CAMAS — The two candidates vying to represent the 3rd Congressional District appeared side-by-side Monday night in one of the few public appearances they have scheduled together before the general election.
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, is defending her seat for a third term against Democratic candidate Bob Dingethal, who once worked as the outreach director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.
The candidates fielded questions ranging from climate change to partisan gridlock. The forum was hosted by the Camas Youth Advisory Council and held at Camas High School. About 450 people were in attendance.
When asked about plans to tackle global warming, Herrera Beutler said “the economy and environment are not mutually exclusive.”
Herrera Beutler said she believes there is a way to selectively harvest timber in a way that would create jobs and help schools while also protecting the forests.
She pointed to the roundtable she recently hosted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service director that focused on how to increase federal timber harvest. Some guests at the roundtable criticized the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, which decreased the amount of timber that could be harvested and added environmental protections for species such as the spotted owl.
Dingethal criticized her answer and said it’s time for a “comprehensive climate change bill.” He added that climate change will be the most critical issue young people face in their lifetime.
The students asked the two candidates how they would work across the aisle and ease the partisan bickering that has paralyzed Congress.
Herrera Beutler said she already reaches across the aisle.
“It’s how we, in Southwest Washington, operate,” she said. “We don’t treat you differently because of your party.”
She pointed to bipartisan legislation she’s currently working on to help medically complex children gain access to health care.
Dingethal noted the congresswoman repeatedly voted against the Affordable Care Act without offering any new solutions.
It’s time to “shake things up,” he said.
Every politician will work across the aisle, “but on the big bills we have to get people who aren’t obstructionists all the time,” Dingethal said. “Voting 40 plus times against the Affordable Care Act is not what I call reaching across the aisle.”
Herrera Beutler closed the forum by telling the audience that her “heart and soul are vested in this job.” She said she is not a career politician.
Dingethal said it’s time to elect someone who doesn’t have a politician’s perspective.
It’s time to election someone who doesn’t think, “How is this going to affect my race, my party and my opportunities in D.C.?” when making decisions, he said. “We need people who work for the district.”
Other candidates running in Clark County also spoke at the forum Monday night. They included: 18th District state Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, and her Democratic opponent Maureen Winningham; 18th District state Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, and his Democratic opponent Mike Briggs; and Clark County commissioner candidates Craig Pridemore, a Democrat, and Jeanne Stewart, a Republican.
Herrera Beutler and Dingethal also are scheduled to speak at a Woodland Chamber of Commerce luncheon noon to 1 p.m. today at the Oak Tree Restaurant, 1020 Atlantic Ave., Woodland.
