Legislative candidates address COCC students
What can state lawmakers do to create jobs and help schools? Wednesday at a political forum on the COCC campus, local candidates lobbied students for their vote.
Packed into Willie Hall, many students and first-time voters came to meet their local candidates running for office.
“My mind isn’t quite made up yet, but it gave me a better understanding of who I’m going to lean towards,” said one student.
On one side of the stage sat Democrats Geri Hauser, running for state Senate, and Nathan Hovecamp for state representative.
“They have an uncertain future — is it all worth it?” Hovecamp asked. “Is there a quality job waiting for them at the end of the line, or a quality opportunity to transfer to a further academic program?”
Hauser said she’s ready to work with lawmakers in Salem to make sure students have affordable tuition.
“I hope to find common ground and not just be a lobbyist for special interests,” said Hauser. “I really care about my community, and that’s why I’m doing this. I felt compelled to stand up.”
On the other side of the stage sat their Republican opponents. Jason Conger is running for another term as state representative and Tim Knopp is campaigning for the District 27 Senate seat, hoping to return to the Legislature after an absence of several years.
“I feel that I’m the right candidate to create those opportunities for people, because we’ve done it in the past,” Knopp said. “One of the things we did was bring OSU-Cascades campus here to Central Oregon 10 years ago, and that’s created almost 400 jobs and 1,000 graduates.”
Soon-to-be graduates in the crowd were listening very closely.
“It made me feel like I’m definitely on the right track,” one voter said. “But there are a few things that weren’t discussed that I’m still a little iffy about.”
Almost 2,000 students on campus have registered to vote through the student government. They were reminded that it won’t make a difference unless they cast their ballots.
Bend Park and Rec bond measure proponents were also on hand at the forum, explaining why they believe the projects will help the community in the long run.
