Oregon Public Broadcasting

Chris Dudley and John Kitzhaber have not been seen together much this fall.

So the OPB News staff has set out to gather their answers to as many questions as we can and display them here so voters can compare the two candidates side-by-side.

The Issues 

Minimum Wage/Training Wage 

Do you support the constitutionality of a federal minimum wage, and do you support Oregon’s minimum wage including tip credit?

Chris Dudley
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“Yes and yes....”

John Kitzhaber
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“The answer is yes on both of those....”

Do you agree with the concept of a training wage? What do you suggest we do to provide job opportunities for young people?

Chris Dudley
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“When you talk about economic growth, you want jobs so that everyone can get jobs....”

John Kitzhaber
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“I think the answer is to actually create job opportunities and I don’t think you do that by shaving off reimbursement at the lower end....”

Partisanship 

How will you work across the aisle if you are elected, especially on the state budget?

Chris Dudley
9/15/2010
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce

"If we continue on our same path, we've got a $3.3 billion shortfall...."

John Kitzhaber
10/1/2010
NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon Banquet

"I have a long history of working across the aisle...."

Are you willing to propose policies and take other actions that may be contrary to groups that support you? And can you give examples of which groups?

Chris Dudley
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“I will not be beholden to any group....”

John Kitzhaber
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“Well let me take two groups....”

Experience 

Why should voters elect you based on your experience?

Chris Dudley
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“I do think it’s important to say that our last two governors have had over 60 years of experience, and here we sit....”

John Kitzhaber
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“As a doctor from rural Douglas county, a legislator and a governor I have literally spent most of my adult life in Oregon, working for Oregonians....”

Changes For Oregon's Future 

What are the most significant changes that are necessary in Oregon? How will you succeed where others have not in the past?

Chris Dudley
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“Well that’s, quite frankly, why I’m running....”

John Kitzhaber
10/6/2010
Statesman Journal Editorial Board Meeting

“First, the budget....”

Creating Jobs 

Please give an example of how you will create jobs in Oregon.

Chris Dudley
10/11/2010
Danner Boots tour

"I've talked about credits to companies that hire people off of welfare or unemployment...."

John Kitzhaber
10/18/2010
Gladstone High School tour

"The robust opportunity is bonding against anticipated energy savings...."

Oregon’s exports have dropped significantly the past couple of years. How would you promote Oregon products and services for export?

Chris Dudley
10/12/2010
ACE Academy Tour, Portland

“I think that’s going to be a big piece, and we have to take advantage that we’re on the Pacific Rim....”

John Kitzhaber
10/8/2010
Portland City Club

"We need to recognize, obviously, that our traded sector industries are the cornerstone of our long-term economic viability....”

What ideas do you have to create private sector jobs and raise the income levels of new and existing jobs in the long term? How will you work with Oregon cities on local economic development?

Chris Dudley
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"For too long in our state jobs have been an afterthought..."

John Kitzhaber
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"During my eight years as governor we created 128,000 jobs...."

Land Use 

Can you give a specific example of the way land is being used or not used in this state that bothers you?

Chris Dudley
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"The one thing I've found as I've traveled the state is that time and time again it came across that one set of rules does not apply everywhere..."

John Kitzhaber
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"Well, I don't want to see the casino built in the Gorge, there's one...."

State Government -vs- Local Government 

How do you plan to include local government in state government decisions?

Chris Dudley
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"So much of the state feels that they don't have a seat at the table and their voice is not being heard...."

John Kitzhaber
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"I think that state, local and city governments really are part of a common infrastructure designed to provide services to the citizens of the state of Oregon..."

Will you allow local voters to approve local option levies beyond the current five-year limitation? Will you allow cities to determine how to use locally raised lodging taxes? Will you veto unfunded state mandates?

Chris Dudley
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"Now is not the time when people want more taxes. It's not the answer...."

John Kitzhaber
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"I do support giving local voters the ability to extend the length of levy elections from five to ten years, for example..."

About Campaigning

What would you say is the biggest difference between you and the other candidate?

Chris Dudley
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"Besides size?...."

John Kitzhaber
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"There's a difference between a new face and new ideas...."

What is the point of all those negative ads?

Chris Dudley
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"I was hoping that we would just be able to talk about policy, talk about our ideas going forth...."

John Kitzhaber
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"Well I would say we're running more comparative ads than negative ads though I gotta tell you sometimes they feel pretty negative..."

Taxes And The State Budget

Would you support raising or establishing taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and sugary soft drinks to help close the budget gap?

Chris Dudley
10/12/2010
ACE Academy Tour, Portland

“I’m opposed....”

John Kitzhaber
10/8/2010
Portland City Club

“I have in fact supported raising taxes on alcohol and tobacco....”

What state-funded programs do you think we need to learn to live without because of the fiscal crisis?

Chris Dudley
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"I would say that there are certain things that we're going to have to eliminate...."

John Kitzhaber
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"Most of the budget is involved in three large areas...."

Please tell me what you will do to advance comprehensive tax reform in the state of Oregon. Please discuss the income tax, property tax, and sales tax.

Chris Dudley
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"People don't want to hear about more taxes...."

John Kitzhaber
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"It's time to diversify our tax base...."

How do you propose to resolve Oregon's fiscal crisis?

Chris Dudley
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"The answer cannot always be more taxes. It needs to be more taxpayers...."

John Kitzhaber
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"The challenge is not to view this as a cutting exercise, but rather...."

Will you honor Oregon's state-shared revenue commitments to its cities and counties?

Chris Dudley
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"Yes, I will respect the historic agreements that are in place...."

John Kitzhaber
9/25/2010
League of Oregon Cities Conference

"I would certainly veto any efforts to reduce revenue sharing...."

Education

What are your objectives for improving Oregon's education system?

Chris Dudley
9/15/2010
Albany Area Chamber of Commerce

"If we strengthen our education system from pre-K through college, we will strengthen job creation and innovation...."

John Kitzhaber
9/24/2010
Eugene City Club

"First we need to develop a unified zero through 20 transparent education budget..."

What is wrong with rewarding good teachers and finding a way to weed out the bad teachers?

Chris Dudley
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"Instead of racing to the top, Oregon has decided to run for the hills...."

John Kitzhaber
9/30/2010
KGW Debate

"Well there's nothing wrong with it. It depends on what your basis for measurement is...."

PERS 

The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) requires the government to cover a six percent contribution that employees would otherwise pay into the system. Switching from an employer contribution to an employee contribution could reduce state spending by roughly $750 million over the next two years. Would you support such a change?

Chris Dudley
10/12/2010
ACE Academy Tour, Portland

“I’ve talked about starting to peel that back, initially go from six to three....”

John Kitzhaber
10/8/2010
Portland City Club

“I do support revisiting the six percent pickup as a central element of negotiations....”

Public Safety 

The Governor’s Reset Cabinet recently observed that there is a disconnect between Oregonian’s perception that crime is on the rise and the reality that Oregon is safer today than it has been in decades. What would you do to address public safety concerns while still limiting the growing corrections budget?

Chris Dudley
10/12/2010
ACE Academy Tour, Portland

“I think we have to look at the costs....”

John Kitzhaber
10/8/2010
Portland City Club

“As Huxley once said, facts do not cease to exist just because you choose to ignore them....”

Rural Issues 

What are your plans to update transportation and communication services in rural Oregon?

Chris Dudley
10/11/2010
Danner Boots tour

"Well I think ConnectOregon's been a good project..."

John Kitzhaber
10/18/2010
Gladstone High School tour

"When I was governor before we made a significant investment in infrastructure for rural Oregon...."