As everyone knows, it is playoffs season (NHL Hockey), and teams across North America are vying for the Stanley Cup. Until my team wins it all or is eliminated, everything else is on the back burner.
Fortunately, LA was vanquished in Game 5, and Edmonton advances to round 2. This freed me up to watch Lindsay and Bubba go for another round of debate tonight at George Fox University.
I sat through two hours of it, so you can read the highlights.
Since the first debate, Bubba has improved greatly as a public speaker. He was poised, comfortable, and gave thoughtful answers. He spoke from the heart and personal experience.
Lindsay is a talented public speaker and, as with the first debate, communicated her ideas clearly and in detail.
There was surprisingly little difference between the candidates in terms of specifics. Here are the main takeaway points:
Both candidates acknowledge there is a structural deficit. Bubba believes the correct strategy is to pursue grants, and Lindsay takes a more conservative approach, that spending has to be based on sustainable funding sources. (I do not know for sure which is the best approach, because our taxes do pay for these grants, and there is a natural appeal to wanting to get back as much as we can; however, I noticed that Sheriff Elliot spoke about grant funding, stating that grants are a "one off" and that eventually the financial responsibility for the grant programs will fall to the county.)
In relation to land use for recreation, neither candidate is pushing for the Yamhalis Westsider Trail. Lindsay's opposition is well known and longstanding. Bubba stated that he did not see a way forward for the trail. Bubba expressed interest in developing riverfront recreation, and Lindsay talked up the existing parks the county has.
In relation to transportation, Bubba laid out a vision for either a more accessible transit system, while recognizing the risks and problems associated with an integration into Tri-Met, or a more distributed approach to delivering services throughout the county. Lindsay highlighted the dial-a-ride feature for County Transit, and also explained how transit has been improved and the experimentation with connectivity to the wider region.
Both Candidates agreed that HB4002 implementation is the biggest immediate challenge facing the county. (HB4002 repeals M110). Having looked at the details of HB4002, it does re-criminalize drugs, but also creates an elaborate system of off ramps to avoid jail as long as treatment is sought. The bill creates a number of commissions and funding sources to implement various diversion and deflection programs. Implementing it will require co-ordinated effort across a number of county departments.
Both Lindsay and Bubba care for this community. On the issues, they largely agree. The biggest difference is in leadership style. Lindsay thinks in terms of values, systems, and strategy. Strategic objectives flow from values. The systems support the strategy. For example, the county's adoption of the Tyler v. Hennepin holding is clearly a system and strategy that flows from respect for private property Bubba thinks in terms of compromise, relationships, and co-operation. His willingness to abandon the trail in favor of a more feasible recreation project is indicative of his approach.
I am going to return to my hockey metaphor. After any game, the players line up and shake hands. The competition was hard, fairly fought, and after the game is decided they show each other respect.
Overall, the tone of the entire event was positive and I left feeling a lot better about the state of our politics. Facebook is not real life (thank God).
Both of these candidates are decent people who are driven by a desire to serve the community. We would be well served by either, so go make a decision based on the type of leadership you want to see.
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