Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2014 General Election

Thank you for responding to this questionnaire.

Why this matters: The Statesman Journal Editorial Board will use this questionnaire in deciding
whom to endorse for the Nov. 4 General Election. Your answers also will be shared with
reporters and probably will be published in the newspaper and/or on our website,
StatesmanJournal.com.
We also ask that you respond to every question, instead of simply attaching campaign materials,
resumes, etc. You are welcome to send us lists of supporters, a resume, etc., in addition to this
questionnaire.
If you completed our questionnaire for the 2014 Primary Election, you will notice that some
questions are similar. (This questionnaire is shorter and several questions have been changed.)
Please complete this questionnaire instead of simply referring to past answers.
Please return the finished questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an email or an attached Word
document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com. (Handwritten or fax responses dont work.)
Important; Please submit the questionnaire by the deadline listed in our email to you.
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 as listed on the ballot: Tootie Smith
Age: 57
(If your age will change before Nov. 30, 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: Molalla/Mulino, I live in the country not a town
Political party(ies), if this is a partisan office: R
Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): Congressional District 5
Are you currently a full-time resident of the district you seek you represent? I lived in the
district for 52 years until 2011 when the boundary line was moved one mile from my family
farm. I have now lived one mile outside the district for the last three years. It should be noted
that a candidate is not required to live in the district in federal races.
Number of current, consecutive years living in the district you seek to represent: 54 minus time
attending college.
Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home or number of grown
children): Married Nathan 37 years, one adult daughter.
Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate degrees you earned):
BS in Management and Communications, Concordia University Portland, cum laude
College of Legal Arts, Portland.
If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties: 4
th
generation farmer and business
owner of hazelnut farm; owner of Prairie House Inn, a bed and breakfast; current Clackamas
County Commissioner.
Previous employers and when: Self-employed business owner for past 25 years; State of Oregon,
2001-2005; Oregon Family Council, St. Vincent DePaul; Co-owner Rural Resources, a logging
company.
Military service and when: none
Volunteer/civic/religious service and when: Brain Injury Assn. of Oregon 2004-2011; St James
Catholic Church, 1995-2010; Clackamas County Republican Party delegate, 2002-2012. Molalla
Chamber of Commerce 2005-2009.
Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when: Precinct Committee
Person, PCP, 2002 to present; Molalla Local Schools Committee, 1996-1999?; State e!resentative
"ouse #istrict 1$% 2001&2005' Clac(amas County Commissioner% 201) to !resent.
Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when: Ran for Clackamas County
Commissioner 2004, general election.
Other prior political and government experience:
Elected Chair of Clackamas County Republican Central Committee, 2004.
How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be made public):
Mail address: PO Box 226, Molalla Or. 97038
E-mail address: www.tootiesmith.com
Web site URL: tootie@tootiesmith.com, Facebook: Tootie Smith for Congress
Phone: 503-949-5667
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?
Oregons Congressional District 5 can be described as a mix of urban, suburban, and
rural agriculture and timber lands sprinkled with smaller cities. The largest city is Salem.
The district stretches from Clackamas, County with the largest population, to Marion
County, northern slivers of Benton and Polk Counties, all the way to the Oregon Coast
covering Lincoln and Tillamook Counties. Politically, this district is a swing district with
a large voting block being non-affiliated voters. CD-5 has been economically depressed
due to decline in timber industry, building and agriculture related sectors. Socially, it
represents many interests and lifestyles.
2. What are the positives and negatives of this region (district, county or state) that you wish
to represent?
The positives and negatives are the same. CD 5 has great natural resource base -- starting
with vast timberlands, to the worlds richest top soil in the Willamette Valley, to
abundant fisheries off Oregon coast. The federal government has such a tight vise of
regulation stopping the success of these natural resources that multiple use for the people
to return our state to an economic engine.
3. What specific skills and experiences do you bring to the position that would help turn those
negatives into positives?
I have great hope for the future of our state and I never quit. Im not afraid to promote
new ideas when the old ones fail. Thats why Im trying to convince Congress to return our
federal lands back to Oregon so our timberland can return to a healthy condition without the
threat of wildfires. I have a long memory and remember what a prosperous Oregon looks like.
(See answer to Q #10.) My record as a business owner can be described as starting from nothing,
doing well, suffering the recession, and coming out on the other side wiser and more
appreciative.
5. What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific.
I have life experience; job experience, a great compassion, understanding and fit with the
districts voters. I understand peoples struggles because I lived them; I understand their distrust
and frustration with politicians in Washington DC, because I agree with them. I have won a
commissioner seat from a county of 380,000 people before running for Congress, my opponent
hasnt. Running successful campaigns while being outspent, governing through hard economic
times, taking hard sometimes unpopular votes, solving problems, starting a business from scratch
and succeeding in it all of these qualify me far better than my opponent. Ive spent a lifetime
living and working in this area through good times and bad. I know the people, and their desire
for their families to be secure and prosperous and for their children to be well-educated and find
decent jobs in the area.
6. Please list five specific accomplishments that you have achieved in politics or civic affairs:
Defeated an incumbent for Clackamas County Commission against the odds
Deputy Majority Leader in Oregon House after one term
As President of the Brain Injury Assn. Of Oregon, passed Maxs Law, brain concussion
education for sports. Oregon was the first state.
While in Oregon legislature, passed a series of laws that helped family farmers for
succession planning to heirs who wish to farm
Passed legislation which returned the manufacture of Oregons license plates to a SW
Portland company from Montreal, Canada.
7. How much will your General Election campaign cost (be specific)?
$100,000
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words
for each issue)
*. Return CD 5 to a natural resource economic engine starting with the Transfer Federal Forest
Lands back to the people of the state of Oregon for multiple use. Many county
commissioners% state le+islators and voters a+ree that ,re+on should be in char+e of their
own forest land mana+ement. -he federal +overnment.s !olicies have !ut ,re+on.s natural
resource base at ris(. -he , / C 0ill continues to be a !olitical football where the +ame
never ends. It would restore mana+ement authority to the counties and is lon+ overdue.
Clac(amas County is a +ood e1am!le and mana+es 2$00 acres of its own timberland.
B. Reset health care by reversing Obamacare (ACA) so !eo!le will have at least the same
insurance covera+e as before ,bamacare. I would do his by 1. -ort eform. 2ut limits on
lawsuits so doctors can freely !ractice medicine without insurance com!anies dictatin+
treatment. 2. Ma(e health care !atient&centered and !atient&controlled% and offer menu&style
selection in their health insurance. ). "ealth insurance should be !ortable% stayin+ with the
individual re+ardless of em!loyment. 3. #evelo! a hi+h ris( !ool to cover e1!ensive !re&e1istin+
conditions% understandin+ that these !remiums will be calculated differently in the mar(et!lace
and that all insurance com!anies must contribute. 0est way to lower cost is to in4ect more
mar(et&based com!etition into the system% such as !oolin+.
C. Focus on economic policy. In Washington I will support a budget that is balanced and
doesnt raise taxes, utilizes hard-earned taxpayer dollars wisely, and preserves and protects
Medicare and Social Security for the people who rely on those programs. The budget should
reduce wasteful spending, fraud and borrowing. By passing legislation that actually
balances the budget will give businesses a sign that government is serious about making our
country prosperous.

11. What do you see as other important issues? The possibility of re-entering a war without
strong leadership from our president. I dont see a clear strategy presented to the American
people that would ensure victory over our enemies. Secure and strengthen our borders.
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?
I have the most angst about closing down my bed and breakfast during the last economic
downturn, i.e. the depression. The thought of missing mortgage payments haunted me. Over
time, I renegotiated my commercial loan with the lender and became current. In the process, my
credit rating took a hit. A short sale was an option that many took, but instead I stubbornly kept
my property. It has now been open for many years and is prosperous. What I learned is that
owning a successful business is very hard and to not take anything for granted, including
prosperity or the taxpayers money.
Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document to
Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by the requested deadline.