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: Kathy B. Goss
Age: 67
(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 House District 20
Number of years living in the area you seek to represent:
25+ years in District 20, 67 years in the Willamette Valley
Are you a full-time resident of that area? Yes
City/town of residence: Salem, Oregon
Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home, number of grown
children): Col. Darr L. Goss, 3 grown children
Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate degrees earned):
High School Graduation, North Salem
Bachelor of Science, OSU, 1968;
Master of Science, WOSU, Guidance and Counseling, 1975;
Doctorate of Educational Administration, 1996, PSU
If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties:
Self employed, Commercial Real Estate Appraiser, Capital Valuation Group
Previous employers and when:
(1986-1990) - Coordinator Sp. Ed., Detroit School District Principal/Superintendent
(1994 & 1995) - Newport Pacific Corp. (Corporate Mo's Seafood Restaurants, Oyster Farms)
(1998 Present) - Capital Valuation Group.
Military service and when: None
Volunteer/civic/religious service and when:
Salem Assistance League 2000-2013, Salem Chamber of Commerce President 2004/2005 and
Executive Board 2001-2007, Marion County Children's Advocate 2000-2007 , Marion County
Citizen Review Board 2006-20013, State Fair Commissioner and President 2001-2005, Go
Salem Downtown Board and President 2006-2008, Kroc Center Executive Board 2003-2006,
Fund Raiser and Architectural and Contractor Selection Committee, Chemeketa Community
College Building Committee for Downtown Business Center 2010, Statesman Journal Editorial
Board 2009-2014, First Citizen of Salem with my husband Darr 2009 and Vern W. Miller Key
Citizen Award 2009.
Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when: None
Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when: None
Other prior political and government experience: Government appointment to Childrens Special
Advocate (CASA), Citizen Review Board (CRB), Oregon State Fair President and
Commissioner
How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information may be made public):
Mail address: 117 Commercial Street NE, Suite 345, Salem, Oregon 97301
E-mail address: kgoss@darrgoss.com
Web site URL: www.kathygossfororegon.com
Phone: (503) 375-6494
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?
Geographically diverse from the Cascades, Willamette Valley, beautiful coastline and high
desert areas.
Economically we have many hungry and unemployed while others are doing well and fully
recovered since the recession. In smaller towns and rural areas families have slipped from middle
class downward. Timber areas have suffered from the elimination of good paying mill and
logging jobs as well as revenue from O & C lands.
Politically, Oregon has been a blue state since Gov. Atiyeh left office. I believe we may be
leaning to purple, partially due to national politics and the economy as well as anger over the
health care situation.
Socially many areas have changed significantly because of immigration issues, and financial
stress.
2. When did you decide to run for this office, and why?
I wouldve liked to run for office for many years. I decided to run for this seat when Vicki
Berger announced her retirement. I have enjoyed many blessings in my life in this district. It will
be my goal as an elected official to help the next generation to have great educational and
employment opportunities and enjoy an overall high quality of life. I am running because the
current political and governmental environment has made me increasingly uncomfortable.
3. How much will your primary campaign cost (please be specific)?
It will be approximately $50,000 for the primary.
4. Who are your key endorsements from within the Mid-Valley?
Senator Jackie Winters, Senator Gene Derfler, past Mayor Janet Taylor, Right to Life, Oregon
Children and Families, Common Sense, Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance and others on both sides of
the aisle.
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.
I have never had an ethics violation, but I did pay a $1,000 fine and take a class over an appraisal
fight with the Appraisal Certification and Licensure Board (ACLB). At the time, the appraisal
was 7 years old, and the disagreement is still going on. The Administrator of the Board was
encouraged to resign by the Governors office; two bills were introduced in the Oregon
Legislature to tighten oversight of this semi-independent agency and this incident. I am unable to
discuss too much because we are still in court over limitation of my First Amendment rights.
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.
I have never filed for bankruptcy or been delinquent on taxes or other major accounts. The
licensing dispute above is the only suit I have filed and the only action that has been filed against
me.
7. Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific.
I believe I am the person with the proven experience, political acumen, and necessary leadership
to represent the district honestly and professionally. I have an extensive background and
experience and education and small business. Oregon is plagued with problems in both of these
fields. I believe I can offer common sense, experience and education to help formulate change. In
addition to my qualifications, I have the fire in my belly and the commitment and tenacity to
find policy solutions to our problems.
8. Describe your philosophy of governance:
I believe in a lean government with a customer service perspective. I believe in the two party
systems as a form of checks and balances. Total control by any one party leads to abuse. I
believe each of us must hold their government accountable for their decisions by expressing
themselves at the ballot box.
9. Give an example of a political mistake you made and what you learned from it:
The first mistake I made was hurriedly answering a question at an event that was misinterpreted
and publicized. Never again, I need to take the time to think through my answers, and put them
on paper so they wont be misconstrued.
10. What specific steps would you advocate to make government more open and transparent?
Obviously enforcing the open meeting law is important. A major problem exists when asking for
discovery in court actions. There seems to be no accountability by state agencies to provide
documents. The State should not be able to withhold materials, when it is in their favor not to
provide them. I wish I had answers to this.
11. What specific steps would you advocate to make government more fiscally effective?
First of all, I would require future estimates of revenue to be closer to actual figures. I realize
they are estimates, and the economic environment does change, but we plan budgets and
spending on these figures. I also think this question comes down to individual accountability.
Without it, we arent going to get there. If someone proposes that a bill will add jobsthere
should be a darn good reason why it doesnt.
12. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words
for each issue)
A. Improvement in Oregons economic environment. Eliminate laws and policy that are
detrimental to growth and jobs. Look at new bills in light of economic impact. Reconsider laws
and policy that have a negative economic impact. Tackle abuse of social services. Be sure social
services are serving only the truly needy among us. Businesses that accept government help need
to be accountable to meet the agreed requirements.
B. Improvement in our schools. Kids need to be spending more time in school. No more
furlough days, very minimal teacher training and education days. We need a real study of
lengthening the school year. Also, I would like to see regular communication with parents via the
internet.
C. Government accountability for decisions they have made such as health care, corruption in
state agencies, a sincere effort to reduce duplication, and focus on sound management and
administrative process.
13. What do you see as other important issues?
Huge dropout rate in our schools, no civics taught in school, no vocational education, and
inadequate advancement in student learning. We have inadequate learning techniques for
students that learn differently. Too few dollars spent on mental health identification and effective
treatment.
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?
I read The Statesman Journal every day, Oregonian on the days it comes out, Sunday New York
Times and Saturday Wall Street Journal. The Rasmussan and Strattor Geopolitical weekly E-
mails. I follow Oregon Legislative audio and video when in session.
15. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you want to
disclose before it comes up in the campaign?
I believe the closet is bare.
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?
I have personally followed bills in 2013 and 2014 through the Legislative process. I have
personally attended hearings for several bills, and I have testified for bills. I estimate I have
attended various legislative activities 10 or 12 times per session.
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.