Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2016 General Election

Your name as listed on the ballot: Teresa Alonso Leon

Age: 41
City/town of residence: Woodburn, OR
Political party, if this is a partisan office: Democrat
Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): State Representative, House District
22
Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific area (district, county, etc.)
that you seek to represent? Yes.
Number of current, consecutive years living within the district you seek to represent: 2010 to present,
6 years
Family (name of spouse/partner; number and ages of children if at home, or number of grown
children): I live in Woodburn to be close to my parents, four siblings, and my nieces and nephews.
Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate degrees you earned):
I attended Woodburn and Gervais High Schools, then left high school early after earning my GED and
enrolled at Western Oregon University. After earning my Bachelors degree from Western, I earned my
Masters degree in Public Administration from Portland State University.
If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties: State High School Equivalency and GED
Administrator
Previous employers and when:
Program Manager - Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement (OCHA) 2003 2007
Program Director for College Assistance for Migrants Program (CAMP) - Portland Community College January 2007 September 2011
Gear Up Facilitator/Consultant - Oregon University Systems -April 2012
Independent Contractor/Consultant - IZO - November 2012
MPA 509 Organizational Experience Project - PSU Global Diversity and Inclusion Office - June 2012
December 2012
Global Diversity & Inclusion Office Diversity Advocacy Coordinator - Portland State University February 2013 June 2013
Military service and when:
None, but my brother was a M1A1 Tank Gunner and his last rank was a Corporal in the Marines.
Volunteer/civic/religious service and when:
Big Brother/Big Sister Program in 2013

Marion County Health Department/Community Health Improvement Partnership 2012

Marion County Health Department/Reducing Teen Pregnancy Project 2011/12
Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when:
Appointed to Woodburn City Council in 2013, currently serving
Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:
None
Other prior political and government experience:
Woodburn City Council, 2013 to present
How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be made public):
Mail address:
Friends of Teresa Alonso Leon
PO Box 42307
Portland, OR 97242
E-mail address:
teresaforhd22@gmail.com
Web site URL:
Electalonsoleon.com
Phone:
971-772-9565
Facebook and other social media:
https://www.facebook.com/TeresaAlonsoLeonForHD22
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?
House District 22, spanning from Woodburn through the North part of Salem, encompasses a vibrant
and diverse section of Oregon. This district is home all sorts of Oregonians, including a large
concentration of Latinos, Russians, seniors, working families, state employees, farmers, and more.
Politically, this district is progressive. Its been represented by my friend and fellow Democrat, Betty
Komp, for more than a decade. The people who live in this district want someone to represent their

needs strong schools for our kids, a fair economy for our working families and small businesses, and
security for our seniors so that they can retire with dignity.
2. Describe the positives and negatives of this region (ward, district, county or state) that you wish to
represent:
I love going out and talking to voters on the doors, because every day I get to hear from our community
members about why they love this area, and what they want to see improved. One thing I hear
frequently is that people love Woodburn and Salem because they are friendly communities, where
people know their neighbors and look out for one another. They are happy to see the work that has
been done to bring jobs and small businesses to the area, including the work I did on Woodburns city
council to expand the Urban Growth Boundary. However, I also hear from many concerned parents and
grandparents about a lack of education funding, especially in North Salem. We need to do more to fund
our schools, including career and technical education, and making sure college is more
affordable.
3. What specific skills or experiences do you have that would make you effective in this office?
In my time as a Woodburn City Councilor and throughout my career I have been focused on creating real
results by working collaboratively to create change. Whether its bringing together education experts
from all across the state and country to increase our GED pass rates to among the best in the nation, or
expanding Woodburns Urban Growth Boundary by bringing together competing interests to
compromise, I have experience as an effective leader. I also know this community better than most. I
was raised in Woodburn and work in Salem, so this district truly is my home.

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

I am not a career politician. I have dedicated my life to giving back to our community - from advocating
for students access to education to volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and serving on
Woodburns City Council. Not only that, but I also grew up here and share the same values and
experiences as so many people in our community - I believe this combined with my record of service
make me the most qualified to represent House District 22.
5. How much will your General Election campaign cost? Be specific.
Our budget for the General Election has not been finalized, but we plan on raising and spending a
minimum of $200,000.
6. 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.
7. 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.

8. Is there anything (such as health issues, etc.) that would affect your ability to serve your full term?
Are any relevant changes in your life situation expected or contemplated before the election or before
you would take office?
No.
9. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and how? (75 words for
each issue)
A. I will strengthen our schools by reinvesting in our education system. We need to lower our class sizes
so we can increase graduation rates and expand career and technical education programs. I also believe
that we must increase access to higher education, whether that is a four-year university, a community
college, or apprenticeship and vocational programs.
B. We need a fair economy that puts our small businesses and working families first. I will work to give
small businesses access to the capital that they need to grow, expand, and put people back to work. I
know that good-paying jobs are critical for our working families, so I will stand up for living wage jobs, a
well-educated and highly trained workforce, and equal pay for equal work.
C. I will fight to ensure that our seniors retire with dignity. Elder abuse and neglect need to be met with
tough penalties so that our seniors are cared for with the respect that they deserve. We also need to
make saving for retirement accessible to more Oregonians, so fewer of our seniors in the future live in
poverty.
10. What do you see as other important issues?
I believe that we need to have a transparent and accountable government, so that the voices of
everyday Oregonians are heard in our State government. By holding our government accountable and
reducing the influence of big money in politics we can ensure that government spending goes towards
investing in public schools, making college more affordable, and building strong job training
programs so businesses can grow and Oregonians can prosper.
11. There is a strong anti-government sentiment in much of the nation and Oregon. How would you
deal with that?
I dont think Oregonians are anti-government, but they are tired of feeling like our elected leaders are
career politicians who work for special interests, not for the voters who elect them. When I am out
talking to voters in our community I often meet people who are shocked that I am taking the time to
come and talk to them about the issues that they care about, but that is what governing is all about to
me. I want to be a strong voice for our community, and I believe that begins by first listening to the
concerns of people in our district. As a legislator I will make it clear that my constituents come first, and
that they are who I am in office to serve.
12. How would you evaluate the work of the Attorney General's Public Records Reform Task Force.
Are the proposed changes adequate, inadequate or just right?
I believe that reforming our public records laws in order to create clear timelines for response while
clarifying existing exemptions is a vital step to ensuring that our government is accountable to
Oregonians. I am glad to see that the work of this task force is ongoing, so that other barriers to public

access to information is addressed, including the sometimes prohibitive cost of requesting public
records.
13. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you should
disclose before it comes up in the campaign?
No.
14. As a political candidate, your views on national politics are relevant to voters. Whom do you
support for U.S. president in the General Election?
Hillary Clinton
15. As a political candidate, your views on state ballot measures are relevant to voters. Please indicate
whether you favor (YES) or oppose (NO) each of these measures:
Measure 94, Amends Constitution: Eliminates judges mandatory retirement age. YES
Measure 95, Amends Constitution: Allows investments in equities by public universities. YES

Measure 96, Amends Constitution: Dedicates 1.5% of state lottery net proceeds to services for Oregon
veterans. YES
Measure 97, statutory: Increases corporate minimum tax when sales exceed $25 million. YES. Through
my career in education policy, I see every day that our schools are suffering and its affecting our
students ability to achieve the American dream. If the measure passes, I will make sure as a legislator
that every dollar raised goes toward helping our schools, making healthcare more affordable, and
supporting our seniors.
Measure 98, statutory: Requires state funding for dropout prevention, career and college readiness
programs in high schools. YES
Measure 99, statutory: Creates Outdoor School Education Fund funded through Lottery to provide
outdoor school programs statewide. YES
Measure 100, statutory: Bans purchase or sale of parts/products from certain wildlife species. YES

Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached
Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by Sept. 12, 2016.