Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2012 Primary Election Thank you for responding to this questionnaire, which is for

use by Statesman Journal Editorial Board members in evaluating candidates for potential endorsements. Your answers also will be shared with reporters and may be published in the newspaper and/or on our website, StatesmanJournal.com. Remember: Any information you provide may be made public. Please fill in your answer to each question and return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an attached Word document. The editorial board e-mail: Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com Deadline for submitting your questionnaire: 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 3
Questions? Contact Editorial Page Editor Dick Hughes, 503-399-6727, dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your name: Age: 62

Fred Thompson

(If your age will change before the May 15 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): 5th Congressional District, Oregon I plan to attend the editorial board meeting scheduled for: April 6th 11:00 AM Number of years living in the area you seek to represent: 15 in Marion County; over 35 years in Oregon total Are you a full-time resident of that area? Yes City/town of residence: Salem Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home, number of grown children): Wife: Stephanie A Thompson, two sons: Connor, 15 & Sean, 13 Education: Presidential Key Executive MBA, Pepperdine University, B.S., Linfield College, A.S., Apprenticeship Trades, Lane Community College- Oregon Journeyman Millwright Certification, Licensed Journeyman Electrician, Welding Certifications in MIG & TIG Current occupation/employer: Licensed Insurance Agent.

Employment, military and volunteer history: President & CEO, for manufacturing facility converting agricultural waste into building materials, Project Engineer & Group Manager for Georgia-Pacific Corp. Construction Supervisor for Eugene Water & Electric Board. Worked in Canada, Mexico, and Germany. Sergeant U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division- Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam Service, 1970-1971 Honorable discharge. Board President, Salem Tennis and Swim Club. 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and former Grand Knight for Queen of Peace Catholic Parish, Salem. Former member of Oregon Electrical Apprenticeship Council. Active in charitable, church and Boy Scout activities including duties as Assistant Scoutmaster. Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when: Junction City School Board Budget Committee, 1985-1986 Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when: Candidate for Oregon 5th Congressional District 2010 Primary. Other prior political and government experience: Collaboration with Premier Gary Filmon, Manitoba Canada. Established a 300-farmermember Co-op while working with his staff to facilitate a joint venture into the agricultural waste manufacturing industry. How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information may be published): Mail address: 4742 Liberty Rd. #371 Salem, OR 97302 E-mail address: stephfredlaw@aol.com Web site URL: www.fredthompson4congress.com Phone: 503 428 7479 Fax: N/A Please limit your response to each of the following questions to about 75 words. 1. Why did you decide to run for this office? During my time in Vietnam, I learned that our Government can make tremendous mistakes. America has lost its focus on middle-income citizens. Politicians appear to be catering to their respective parties and special interest groups to get reelected, rather than focusing on what is good for the country as a whole. 2. How much will your primary campaign cost? $5,000 -$20,000

3. Key endorsements you have received: Endorsements will be requested after the primary 4. 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. 5. 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 bankruptcy or delinquency. I was once sued by a disgruntled business partner because I refused to go along with his dishonest business scheme. 6. Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific. I have a tremendous real-world business background along with years of working with government (EPA/OSHA and other government agencies) dealing with business issues. I have signed both sides of payroll checks and have dealt with both blue-collar and whitecollar employees. I have worked in foreign countries and dealt with government agencies from ranging from school boards and cities to the state, federal and provincial entities to solve problems, and to create jobs. My Vietnam combat experience gives me additional insight of what our military needs now and in the future. 1. Real world experience is needed to solve the situations we have facing the Nation. My wide range of experiences from the Military, government and corporate experience gives me that. 2. Ive lived in Oregon 35 + yrs. and feel that I understand the needs of Oregonians from every walk of life. My opponent has only been living in the area for about 2 years. I do not feel her short time here allows her to have in-depth knowledge of specific needs of all the Oregonians that she would represent. 3. The country needs someone who has experience creating results, proven leadership abilities and communication skills that can relate to diverse groups of individuals and create results. My formal education, trades training, experiences growing up on a dairy farm and working for a government agencies around the U.S. gives me the advantage on day one. My adult personal life experiences and business experience will allow me to be able to communicate, lead and create results affecting a variety of political issues and business areas. I do not feel that my opponents insular academic credentials and limited private business background experiences will allow her to create real world results. 7. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected? How? (75 words
for each issue)

A. Jobs - There is only one way to bring real jobs in sufficient numbers back to Oregon. We must bring back manufacturing and to create family wage-paying jobs for Oregon, including from our #1 renewable resource-timberlands. It is possible to responsibly harvest while protecting Oregons clean water, clean air and wildlife habitat. To create jobs, we must create a pro-business tax and regulation environment.

B. Debt - Congress must balance the federal budget. The budget can be balanced and taxes lowered, while still meeting our obligations to key federal programs. We must terminate over-regulating and over-taxing so our economy improves and federal income rises, making sure funding goes directly to Social Security, Medicare, and defense, veterans and other essential programs without depletion by Washington bureaucrats. C. Energy Energy imports are expensive and a substantial part of our economic downturn. The high cost of oil causes increases in the cost of doing business and the cost of living: the cost of food and other goods increase, and our industries are unable to expand in their current markets and to create future opportunities. We must allow private industry to develop our energy resources without governmental subsidies or impediments. 8. What do you see as other important issues? Focus on smaller and more localized government, (balanced budget) U.S. border protection, Individual and states rights. Improve Oregons suffering education system including reinstatement of education for trades Defend the timber, farming, dairy, wine, greenhouse, mining and fishing industries. Protect our environment 9. What magazines, newspapers and Web publications do you regularly read to keep up on the news and developments in your areas of interest? Wall Street Journal, Statesman Journal, Oregonian, USA today. 10. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you want to disclose before it comes up in the campaign? No Skeletons.