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NEWS FROM THE CHUCK RILEY CAMPAIGN
The Oregonian Profiles HD 29 for 2008 election
Both Parties' Candidates Unopposed in District 29
Elizabeth Suh, The Oregonian
April 10, 2008
The race for Oregon House District 29 is likely to be competitive again this election year, with three candidates expected to be on the November ballot.
The incumbent, Rep. Chuck Riley, 68, is running as a Democrat in the May 20 primary. Former farmer and business owner Jeff Duyck, 50, a newcomer to politics, is running as a Republican on that ballot.
Former Cornelius mayor Terry Rilling, 51, now a member of the Independent Party, plans to run for the seat in November.
Rilling, a corporal in the jail division of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, ran as a Republican for the District 29 seat in 2006 but lost to Riley. Rilling said he recently switched to the Independent Party because it's more in line with his views.
Rilling will compete only in the November general election because he does not represent one of the two major parties.
For now, the focus is on Riley and Duyck, both of whom list the economy and education as priorities.
The district, which encompasses Forest Grove, Cornelius and the southwest region of Hillsboro, has 24,588 voters. Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district, and that gap has widened since the 2006 election.
The district has 9,177 Democrats, 8,471 Republicans, 6,006 nonaffiliated, 158 in the Independent Party, and 776 in other parties, with the most in the Libertarian and Working Families parties.
Riley, who has served two terms, was first elected in 2004 after an unsuccessful run in 2002. Before that, he ran his own computer consulting business.
While in office, he said he has either advocated or supported a statewide health plan for teachers; creation of a commission that monitors whether agencies are following recommendations from audits; and preserving the kindergarten through 12th-grade education budget.
He also backed two controversial measures on the 2007 ballot -- Measure 50, a cigarette tax that would have financed health insurance for children, and Measure 49, a land-use law that limits the amount of development allowed under Measure 37. Measure 50 failed, and Measure 49 passed.
Duyck is a lifelong Washington County resident whose family has deep roots in farming. The second of 13 children, Duyck worked on his family farm in Cornelius until he was in his 30s. He then moved to Forest Grove and opened two stores in Cornelius selling farming supplies and fertilizer -- Pacific Harvest Supply Co. and Dutch Country Mercantile.
He sold them last year to Wilco, an Oregon farm-supply cooperative and plans to build a Wilco store in Forest Grove.
Riley, who lives in Hillsboro, said he supports extending Forest Grove's enterprise zone, a designation that gives tax incentives to eligible companies, to Cornelius. Hillsboro also has enterprise zones. Riley said he also supports Cornelius' request to add land to its urban-growth boundary to revitalize its struggling economy.
He said it's also important to nurture a skilled work force by funding colleges and apprenticeship programs.
Duyck said he will work to attract more jobs, particularly in technology, to Forest Grove and Cornelius, so that the cities are more competitive in the global economy and more residents can work where they live.
He said he supports tax incentives through enterprise zones, but he has to examine whether more areas in Cornelius should be developed before expanding the urban-growth boundary into farmland.
Neither candidate supports tax increases, saying instead that they want to ensure existing funds are spent more effectively.
Both also said they support a new state law requiring proof of legal residency to get a driver's license. Riley said he originally opposed the requirement but changed his mind after learning how driver's licenses are used extensively in identity theft.
Both candidates said the district's large Latino population enriches the area and supports the agriculture industry.
Duyck didn't want to discuss his opinions on Measure 49 but said he considered it the "better of two evils," compared with its predecessor, Measure 37. He also said he opposed Measure 50 -- as did a majority of voters in the district -- because he doesn't think the tobacco industry should be targeted to fund health care.
Duyck said people know him as a fair and honest person with a solid background in farming and business. "I'm more in touch with what they want."
Riley said he's been active in all three cities during his time on the state Legislature and knows how to get things done.
"As a professional problem-solver, I like to get things done right," he said.
Chuck Stumps for Annual Sessions
Should Oregon's Lawmakers Get Together Each Year? Yes.
Rep. Chuck Riley - Editorial
Forest Grove News Times - March 26, 2008
The special session of the Oregon State Legislature, which began on Monday, Feb. 4, and ended on Friday, Feb. 22, was intended to demonstrate to the people of Oregon that the legislature could successfully meet annually, get our work done and get out.
While we were there we passed some important legislation, often with broad bipartisan support.
• Getting recalled toys off the shelves: I was shocked to learn that retailers in Oregon were allowed to continue selling children’s products after they were put on the federal recall list. HB 3631 corrected that by requiring retailers to remove those items from their shelves immediately.
• Making government more accountable: As chair of the House Committee on Government Accountability (GAIT) and Information Technology, I introduced a bill to create the Committee on Performance Excellence (CPE). The CPE committee will advise state agencies on ways to be more effective and will report the results to the Legislature. This is all part of our accountability as legislators to taxpayers, and will result in better use of tax dollars.
• 24/7 State Trooper Coverage: After 16 years of cuts to state troopers, we added 100 new troopers during the 2007 regular session. During this special session we increased the number of troopers by another 39, bringing the number up to that required for 24/7 coverage.
• Plain Language: In the 2007 session I introduced and got passed House Bill 2702, the Plain Talk Oregon Plan, requiring the state to use plain language in it's communications with citizens. During the special session the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) reported to the GAIT Committee that it has developed a style guide and a class for state employees in the use of Plain Language. Also, every state agency has designated a Plain Language contact person to help agency personnel comply with the plan and six agencies are participating in Phase One by conducting pilot projects. The Oregon State Library has also developed a Plain Language web site, http://plainlanguage. oregon.gov/.
• Public Safety: I sit on the Oregon Interoperability Execu-tive Commission which was formed to oversee the design and installation of a state wide, multiagency radio communication system. The importance of this was made clear when the north coast was completely cut off from the state by high winds and rain this winter. Add the fact that unless they carry multiple radios, the different state, local, and federal public safety agencies cannot talk to each other in an emergency situation and you have the makings for an even greater disaster. During the special session the legislature approved the first phase of the Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network.
• Preserving Family Agriculture: Last session, we passed a law allowing family farms, fisheries, and woodlot owners to pass their land on to future generations by providing an inheritance tax relief. But the law didn't work as intended and needed fixing. Working with all the major agricultural organizations, we found a solution so family-owned natural resources can be passed from generation to generation. We also passed critical legislation to help farmers and ranchers access water by funding studies across the state to store, reuse, and conserve water while still protecting our salmon runs.
All in all it was a very worthwhile session. I am sure, given the good bipartisan work we did, that the voters will agree and will allow us to begin having short annual sessions. Biennial sessions were perfectly adequate 200 years ago when our constitution was written, but things move a lot more quickly now and we cannot afford to go almost two years without meeting to do the people’s business.
Chuck Riley, a Democrat, represents House District 29, which includes Cornelius and Forest Grove.
The Hillsboro Argus Endorses Chuck
Return Riley
Tuesday, October 24, 2006The race for Oregon State House District 29 is a contrast of personalities.
The incumbent, Chuck Riley, is an unassuming individual. He's not flamboyant. He speaks quietly, but most important, he listens.
Terry Rilling, as mayor of Cornelius, has stirred his share of controversy, not all of it positive. He says he's "not afraid to ruffle feathers." And he plans to take that attitude to the Legislature. He also says he believes in people over partisanship. But we see the heavy hand of strong backing by the Republican Party. Though there's nothing wrong with that, as we interviewed Rilling he had few answers for the problems facing Oregon and his district.
Riley, on the other hand, has proven to be an analytical problem-solver. He sponsored, along with Derrick Kitts, the Oregon Sex Offender Bill, supervising the living arrangements of registered sex offenders. Hillsboro had six living together in a family neighborhood. He was also a strong supporter of Jessica's Law and Oregon's methamphetamine control laws.
He is known to listen to his constituents, no matter what party they come from.
For his ability to grasp the issues, work on both sides of the political spectrum, follow the directives of his district and solve problems, we believe Chuck Riley should be re-elected as Oregon Representative for House District 29. W. Clark Gallagher
For his ability to grasp the issues, work on both sides of the political spectrum, follow the directives of his district and solve problems, we believe Chuck Riley should be re-elected as Oregon Representative for House District 29. W. Clark Gallagher
Hillsboro Argus Editorial
Kids vs. tax breaks. Let’s talk
By Chuck Riley, Printed August 2, Forest Grove News-Times
As we all know, an education crisis exists in Oregon. This crisis is very entrenched and will require innovative approaches if we are ever going to get our schools back on track.
Last session I fought for a no-cuts schools budget and teacher health insurance pooling that would re-direct savings of roughly $100 million into the classroom. However, neither bill was allowed to be heard in committee.
In walking door-to-door, talking with people about the various concerns they face in their lives, one conversation struck me as particularly troubling. A young woman I met in Forest Grove told me that her third-grade daughter couldn't bring her books home to study because there weren't enough to go around.
Other folks have told me about math classes of over 30 students. We've lost art and music teachers to budget cuts. Fees for sports and other extracurricular activities seem to go up every time you turn around.
We must invest in the future of education and seriously consider all of the options.
I still support cutting waste by creating a statewide teachers health insurance purchasing pool and suspending the corporate kicker, which may send over $200 million dollars to out of state corporations and away from our schools.
However, these options still would not provide enough funding to fix Oregon's schools. We need to have an honest discussion about how corporate tax breaks are affecting education funding.
Not all tax breaks are bad. Many are critical to Oregon's economic health and I have supported research and development tax incentives designed to bring family-wage jobs to Washington County.
However, tax breaks comprise an amount roughly equal to Oregon's general fund budget of 11 billion dollars and we never evaluate them against the needs of our children.
For example, how do tax breaks for U.S. multinational corporations with operations based in low-tax countries compare with our third graders' lack of textbooks?
Is an extraterritorial income exclusion, which allows foreign-trade income-tax deductions of 15 to 30 percent, as important as extracurricular activities that keep our kids away from drugs, alcohol, and crime?
The combined budget impact of these two tax breaks is nearly $49 million. That would buy a lot of textbooks and keep a lot of kids busy after school in positive activities!
Oregon has never had a frank discussion about the costs and benefits of these and other tax breaks in comparison with the needs of our kids. Clearly this is a discussion worth having. I have already submitted a bill to sunset and review all corporate tax breaks every six years on a rotating basis.
Additionally, I have been appointed to the governor's work group that will explore how we handle tax expenditures and I am interested in pursuing the solutions they may propose.
I would like to know what the people I represent think about this issue. I will continue going door-to-door for the entire interim and I want to hear your thoughts on this matter.
If I miss you at the door, please email me at chuck@chuckriley.org or call 503-992-7125. I look forward to hearing from you.
State Rep. Chuck Riley represents the 29th legislative district, which stretches from the west side of Hillsboro to Cornelius and Forest Grove.
Funding our state police
By: Representative Chuck Riley, House District 29 (Forest Grove, Cornelius and Hillsboro) (Printed in the Hillsboro Argus, Friday May 5 2006)
As a State Representative, I am very concerned about public safety in Oregon. For too long we have been down-sizing public safety agencies. As a community and as a state we simply must step up and allocate adequate resources to meet our fundamental public safety needs.
Last session, when 20 state trooper cuts were proposed in House Bill 5167, I strongly objected to these cuts and voted "no". Unfortunately, the house majority passed it, in spite of the fact that most meth busts are made by State Troopers stopping northbound drug runners on I-5.
We currently have less than half the number of troopers we had 25 years ago. At the same time we have added over a million people to the population of the state. More people are on the highways and drug related crime and identity theft are on the rise. Our state troopers are being pushed to the limit trying to deal with these and other threats to our safety.
According to the non-partisan legislative fiscal office, “almost all of the state is without 24-hour coverage, patrol areas have been expanded, many duties have been eliminated, response time has increased, and officer safety has been compromised.” To me this is an unacceptable situation. Our state police deserve more support and our communities deserve to be safe.
During the 2007 legislative session I will push for an additional 50 State trooper positions. These positions will be paid for by creating incentives for government agencies to find new efficiencies, by adding auditors to the Secretary of State's office to aid them in finding the efficiencies, and by ending special interest tax giveaways like the corporate kicker. Our state police and our public safety are more important than tax giveaways for out of state corporations.
Ensuring an adequately funded Oregon State Police is one of the most important responsibilities I have as a legislator and I intend to get Oregon going in the right direction when it comes to public safety.
Representative Chuck Riley Announces Community Forum on Public Safety
State Representative Chuck Riley is sponsoring a forum to get community input on public safety issues. This forum, the third of many during the legislative interim, will use community input to help Representative Riley form a public safety legislative package for the 2007 legislative session.
“As a legislator, one of the most fundamental responsibilities I have is to ensure public safety. And I want to hear the communities concerns” said Representative Riley. “For too long we have been down-sizing public safety agencies. We simply must step up and do everything possible to make sure our community is safe and secure.”
Superintendent of Oregon State Police Ron Ruecker and Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers, the head of the Oregon Department of Justice, will join Representative Riley at this forum.
Superintendent Ruecker will discuss the current state of the Oregon State Police and what is needed to help them ensure public safety. “Transportation safety on the state and interstate highway systems, forensic services, and our narcotics enforcement efforts are all critical for the quality of life for Oregonians", he said.
Attorney General Hardy Myers, Oregon's top attorney, will provide the state's perspective on prosecuting crime by sharing accomplishments of the Department of Justice's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) initiative, Crime Victims Assistance program, and the AG's Sexual Assault Task Force. "I appreciate Rep. Riley's commitment to strengthening Oregon's public safety system and stand ready to assist as a resource while he considers legislative efforts to ensure communities throughout the entire state are safe and secure," stated Myers.
Last session Representative Riley sponsored bills to make sex-offender information available on Internet and create stiff prison terms and fines for operating meth labs. He also opposed budget cuts resulting in the elimination of 20 state trooper positions.
The Forum will take place on Thursday, June 22nd form 7 pm to 8:30 pm at Cornelius City Hall, 1310 N. Adair, Cornelius. Refreshments will be provided.
Representative Chuck Riley Announces Community Forum on Education
State Representative Chuck Riley is sponsoring a forum on May 23rd to get community input on dealing with Oregon’s education woes. This forum, the second of many during the legislative interim, will use community input to help Representative Riley form a legislative package to deal with the states education problems.
“I have heard from many people in the community about large class sizes, inadequate resources, and days being cut from our school year.” Rep. Riley said. “We must stop shortchanging our future. I am committed to finding solutions that will give our kids the education they deserve ”.
Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury will also participate in the forum and will provide his perspective on education. "As State Auditor, I've proposed that my office audit the transportation, facilities and support services of our schools," said Bradbury. "By finding savings in school services outside of the classroom, we have more resources to put into the classroom."
Last session Representative Riley advocated elimination of “golden parachutes” which are lucrative retirement packages for school administrators. He also fought for a no-cuts schools budget and for the creation of a teacher’s health insurance purchasing pool that would redirect over $100 million into Oregon’s classrooms. Representative Riley plans to make improving education one of his main goals for the 2007 session.
Everyone is invited to attend the forum, which will take place on Tuesday May 23, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Alterra-Wynwood, 3110 19th Ave, Forest Grove. Refreshments will be provided.
Representative Chuck Riley Announces Community Forum on Health Care
State Representative Chuck Riley is sponsoring a forum to get community input on dealing with the skyrocketing costs of health care. This forum, the first of many during the legislative interim, will use community input to help Representative Riley form a legislative package to deal with out of control health care costs.
“I have heard form many people in the community that they feel they are one sickness away from going bankrupt. This is unacceptable.” He said. “I am committed to standing up to the big drug companies and insurers and the input from this forum will help me better represent the people in my district in Salem”.
Oregon Labor Commissioner Dan Gardner will also participate in the forum and will provide his perspective on the workforce and how it relates to health care. “In Oregon, 52% of uninsured children are in low income families with employed parents. As leaders of our communities, we must strive for increasing access to healthcare for every worker and their families.”
Last session Representative Riley sponsored a bill to expand the state’s prescription drug purchasing pool to allow all working families and small businesses to participate. He plans to make health care one of his main issues during the 2007 session.
The Forum will take place on Saturday April 22nd form 10 am to 11:30 am at the Hillsboro Civic Center (Room B) 150 E Main Street, Hillsboro. Refreshments will be provided.
Re-Elect Riley Campaign Announces Office Grand Opening
The campaign to Re-elect Chuck Riley for State Representative will be holding a grand opening of it’s campaign office in Forest Grove. Representative Chuck Riley will be on hand to welcome constituents from his district and hear their input on how he can better represent them in Salem.
“I am running for state representative because the people of my district care about education, healthcare and cutting government waste” Representative Riley said, “I will continue to listen to my constituents and come up with solutions for a better Washington County and a better Oregon.” He continued.
Representative Riley, who is in his first term in the Oregon House of Representatives, represents House District 29, which consists Cornelius, Forest Grove and parts of Hillsboro. His Campaign office will be fully staffed and open to the public starting April 24th. His Campaign phone number is 503-992-7125 and his website is www.chuckriley.org.