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:
Age: 42
(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: Salem, Oregon
Political party(ies), if this is a partisan office: Democrat
Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): State Representative Dist 21
Are you currently a full-time resident of the district you seek you represent? Yes
Number of current, consecutive years living in the district you seek to represent:
18 Years
Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home or number of grown
children): Carol Suzuki, Kohana Jade Clem (age 7)
Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate degrees you earned):
BS Oregon State University
If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties:
OnSite PC Help, LLC owner, Pangaea Trading Company, LLC co-owner, State Representative
Previous employers and when: Advocate for Oregon State to the 1993 Legislature, Legislative
Aide in the State Senate in the 1995 session, Served for 5 years with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden,
95-99, Learned how to run my wifes familys orchard for a few years while simultaneously
starting my computer business that I own and operate to this day.
Military service and when: None
Volunteer/civic/religious service and when: 6 years on the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission, 4 as Chair. Several years on the Salem City Club Board 2 as Chair. Board
Member of Willamette Academy. Board Member - YMCA, First Chairperson of the, now
annual, giving campaign for the Salem Senior Center. Volunteer computer class instructor for the
Salem Senior Center. 12 year member of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. Several years
as a member of LeTip of Salem primarily business related.
Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when: State Representative 2006,
2008, 2010, 2012.
Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when: None
Other prior political and government experience: Advocate for Oregon State to the 1992 Special
Session and the 1993 Legislature, Legislative Aide in the State Senate in the 1995 session,
Served for 5 years with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, 95-99. Member and then Chairman of a State
Agency over sight commission 2000-2006. Continuous involvement in the Legislature for the
last 22 years.
How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be made public):
Mail address: PO Box 987, Salem, OR 97308
E-mail address: brian@brianclem.com
Web site URL: www.brianclem.com
Phone: 503 999-1212
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? A microcosm of the state. Some neighborhoods liberal
and some conservative overall Centrist. It is heavy on folks who work in State Government ,
Agriculture is very important to the regional economy.
2. What are the positives and negatives of this region (district, county or state) that you wish to
represent? I love my district and wouldnt trade it for any other It has folks who have a higher
than average level of knowledge about State government and how it operates. It has a lot of
people who care a lot more about common sense and effectiveness than ideological stands. State
government is the major employer so revenue downturns tend to hit harder. The role of
agriculture and food processing is a great strength we should do more to capitalize on. I am
working on several initiatives I can discuss in person.
3. What specific skills and experiences do you bring to the position that would help turn those
negatives into positives?
I am an effective and experienced citizen-Legislator, who still knows what it is like to run a
business on a daily basis. I am an independent thinker and my actions in office demonstrate that I
am committed to making our Legislature a functioning, successful, problem solving body and I
am not beholden to partisan ideologies or unduly influenced by caucus pressures.
5. What separates you from your opponent(s)? I will let you decide the differences between
myself and my opponent.
6. Please list five specific accomplishments that you have achieved in politics or civic affairs:
Most recently, I brokered the Lane Use Grand Bargain which was passed unanimously in 2014. .
It settled a long standing lawsuit and will guide development for the next 50 years in Washington
County In 2013, I was able to pass the next step of the Buy Oregon effort which is to list the
amount of dollars spent in Oregon vs Outside of Oregon on the States transparency website. I
had 3 major pieces of legislation pass in 2011 that I had been working on for years. HB 2800,
3000 and 3100 Farm to School funding, Buy Oregon law and State Hospital admissions (GEI)
reform. Looking back further, I authored the Metolius Protection Act (HB 3298) in 2009 and
annexation voting reform in 2007.
7. How much will your General Election campaign cost (be specific)? 40,000
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 though a couple of years ago my mortgage company erroneously paid my property tax bill
late from my escrow dollars that they had already collected. When I notified them of it, they then
apologized, paid them and any late fees and furnished me a letter explaining why they made
error. It was during a re-fi and they basically screwed up.
10. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words
for each issue)
A. Creating Jobs and helping the economy Creating a Certified Oregon brand, Buy
Oregon implementation, Investment in smart Economic Development (Trade office re-
organization, helping home grown businesses expand aka Economic Gardening)
B. Improving Education Reducing class sizes, increasing funding, implementing the long list
of recent changes (2011 Education Package)
C. Balancing the Budget Revenue Restructuring (Both State and Local)
11. What do you see as other important issues?
Keeping Oregon, Oregon. Having an economic development strategy that plays to our strengths
and promoting innovation. Healing urban/rural divides, promoting bipartisanship and good
government.
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
Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document to
Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by the requested deadline.