The two front-runners vying to represent the 3rd Congressional District in Washington, D.C., faced off over the future of crude-by-rail in a Columbian editorial board meeting Tuesday.
Jim Moeller, a state representative and left-leaning Democrat, spoke of last month’s oil train derailment in Mosier, Ore., which caused a fire in the Gorge, a national scenic area, and leaked oil into the Columbia River.
“I’m appalled, and I don’t know why our current Rep. Jaime (Herrera Beutler) hasn’t introduced a moratorium (on oil) going through a national scenic area,” Moeller said.
Herrera Beutler, the incumbent, shot a question back at Moeller asking, “So, all that oil gets transported by truck on the road, how is that safer?”
Herrera Beutler said the focus needs to be on improving safety measures, such as reducing the volatility of Bakken crude oil before it’s transported, reducing the number of tankers carrying oil by mixing it with other commodities and beefing up training and resources for first responders.
The other Democratic candidate in the race, David McDevitt, a Vancouver resident and veteran, said he would like to see the federal government reinstate the export ban on oil that had been in place for four decades.
Lucia Worthington, who is running as an independent, said she doesn’t see the economic benefit of bringing more crude-by-rail to the region and wishes more lawmakers at the federal level would focus on the issue.
When it comes to addressing the congested and aging Interstate 5 Bridge, Herrera Beutler said the federal government’s primary role is to “fund the lion’s share” of the project.
“It’s not our job to say, ‘this is what it has to look like,’ ” she said of the bridge.
Moeller pointed to his record of championing light rail and his time spent working across the aisle to replace the “outdated and dangerous” bridge.
McDevitt believes the solution is replacing the bridge and creating a bistate rapid mass transit solution and possibly a bypass road for freight.
Worthington believes the region needs a more strategic plan when it comes to addressing the bridge and would like to see smaller governments get involved.
Herrera Beutler, who is serving her third term in Congress, said if re-elected, she would continue to focus on economic growth.
“No one is going to work harder for the people of Southwest Washington than I will,” she said.
Worthington said she’s in the race for the long haul and is already planning her election bid for 2018. McDevitt pointed to his background as a veteran, the relationships he’s forged in all the counties and his ability to work with a diverse group of people.
Moeller pointed to the political gridlock in Congress and said he wants to be sent to D.C. to help it function again.
