StatesmanJournalminiquestionnairefor2016PrimaryElection

Thankyouforrespondingtothisquestionnaire.
Whythismatters:TheStatesmanJournalEditorialBoardwillusethisquestionnaireindeciding
whetherandwhomtoendorsefortheMay17GeneralElection.Reporters,whooperate
separatelyfromtheEditorialBoard,mayusetheseanswersinwritingstories.Youranswersmay
bepublishedonStatesmanJournal.comand/orintheprintnewspaper.
Wealsoaskthatyourespondtoeveryquestion,insteadofsimplyattachingcampaignmaterials,
resumes,etc.Ifyouwish,youarewelcometosenduslistsofsupporters,aresume,etc.,in
additiontothisquestionnaire.
PleasereturnthefinishedquestionnairetotheEditorialBoardasanemailoranattachedWord
documenttoSalemed@StatesmanJournal.com.(Handwritten,pdf,WordPerfectorfaxresponses
dontwork.)
Important:PleasereturnthequestionnairebytheendofWednesday,April20.
Questions?ContactEditorialPageEditorDickHughes,5033996727,dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com,or
EditorialAssistantNancyHarrington,5033996864,nharring@StatesmanJournal.com.

Yournameaslistedontheballot:ChuckBennett
Age:67
(IfyouragewillchangebeforeMay31,pleaseindicateyourbirthday.Wewanttoensureweuse
accurateagesinpreandpostelectioneditorialsandnewscoverage.)
City/townofresidence:Salem,Oregon
Politicalparty,ifthisisapartisanoffice:
Positionyouareseeking(nameofposition,districtnumber,etc.):MayorofSalem
Areyoucurrentlyafulltimeresidentwithintheboundariesofthespecificarea(ward,district,
county,etc.)thatyouseektorepresent?Yes

Numberofcurrent,consecutiveyearslivingwithinthedistrictyouseektorepresent:Ivelived
intownfor28consecutiveyearsnow.
Family(nameofspouse/partner,numberandagesofchildrenifathomeornumberofgrown
children):
CherieBennett
Onedaughter,Jill,45shelivesinOhio
Youreducation(highschool,trade,college,postbaccalaureate;indicateanydegreesyou
earned):
WillametteUniversitygraduatedwithBAin1970
CentralValleyH.S.,Veradale,WAgraduatedwithadiplomain1966
Ifemployed,currentoccupation,employerandjobduties:
DirectorofGovernmentRelations,ConfederationofOregonSchoolAdministrators,representing
schooladministratorsonstateandfederaleducationpolicyandfundingissues
Previousemployersandwhen:
WoodburnIndependent,CapitalJournal,StaytonMailreporterandeditor19721982.
OregonHouseofRepresentatives198385
Selfemployedpoliticalandgovernmentaffairsconsultant19852000
2000PresentCOSA
Militaryserviceandwhen:
None
Volunteer/civic/religiousserviceandwhen:
SalemCityCouncil2007PresentThisincludesserviceonawholerangeofcouncil,cityand
communitycommittees
SalemPlanningCommission,LibraryBoard,CulturalTourismPromotionAdvisoryBoard,
BudgetCommittee,RevenueTaskForce,DowntownAdvisoryBoard,andseveralothers
PentacleTheatreBoardofDirectorsandfounderoftheNorthwestPlaywrightsWorkshopwith
Pentacle.
FoundingmemberandboardmemberFriendsofOpalCreek
Boardmember,OregonCouncilfortheHumanities
OregonLawCommissionworkgroupongovernmentethicsreform

Pleaselistallpublicofficestowhichyouvebeenelected,andwhen:
SalemCityCouncilelected2008toPresent(appointedin2007)
OregonHouseofRepresentativeselectedin1982
Pleaselistanyunsuccessfulcandidaciesforpublicoffice,andwhen:
1978and1984OregonHouseofRepresentatives
2010SalemMayor
Otherpriorpoliticalandgovernmentexperience:
SalemCityCouncil2007PresentThisincludesserviceonawholerangeofcouncil,cityand
communitycommittees
SalemPlanningCommission,LibraryBoard,CulturalTourismPromotionAdvisoryBoard,
BudgetCommittee,RevenueTaskForce,DowntownAdvisoryBoard,andseveralothers
OregonStateRepresentativeHouseCommitteeonAgricultureandNaturalResourcesand
HouseCommitteeonBusinessandConsumerAffairs
OregonLawCommissionworkgroupongovernmentofficialsethicslaw
Awholerangeofstateadvisorypanels,committeesandworkgroupsonK12educationpolicy
andfunding
CampaignManager:JimHillforStateTreasurerandHardyMyersforAttorneyGeneral
campaigns.
IfyouarerunningforapositionthatinvolvesagoverningboardinOregonsuchascity
council,countyboardofcommissioners,LegislatureorStateLandBoardhowmanymeetings
ofthatboardhaveyouattendedinpersonduring2015and2016?Howmanyhaveyouwatched
onlineoronTV,ifapplicable?
IhaveattendedallCityCouncilandBudgetCommitteemeetingsplusallspecialmeetings.
Howthepubliccanreachyourcampaign(rememberthatthisinformationwillbemadepublic):
Mailaddress:POBox7674,Salem,OR97303
Emailaddress:chuckben@me.com
WebsiteURL:4salemmayorchuckbennett.com
Phone:5035513055

Facebook:ChuckBennettforMayor
Othersocialmedia:
Pleaselimityourresponsetoeachofthefollowingquestionstoabout75words.
1. Toanoutsider,howwouldyoudescribetheregionyouwishtorepresent
geographically,economically,politicallyandsocially?
SalemisOregonsthirdlargestcityandthestatecapital.Itisaculturallydiverse
community.Ithassolidretail,commercialandlightindustrialsectorsalongwithlocal,
countyandstategovernment.Salemhasvibrantneighborhoods,arichculturallife,an
excellentschoolsystemandtwouniversitiesandacommunitycollegeinthecity.
HousingisaffordableanditsitsinthemiddleoftheagriculturalWillametteValley50
milesfrommountains,50milesfromthecoastandjustunder50milesfromOregons
largestcityandmetropolitancenter.
2. Whatarethepositivesandnegativesofthisregion(ward,district,countyorstate)that
youwishtorepresent?
Salemisviewedasstronglyfamilycenteredclosetooutstandingnaturalbeautyand
outdooractivitiesincludingtheCascadeMountainsandtheOregonCoast.Italsois
describedasasleepycommunityandonethatisconservativeinitsapproachtochange.It
hasastrongreligiousside.Theseattributesareseenasbothpositiveandnegative.
Becauseofitsproximitytothemetropolitanareaitisconsideredanalternativetoliving
inthemoredenselypopulatedandmuchmoreexpensivePortlandarea.Itlackssomecity
servicesthatareexpectedinacityitssize,particularlyacomprehensivemasstransit
system.
Ithasavibrantnightlifeandisanincubatorforbandsmovinguptheladder.Ithasavery
goodlocaltheatersceneincludingthreelivetheatervenuesdowntown,PentacleTheatre
andthethreecollegesandsecondaryschooltheaterofferings.WillametteUniversity
providesawholerangeofcultural,politicalandmusicalactivitiesopentothecommunity
throughouttheyear.Thecityhasawiderangeoffreeorvolunteeractivitiesrangingfrom
alonglistofcitygovernmentactivities,toaffinitygroupopportunities,churchprograms,
musicalortheatergroupsandlocalathletics.
Theweatherismildwithwarmsummersandcool,wetwinters.Theschoolsarevery
goodandofferexcellenteducationalopportunitiesforeverychild.

3. Whatspecificskillsandexperiencesdoyoubringtotheposition,especiallyonesthat
wouldhelpturnthosenegativesintopositives?
IarrivedinSalem50yearsagoandhaveasolidunderstandingofthecitysstrengthsand
weaknesses.IhavecontactsthroughoutthestateandcanspeakwithauthorityonSalems
positivestrengthsincludingitsoutstandingeducationalsector,itshighlyregardedhealth
caresystemandthesubstantialopportunitiesforgrowthofanyenterprise.
Iamwellversedinworkingwiththestateandfederalgovernmentsandcanworkclosely
withbothtoeffectsupportforSalembasedactivities.
4. Whatseparatesyoufromyouropponent(s)?Bespecific.
Myexperienceinlocalandstategovernmentasaleadergivesmespecificskillsand
experienceinfindingsolutionstocomplicatedproblemsinboththepublicandprivate
sectorsusinggovernmentorgovernmentprograms.
MyunderstandingofcitygovernmentinSalemandhowitprovidesservices,howitis
financedandhowtochangeittomeetneworchangingneeds.
Myabilitytoworkincooperationwithotherstoaccomplishgoalswithoutcreating
acrimony.
Myunderstandingofthecitybudgetandfinancesaftermanyyearsonthebudget
committeeandcouncil.Alackofunderstandingleadstopoorlythoughtoutinitiatives
liketheproposedeliminationofpaidparkingattheSalemLibrarythatwouldresultin
losingatleastonedayofservice,whichispaidforoutofthoseproceeds.Or,the
suggestionthatthecitystophiringconsultantsanduselocalvolunteerstohandle
complicatedengineering,planningandsystemsdecisions.

5. Pleaselistfivespecificaccomplishmentsthatyouhaveachievedinpoliticsorcivic
affairs:
LedtheefforttodevelopthefootbridgefromRiverfrontParktoMintoIslandand
completethefinalphasesofdevelopmentontheUnionSt.pedestrianbridge.
PlayedaleadingroleincreatingtheOpalCreekWildernessArea.

LedthecouncilincreatingtheQuietZonealongtheUPlineindowntownSalemand
beginningworkforaQuietZoneontherailroadthroughRiverfrontPark.
Ledthepassageofthecitysnewpublictreeordinanceandappealprocess.
LedthecreationoftheStateStreetCorridorstudytorevitalizeStateStreetfrom12thto
25th.
WorkedwithPublicWorkstocreatelitpedestriancrossingson12th,Court,Marketand
otherstreetsinSalem.
LedtheefforttoreopentheSalemLibraryonSundays.
6. HowmuchwillyourPrimaryElectioncampaigncost?(bespecific)
About$30,000
7. Haveyoueverbeenconvictedofacrime,beendisciplinedbyaprofessionallicensing
board/organizationorhadanethicsviolationfiledagainstyou?Ifso,pleasegivethe
details.
No
8. Haveyoueverfiledforbankruptcy,beendelinquentonyourtaxesorothermajor
accounts,orbeensuedpersonallyorprofessionally?Ifso,pleasegivethedetails.
Noonbankruptcy,delinquenttaxesormajoraccounts.Iwassuedin1978duringa
heatedpoliticalcampaign.Thejuryawardedmyopponent$1andfoundthathewasnot,
infact,aNeanderthalfrombeyondthetimewarpasIhadsaidinareportedcampaign
speech.Ihaveneverreferredtoanopponentinapoliticalcampaignagain.
9. Whatarethethreemostimportantissuesyouwouldaddressifelected,andhow?(75
wordsforeachissue)
A. Leadthecityseffortstodiversifyitseconomyandaddnew,familywagejobs.TheMayor
playsamajorroleworkingwithexistingandnewbusinessesmovingtoorexpandingin
Salem.IwillbeanactivememberofoureconomicdevelopmentteamasIhavebeeninthe
past.

B. Leadthecityscommitmenttomaintainingpublicstreets,sidewalks,parks,buildings,water
andsewerlines.Salemresidentshavebillionsofdollarsandgenerationsoftaxfunds
investedinthecitysinfrastructureanditisthecouncilsresponsibilitytocareforthat
investment.
C. Continuethecityslongstandingcommitmenttopublicsafetywithoutstandingpoliceand
fireandlifesavingservicesaswellasourlibrary,planning,inspectionandcodeenforcement
programs.FirestationsinWestandNorthSalemneedtobereopenedandthecitymusttake
onaleadershiproleinprovidingourcitizenswithtransitservices.
10. Whatdoyouseeasotherimportantissues?
Continuemyeffortofactive,openoutreachtocitizensthatIhaveworkedonforthepast
nineyearsbyattendingneighborhoodassociationmeetingsandconductingwelcoming
publicforums.
Workcloselywithcitystaffandthepublictodevelopstrategiestoimprovecityprograms
andserviceslikesidewalksandstreetmaintenanceaswellasaddressingtheplightofthe
homeless.
Workingwiththeprivatesectortoincreasethecityshousingstocktoprovidemore
affordablehousingandlowerrents.

11. Whatonlineand/orprintpublicationsdoyouregularlyreadtokeepabreastofissuesin
thedistrictyouseektorepresent?
StatesmanJournal
SalemWeekly
Smatteringofblogsandfacebookpages
NextDoor
LeagueofOregonCitiespublication
12. Anyskeletonsinyourclosetorotherpotentiallyembarrassinginformationthatyou
shoulddisclosebeforeitcomesupinthecampaign?Anything(includinghealthissues)
thatwouldaffectyourabilitytoserveyourfullterm?Anychangesinyourlifesituation
thatarecontemplatedorexpectedbeforetheelectionorbeforeyouwouldtakeoffice?
No
Thankyou.PleasereturnthisquestionnairetotheEditorialBoardasanattachedWorddocumentto
Salemed@StatesmanJournal.combyApril20,2016.