Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's 5th Congressional District

For both Democrats and Republicans, Oregon’s 5th Congressional district is like the enormous pink stuffed teddy bear on the carnival midway of mid-term elections. They want to win it!   This elusive prize has been in Democratic hands since 1997. It’s held right now by Democrat Kurt Schrader. He’ll face either Scott Bruun or Fred Thompson in November. Given the polarized climate that’s prevailed during Kurt Schrader’s first term in Congress, he’ll need all his well-known skills for maintaining relationships, and working rooms  - like this one. These Willamette Valley growers, mostly nurseries and specialty farmers, have taken hard hits in the past two years. Elizabeth Peters, with the Oregon Association of Nurseries, said, “The nursery industry is heavily hit by a downturn in development growth across the country. 75% of our product is shipped to other states.”When homebuilding screeched to a halt, it meant nursery job losses here in rural Clackamas County.Schrader, in addition to maintaining a veterinary practice, also farms.But to bolster his farming cred still further, he brought along back-up: Minnesota Congressman Colin Peterson, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee.

While most of the conversation concerns what Oregon specialty growers need from the next federal Farm Bill, Peterson takes time to assure the group, Schrader has his ear to talk about Oregon problems.

“You’ve got a great guy here representing you. It’s harder to get people on my committee who are truly intereste din agriculture, and have some expertise and background. When I get someone like Kurt, I want to make sure I keep him around," he said.

 That was just one stop as Schrader spent last week travelling the 5th District, checking in with these farmers, Coastal fishermen, key city voters in places like Lake Oswego and Salem.

Schrader acknowledges his re-election efforts have not been in high gear. He only brought on a campaign manager last on April 1st.   And he says he knows many voters aren’t happy with the Democratic Congress.

"The brand has lost some of its initial  luster from six or eight months ago. I still feel very, very confident, and I think I’m the right fit for this district. There aren’t many Democrats who could talk directly with the Farm Bureau and the Nursery Association, and also be able to talk to the environmental community, the education community, and the health care community like I can," he said.Having a record is good for first-termer Schrader in some ways. He can talk up his amendments to the new health care law, and his work getting a big NOAA project sited at Newport. But it also provides a shooting gallery full of targets for his Republican detractors – from the bruising health care vote to the stimulus package.

Enter the two contenders in the 5th District primary. Scott Bruun “I’m worried, when I look to Washington DC, the federal government is mortgaging my future, our future, and our childrens’ future, said Scott Bruun, who works in finance.

He’s served in the state legislature since 2004, winning a reputation as a smart rep, and a hard worker. He’s raising a six-digit war chest – still far behind Schrader’s $560,000 cash on hand.

Bruun talks a lot on the stump about the economy. “We have to have a federal government who lays a ground work that promotes and incentives private sector job creation. That’s the missed opportunity of the past year and a half," he said.Bruun sees tax cuts as a primary tool for reaching that goal. The second candidate in the Republican primary is Fred Thompson, a retired Georgia Pacific executive who calls himself an outsider to the political process. “We have a real spending problem right now in our government, and we also have a lack of jobs, and we need to get people back to work. I know a lot of wealthy people that are afraid to put their money to work - commit their revenue to build business and stuff because they’re just unsure of what the government’s going to do," he said.The 5th district is compromised of Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Lincoln Counties, along with most of Clackamas County and some of Benton.  Amy Vander Vliet is a regional economist with the Oregon Employment Department. She said those counties’ - in many ways - mirror the bigger picture for the state’s economic problems.“Statewide, if you look at the last two years, t he state is down about 8, 8.5% in terms of jobs. The 5th district down a little over 7%, so not quite as much since this whole thing started," she said.The economy of the 5th District relies not only on agriculture, but also state government, some manufacturing, and service industries.

Generally speaking, the diverse cities of the 5th have ended their economic freefall, but they’re a long way from anything that looks like recovery.

That leaves voters listening for a candidate who can convince them that better times can return to Western Oregon.