnaire.

Please return the finished questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an email or an attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com. (Handwritten, pdf, WordPerfect or fax responses don’t work.)

Important: Please return the questionnaire by the end of the day April 14.

Questions? Contact Editorial Page Editor Dick Hughes, 503-399-6727, dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com, or Editorial Assistant Nancy Harrington, 503-399-6864, nharring@StatesmanJournal.com.

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Your name as listed on the ballot: Kevin Stine

Age: 30

(If your age will change before May 31, please indicate your birthday. We want to ensure we use accurate ages in pre- and post-election editorials and news coverage.)

City/town of residence: Medford, OR

Political party, if this is a partisan office: Democratic

Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): US Senate

Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific area (ward, district, county, etc.) that you seek to represent? Yes

Number of current, consecutive years living within the district you seek to represent: 2

Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home or number of grown children):Casey – Wife – Married 9 yearsRiley – Daughter – 2 years old

Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate any degrees you earned):

BS Political Science – Southern Oregon University

If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties:

Previous employers and when:

Military service and when:

US Navy (2004 – 2013)

Volunteer/civic/religious service and when:

Please list all public offices to which you’ve been elected, and when:

Medford City Council. Elected in 2014. Still serving.

Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:

None

Other prior political and government experience:

If you are running for a position that involves a governing board in Oregon – such as city council, county board of commissioners, Legislature or State Land Board – how many meetings of that board have you attended in person during 2015 and 2016? How many have you watched online or on TV, if applicable?

How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be made public):

Mail address:PO Box 1209Medford, OR97501

E-mail address: info@kevinstine.com

Web site URL: www.KevinStine.com

Phone: (541) 301-7062

Facebook: www.facebook.com/StineforSenate

Other social media: www.twitter.com/KevinHStine

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 -- geographically, economically, politically and socially?

Oregon is among the most beautiful states. Housing in the bigger cities is very hard to come by, while poverty rates, and social service usage is high. Politically it is run with the largest population area being the heavily Democratic Portland-metro area being about 60% of the population of the state. Eastern counties are conservative and sparsely populated. Talk of a foolhardy “State of Jefferson” succession in the southern parts of the state.

2. What are the positives and negatives of this region (ward, district, county or state) that you wish to represent?

Positives – Scenery. Friendly people.

Negatives – Poverty. Disconnect between Portland-metro areas and the rest of the state.

3. What specific skills and experiences do you bring to the position, especially ones that would help turn those negatives into positives?

I come from a impoverish background and spent my adolescence in a poor, rural area. I relate well to many constituents, not because I heard someone talk about their struggles, but because I have the personal experience that they talk about.

I grew as a person in the military, working together for commons goals, and fighting for efficiency in a large bureaucratic system.

4. What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific.

The incumbent has spent 35 years in DC. He is out of touch with his constituents in terms of trade. He has voted for every large trade deal (NAFTA, CAFTA, China) and supports the forthcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership.

He puts the corporate donor class ahead of the working and middle class. He did not fight for the public option in the ACA. He constructed a plan with Paul Ryan to end Medicare as we know it.

5. Please list five specific accomplishments that you have achieved in politics or civic affairs:

1) Increased transparency of City of Medford government by having study sessions video recorded.

2) Helped the Council move from an 8-0 vote against medical marijuana dispensaries to a 7-1 vote for them upon joining the Council.

3) Finishing up getting an area for a number of homeless to have tiny houses to have shelter to help rebuild their lives.

4) Finishing up our Urban Growth Boundary expansion for the first time in 25 years.5) Finishing up our new Police and Fire Stations.

6. How much will your Primary Election campaign cost? (be specific)

Raised around $6,000 at this point.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words for each issue)

A. Income inequality – Propose measures that get rid of the loopholes and deductions put in by the corporate class. Increase the Federal minimum wage. Bring back more manufacturing jobs by instituting Fair Trade instead of Free Trade.

B. Health care – We need a Medicare-for-All / Single-payer system. The ACA, which while better than before, still leaves us with a broken system. Health care insurance companies continually are raising prices higher than inflation. More people have health insurance, but many still do not go to the doctor due to high deductibles. Drug prices should be able to be negotiated by Medicare. Health care should not be rationed based on the income level of the sick individual.

C. Social safety net – Social security, Medicare, Welfare, SNAP, and other programs for the poor and working class individuals has long been under attack. The Ron Wyden-supported “Welfare reform” has caused many of the poorest Oregonians to go without food, or having to hope that non-profits can help the growing number of people needing assistance. The poor in this Country do not have much of a voice in a Congress dominated by millionaires. I will be that voice.

10. What do you see as other important issues?

Increasing the trust between the police and civilians.De-listing marijuana and allowing interstate and intercontinental trade of it.Role of the United States in terms of military actions.Campaign finance reform.

11. What online and/or print publications do you regularly read to keep abreast of issues in the district you seek to represent?

Oregonian, Mail Tribune, Washington Post, New York Times. I follow journalists on Twitter and generally get news from articles they link to.

12. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you should disclose before it comes up in the campaign? Anything (including health issues) that would affect your ability to serve your full term? Any changes in your life situation that are contemplated or expected before the election or before you would take office?

No abuses of office, arrests, divorces, etc.

Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by April 14, 2016.