Top ten reasons to elect Jamie McLeod-Skinner

Shorter versions of this article were published as Letters to the Editor in the Herald and News (Nov 1, 2018) and Hood River News (Nov 3, 2018).

In Oregon’s Second Congressional District, Democratic challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner trails incumbent Greg Walden (R-OR2) by single digits. She will win if enough non-affiliated, third party sympathizers and moderate Republicans join Democrats in voting for her.

Here are the top ten reasons why, as a non-affiliated voter, I strongly support McLeod-Skinner:

(1) Jamie is a moderate, who will bring a bipartisan approach to a Congress that has for too long legislated along unproductive partisan lines

(2) Jamie is a listener and a consensus builder, who will seek common-sense people-oriented solutions for issues that divide our district

(3) Jamie will be committed and objective in fulfilling the legal and moral mandate of Congress to provide checks and balances to presidential powers

(4) Jamie recognizes and respects the wisdom and established treaty rights of the Pacific Northwest tribes

(5) Jamie will make policy decisions that are informed by facts and science, as well as by what is right and ethical

(6) Jamie will advocate for sensible health care solutions, affordably available to all members of our community

(7) Jamie will address the opioid crisis from the perspective of our district’s communities, without divided loyalties with industries that caused or aggravated the crisis

(8) Jamie recognizes that the US Armed Forces play a key role in geopolitical balance and national security, and that our veterans should be honored through actions comprehensively responsive to their needs

(9) Jamie recognizes that, as agreed to by the vast majority of climate scientists, climate change is real, largely man-caused, and in dire need for immediate and forward-thinking strategies for mitigation and adaptation

(10) Jamie recognizes that adaptive water management and renewable energy technologies are strategic opportunities for Oregon’s economy, and keys to environmental sustainability.

I hope you join me in voting for Jamie McLeod-Skinner for Congress.

— Antonio Baptista