Bend debate heats up already roiling governor's race

BEND - The three top candidates for governor engaged in a sharp, rapid-fire debate Tuesday, dipping frequently into campaign talking points, rehashing old feuds, and promising a new beginning for Oregon if elected.

Unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson, Democrat Tina Kotek and Republican Christine Drazan waged their verbal joust from orange wing-armed chairs at Tykeson Hall on the Oregon State University-Cascades campus.

The trio of veteran ex-lawmakers offered different recollections of their shared time in the Legislature.

Kotek was House Speaker before resigning to run for governor.

Drazan was the leader of the minority-party Republicans in the House before also stepping down to run.

Johnson was a Democratic state senator until resigning from both the Senate and the Democratic party to run for the state's top job.

The 2022 election is already historic as the first in which both the Democratic and Republican nominees are women. But each can also set or break longstanding records if elected.

Kotek would continue the Democrats' 40-year winning streak in elections for governor.

Drazan would be the first GOP woman elected governor. She'd also be the first Republican of any gender pronoun to be governor since Vic Atiyeh left office in January 1987.

Johnson's election would be even more of a record book rewind. Oregon has elected just one independent governor - Julius Meier in 1930.

Gov. Kate Brown can't run again because of term limits. Each candidate said they would be the best choice to give the state a fresh start. 

"The Democrats have an agenda, the Republicans have an agenda," Johnson said. But she would have "an agenda unfettered by an ideology."

Johnson said Drazan was tied to a Republican party moving to the right, while Kotek would be "more Kate Brown than Kate Brown" - continuing Democratic policies on the left.

“We’re better at pitching tents than we are pulling permits,” Johnson said, linking homeless camps and the lack of new housing.

Kotek said she was inspired by young volunteers on her campaign who want a proactive progressive governor.

"Take action," she said.

Kotek said her opponents' focus is on what they would repeal or not do on carbon emissions, gun control and business taxes.

“Senator Johnson and Representative Drazan are really good about complaining about the issues, but very, very light on the details of how they would actually solve these problems," Kotek said.

Drazan said Johnson's two decades as a Democratic legislator outweighed her decision last year to leave the party and the state Senate, while Kotek would be a continuation of "one party rule" in Salem. 

“This is the definition of Tina Kotek's approach to the governor’s office - don’t change course, don’t change direction, keep doing more of the same," Drazan said. 

Drazan echoed a rhetorical question asked by Republican candidate Ronald Reagan in his successful 1980 race against President Jimmy Carter.

"Is your family better off than four years ago?" Drazan asked.

The debate was sponsored by OSU-Cascades, the City Club of Central Oregon, and Bend television station KTVZ. Cathy Marshall, a KTVZ anchor, moderated the debate, which was broadcast live in the Bend area and was available elsewhere only on KTVZ's website. The internet version of the forum was cut off at 7:30, with only the broadcast and cable audience seeing the final 10 minutes, including the candidates' summations.

A passionate but well-behaved crowd of around 70 people gathered outside of Tykeson Hall ahead of the debate, waving American flags and toting signs supporting their candidates. Repeating chants from the crowd for “Tina” or for “Drazan” fought for dominance while officers from the Oregon State Police roamed the perimeter to assist OSU-Cascades’ small security staff as a safety precaution. The Johnson camp was quiet and small in number, despite her historic roots in Central Oregon.

At one point, song broke out among Drazan supporters, and others joined in singing “America the Beautiful” and “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Many in the crowd weren’t allowed to attend the debate, which was invitation-only, let alone see the candidates. Attendance was reserved for some community leaders, some OSU-Cascades students and 10 invitees from each of the campaigns.

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone and Bend City Councilor Melanie Kebler made brief appearances outside the debate hall, mingling with Drazan and Kotek supporters respectively before the debate began.

Katy Brooks, CEO of the Bend Chamber, was in the audience at the debate, and she submitted a question for the candidates asking about their strategies to remedy the housing crisis in Central Oregon.

The barbs, accusations and differing versions of recent legislative history during the debate alluded to insider feuds that have made Kotek and Drazan personal antagonists. Johnson has gone her own way on Kotek-backed legislative initiatives on pollution, guns and worker rights.

The race between the three has been rated as a "toss-up" by two national forecasters - The Cook Political Report and the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. The race has attracted over $30 million in campaign contributions to the three, with national party groups backing Kotek and Drazan, while Johnson's successful petition drive to qualify for the ballot was bolstered by cash from Nike founder Phil Knight and several timber and construction companies and groups 

The debate began with a question asking if the candidates would support Measure 114 on the November ballot. It would increase requirements for gun ownership and improve law enforcement databases.

Johnson said the change in law would be a burden to small law enforcement agencies. She said she could support legislation to raise the minimum purchasing age for some firearms from 18 to 21.

Drazan said "more gun laws will not prevent every single tragedy from happening."

Kotek and Johnson both said they supported abortion rights, while Drazan said she was personally anti-abortion but would uphold Oregon's law, among the least restrictive in the nation.

Drazan complained about taxes that have been imposed in recent years in Oregon and said “we’ve got to be serious about holding the line on new taxes.” Johnson also criticized the state's regulators as "punitive and predatory."

The candidates have agreed to two more televised debates in Portland and one in Medford.

Ballots will be mailed to Oregon voters beginning Oct. 19. Voting ends Nov. 8, but ballots that arrive at election officials designated offices bearing a postmark of Nov. 8 or before will be counted through Nov. 15.