StatesmanJournalminiquestionnairefor2016PrimaryElection

Thankyouforrespondingtothisquestionnaire.
Whythismatters:TheStatesmanJournalEditorialBoardwillusethisquestionnaireindeciding
whetherandwhomtoendorsefortheMay17GeneralElection.Reporters,whooperate
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PleasereturnthefinishedquestionnairetotheEditorialBoardasanemailoranattachedWord
documenttoSalemed@StatesmanJournal.com.(Handwritten,pdf,WordPerfectorfaxresponses
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Important:PleasereturnthequestionnairebytheendofthedayApril14.
Questions?ContactEditorialPageEditorDickHughes,5033996727,dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com,or
EditorialAssistantNancyHarrington,5033996864,nharring@StatesmanJournal.com.

Yournameaslistedontheballot:ColmWillis
Age:Iwillturn30inJuly.
(IfyouragewillchangebeforeMay31,pleaseindicateyourbirthday.Wewanttoensureweuse
accurateagesinpreandpostelectioneditorialsandnewscoverage.)
City/townofresidence:Stayton
Politicalparty,ifthisisapartisanoffice:Republican
Positionyouareseeking(nameofposition,districtnumber,etc.):U.S.HouseofRepresentatives,
District5

Areyoucurrentlyafulltimeresidentwithintheboundariesofthespecificarea(ward,district,
county,etc.)thatyouseektorepresent?Yes
Numberofcurrent,consecutiveyearslivingwithinthedistrictyouseektorepresent:Over5
years
Family(nameofspouse/partner,numberandagesofchildrenifathomeornumberofgrown
children):IammarriedandIhavetwodaughters.Mydaughtersare1and3yearsold.
Youreducation(highschool,trade,college,postbaccalaureate;indicateanydegreesyou
earned):JesuitHighSchool;B.A.,BostonCollege;J.D.WillametteUniversityCollegeofLaw
Ifemployed,currentoccupation,employerandjobduties:Smallbusinesslawyer,WillisLaw
LLC.
Previousemployersandwhen:PoliticalDirector,OregonRighttoLifeduringthelast4years.
Militaryserviceandwhen:N/A
Volunteer/civic/religiousserviceandwhen:IdidalotofvolunteerworkinCollege
Pleaselistallpublicofficestowhichyouvebeenelected,andwhen:RepublicanPrecinct
CommitteePerson
Pleaselistanyunsuccessfulcandidaciesforpublicoffice,andwhen:N/A
Otherpriorpoliticalandgovernmentexperience:StaffmemberintheU.S.Senate,Joint
EconomicCommittee
IfyouarerunningforapositionthatinvolvesagoverningboardinOregonsuchascity
council,countyboardofcommissioners,LegislatureorStateLandBoardhowmanymeetings
ofthatboardhaveyouattendedinpersonduring2015and2016?Howmanyhaveyouwatched
onlineoronTV,ifapplicable?N/A

Howthepubliccanreachyourcampaign(rememberthatthisinformationwillbemadepublic):
Mailaddress:P.O.Box893,Stayton,OR97383
Emailaddress:colm@colmwillis.com
WebsiteURL:colmwillis.com
Phone:5035102965
Facebook:ColmWillis
Othersocialmedia:Twitter@colmforcongress
Pleaselimityourresponsetoeachofthefollowingquestionstoabout75words.
1.Toanoutsider,howwouldyoudescribetheregionyouwishtorepresentgeographically,
economically,politicallyandsocially?The5thdistrictisarural,conservativedistrictmadeupof
workingfamilies.
2.Whatarethepositivesandnegativesofthisregion(ward,district,countyorstate)thatyou
wishtorepresent?Incrediblyhardworkingpeoplelivehere.However,governmentintervention
intheeconomyherehashurtjobcreation,especiallyinthetimberindustry.TheAffordableCare
Acthasalsohurtsmallbusinessesineveryindustry.
3.Whatspecificskillsandexperiencesdoyoubringtotheposition,especiallyonesthatwould
helpturnthosenegativesintopositives?
IdideconomicresearchasanaidetotheJointEconomicCommitteeintheU.S.Senate,Ilearned
asolidunderstandingofthelegislativeprocessalongwithahealthyskepticismofcareer
politiciansandpoliticsasusual.Ialsostartedmyownsmallbusinessandunderstandthe
strugglesofworkingpeoplehereinthedistrict.
4.Whatseparatesyoufromyouropponent(s)?Bespecific.
Iworkedfulltimewhilegoingtolawschoolinordertosupportmyfamily.Mywifeworksasa
nurse,sowevehadtojugglechildcare.And,recentlyIstartedmyownsmallbusinessandhave
hadtoworkthroughtheheadachesinvolvedinthatprocess.Thisexperienceiswhatseparates
mefrommyopponents.
5.Pleaselistfivespecificaccomplishmentsthatyouhaveachievedinpoliticsorcivicaffairs:

Ifoughtabillthatwouldhaveforcedchurchestopayforabortionintheirinsurancepolicies.I
foughtagainstburdensomeregulationsonpregnancyresourcecenters.Iworkedonabilltoend
agediscriminationbymedicalprofessionals.
6.HowmuchwillyourPrimaryElectioncampaigncost?(bespecific)
Iveraisedover$100,000formycampaignsofarfromover300individuals.
7.Haveyoueverbeenconvictedofacrime,beendisciplinedbyaprofessionallicensing
board/organizationorhadanethicsviolationfiledagainstyou?Ifso,pleasegivethedetails.No.
8.Haveyoueverfiledforbankruptcy,beendelinquentonyourtaxesorothermajoraccounts,or
beensuedpersonallyorprofessionally?Ifso,pleasegivethedetails.No.
9.Whatarethethreemostimportantissuesyouwouldaddressifelected,andhow?(75words
foreachissue)
A.Jobcreationstopthegovernmentfrompickingwinnersandlosersinoureconomy.
B.NationalSecurityreimposesanctionsonIranandrescindthenuclearagreement.
C.FirstAmendmentRightsDefendtherightofpeopleoffaithtolifeaccordingtotheirbeliefs.
10.Whatdoyouseeasotherimportantissues?
WeneedtorepealObamacare,andgivemanagementoffederalforestsandBLMlandbackto
thestateandcounties.
11.Whatonlineand/orprintpublicationsdoyouregularlyreadtokeepabreastofissuesinthe
districtyouseektorepresent?NowintheageoftheinternetIreadnewsarticlesfromallover.I
usegooglenewsasmynewsaggregator.
12.Anyskeletonsinyourclosetorotherpotentiallyembarrassinginformationthatyoushould
disclosebeforeitcomesupinthecampaign?Anything(includinghealthissues)thatwould
affectyourabilitytoserveyourfullterm?Anychangesinyourlifesituationthatare
contemplatedorexpectedbeforetheelectionorbeforeyouwouldtakeoffice?No.
Thankyou.PleasereturnthisquestionnairetotheEditorialBoardasanattachedWorddocumentto
Salemed@StatesmanJournal.combyApril14,2016.