SO WHY AM I RUNNING FOR THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE HOUSE DISTRICT 12 POSITION?
As a business leader, I know the importance of supporting workers and employers. My community advocacy experiences will provide a fresh voice to the tough issues facing our city and state. Like many of you, I am an ordinary resident of Springfield, not an experienced politician. What I didn’t realize is that I am qualified to serve at the state level to voice my outrage at the misuse of power by our state leadership that is putting at risk our safety, industries, resources and livelihoods.
I feel fortunate to live in Springfield, so I want to represent my friends and neighbors in Salem that are underrepresented. Also, because of my job in rural Cottage Grove and connections throughout Lane County, I’ll be able to advocate for urban and rural reform as a state representative.
I’m standing up to serve Springfield values and ask that you support Ruth Linoz in each 2020 election.
SUPPORT SENSIBLE NATURAL RESOURCE POLICIES
It’s time to stop environmental policies that don’t respect the rural communities and local businesses that are dependent on natural resources. Policies like Cap & Trade impose crippling costs and restrictions that harm small communities that have been declining for decades and doesn’t support the natural areas for logging that built this state’s economy. One heartbreaking aspect of these policies is the growing trend of a homegrown, homeless population in most communities because of the loss of living wage jobs and minimal community-based resources. Local economies work best with neighbor helping neighbor to enable people to take care of each other independent of government assistance. I will work to reverse the impact of restrictive policies, and I will encourage the implementation of sound market based environmental policies.
REDUCE TAXES AND REGULATIONS
As a business leader educated on sound economic development practices, I have witnessed the richness of community life and admire the legacies of many regional business leaders that improved the quality of life because they were successful in building a business that supported its owner, employees and still had extra to contribute to the needs of its community. I am concerned that the growth of unnecessary regulations and taxes creates bureaucracy instead of helping industries quickly adapt to the evolving business climate and is quickly undermining the vitality of our neighborhoods. Therefore, I will support measures that encourage economic development and will reduce regulations and taxes so every community can thrive!
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBILITY
All state and local leaders are responsible in every fiscal decision to exercise prudence and to inform taxpayers how their tax dollars are spent and measurable outcomes. A high level of fiscal transparency and accountability should be the norm and consistently align with what lawmakers have promised which is how I will represent your interests in Salem.
LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR HOUSING AND THE HOMELESS
Affordable, appropriate housing is critical for a robust community life, yet a state mandated solution may not address specific scenarios. For example, statewide rent control that only Oregon has implemented, severely impacts a builder’s incentive to invest in housing when other projects are more profitable. Instead, let’s capitalize on Springfield’s unique resources, positive development mindset and diverse culture when addressing housing and homeless needs for local win-win results.