Oregon Public Broadcasting


Oregon’s First Congressional district is both rural and urban. It begins at the mouth of the Columbia River, and includes Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill counties. Southwest Portland is also part of it. A Democrat has represented the district in U.S. congress for the past 35 years. David Wu’s held the seat for 12. Now Oregon’s primary election deadline is a little more than 2 months away. Four Republicans and one democrat are challenging him for that job.


About 75 people  gathered recently to hear Republican candidate John Kuzmanich speak at a St. Helens retirement community. Most lived or worked at the home, but a dozen or so came from farther away.  Robert Spears is a Physician for Kaiser Permanente. He hasn’t decided who he’s going to vote for in the first district Republican primary.  “My biggest concerns are the economy, the value of the dollar, unemployment. Those are the big issues I’m listening for," he said.
 
And those are issues that the Republican primary candidates for the first are eager to talk about. All four are men new to politics. Rob Cornilles leads the pack in fundraising, according to the candidates’ latest filings with the Federal Election Commission. He owns a sports marketing business called Game Face. 


“My wife and I have three sons that we’ve raised in the Tualatin community. And I started a business in Washington County fifteen years ago. And I’ve worked in just about every major market in the United States," he said.



John Kuzmanich is also hoping to represent the first congressional district. He’s the owner of US Nationwide Mortgage in Beaverton. “My experience is in banking, mortgages, real estate. Making a payroll. Balancing a budget. Job creation. That is some of the things we’re sorely missing in congress today," he said.
 


Doug Keller, another contender, grew up in Portland and got a degree from the Naval Academy in Maryland. He spent 20 years as an officer in the Navy, flying helicopters and traveling around the world. 
 
“I don’t want government to be solving problems. I want to solve my own problems. That’s what the country is founded on, individualism," he said.
 


Finally, there’s Steve Brodhead, who filed as a Republican and said he is staying in the race, after some confusion about whether he might drop out.  Brodhead is a former air force flight engineer and reservist with some business experience as well.  “There’s maybe three issues that are the big issues and that’s deficit spending, illegal immigration, and peace through strength," he said.



All the Republican candidates have similar  platforms on the economy. They call for smaller government. Market based solutions.  All four say they opposed the tax raising measures 66 and 67, approved by voters in January.  The best way to create jobs in Oregon is to create a friendlier environment for businesses, said Cornilles. "With fiscal irresponsibility, we’re seeing record deficits. An overuse of spending. An expansion of government," he said.
 


Kuzmanich shares Cornilles concern about spending. He says what sets him apart is grassroots credibility. "What needs to be done to beat congressman Wu is we need to run somebody who can both energize the base of the Republican Party and the movement out in the streets, the tea party, and the grassroots. And I’m a member of all these organizations," he said.
 


But Cornilles has raised $230,000, almost all from individual contributions. That’s brought him to the attention of the national Republican Congressional Committee. 
 
“Am I with the grassroots people? Of course I am. In fact, they’re with me. It’s illustrated by the number of people who are supporting me, by the number of people who are making individual financial contributions," he said.
 


Kuzmanich has raised $36,000 and put $17,000 of his own into the race. Brodhead has loaned his campaign $125,000.  Keller said he has raised $8,000, and has turned down two contributions from political action committees. 


On the Democratic side, Wu’s opponent in the primary is David Robinson. Robinson is a graduate of the Naval Academy and served as a civil engineer with the Navy, from Somalia to Iceland. More recently, he managed an infrastructure project for the city of Hillsboro.
“We have to reinvigorate and revitalize our transportation and logistics network. We have railroads that have fallen into disrepair.

Because of that manufacturers and other job producers will not relocate to this state”

Robinson says he’s running against Wu because the congressman hasn’t been engaged enough.  Wu said his record shows his accomplishments.



“I have been a workhorse and not a show horse. I personally got a provision in the healthcare bill to provide for healthcare information technology. That will build Oregon jobs. I was an important part of passing this increase in the federal Pell Grant that will allow more middle class students to attend college," he said.
 


Wu’s opponents are all in for a tough race. The congressman has raised about $500,000.