Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The most important issues facing Linn County in the next two years will be employment, immigration and education, according to Fourth Congressional District candidate Jim Feldkamp.
Feldkamp faces Monica Johnson in the Republican Party primary for the Fourth Congressional District. Peter A. DeFazio is the Democratic incumbent.
Feldkamp, 42, of Eugene is a businessman, adjunct professor at Umpqua Community College and Lane Community College. He has been president of Feldkamp and Associates – which specializes in marketing development for nonprofits, an FBI special agent and commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
He was a U.S. Naval flight officer and is a Desert Storm veteran who flew more than 30 combat missions.
He graduated from Roseburg High School, attended Linfield College and earned his bachelor of science degree in business administration at Oregon State University. He attended the Naval War College and Catholic University of America, earning his master’s degree in international affairs, and the FBI Academy.
“With the federal government owning more than 50 percent of our state, Oregonians no longer have a controlling interest,” Feldkamp said. “I want to be a voice for Oregonians back in Washington D.C. to address problems that affect how we in Oregon can control our destiny.
“In Oregon we have lost more and more control over our own lands and interests. I want to reduce the influence that the federal government has over our state and return decision making authority to our elected state and local representatives.
“As a native of Roseburg, I have witnessed the district’s economic downfall.”
Feldkamp said that state unemployment statistics show that since 1993, Linn County’s unemployment has increased 14 percent to a rate of 9.3 percent.
“The demise of resource-based industries has created a void for sustained tax revenues, which provides funding for education, healthcare and safety for local communities,” he said.
“I will bring fresh ideas and reach across party lines to move us forward. Times have changed, and our district needs to change along with it. Opportunities abound if we are willing to move in a new direction.”
Feldkamp said that, if elected, he will “continue to push for legislative reform in Congress that alleviates issues that hamper the economic revitalization of Linn County.”
One example is the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act (FERRA), Feldkamp said.
“This bill, which would allow the harvest of dead, dying or severely root-sprung trees, is a bipartisan effort to reach a compromise to provide a balanced and manageable approach to our natural resources.
“FERRA was an extremely conservative attempt to remove a few of the more egregious procedural roadblocks that have made post-fire rehabilitation of forests in the West difficult. I applaud Congressman Walden for the effort he has taken to develop this legislation. Unfortunately, Congressman DeFazio did not vote in favor of this extremely well-thought-out, narrowly tailored approach to manage our forests.”
“When one considers that in just 15 years Oregon has lost thousands of timber-related jobs — family wage jobs that not only provide a good quality of life but also revenue for communities now struggling to fund basic public services — the passage of FERRA is of paramount importance.
He said Linn County’s economic livelihood “depends on wise management of our natural resources and agricultural communities.
“We should realize that in order for our economy to provide the necessary funding for education, safety and roads we must stop the political rhetoric of division and take a bipartisan and mature approach toward managing our resources. Anything less would be a disservice not only for this generation but for our children and others who want to live in an area that provides the environment that we can all enjoy.”
Feldkamp said his experience fighting terrorism as an FBI special agent convinces him that keeping illegal immigrants from crossing U.S. borders is a national security issue.
“I support strengthening and enforcing existing laws to deter illegal aliens from entering our country,” he said. “Individuals who enter our country illegally should not be afforded the same benefits as those who came here legally. I do not believe that we should reward individuals that break the law. I also feel that is an affront to legal immigrants that have obeyed the rules and worked hard to become a US citizen.”
On education, “as the product of Oregon public schools, an adjunct professor and working with the Marion Carl Foundation, which ensures children stay in school, I understand the need for a quality education,” Feldkamp said.
“Congress can work to create, fund and support local educational programs that provide ongoing support of teachers, track student achievement and answer the rapidly changing needs of our local economy. I believe that much work remains to be done in early childhood learning through middle school. As the father of an 8-year-old, I know that if we work hard on the fundamentals now, she’ll have fewer academic struggles down the road.”
In regard to underfunded services, outdated and bureaucratic obstacles that prevent new businesses from entering Linn County need to be removed and “we need to start looking at new opportunities,” Feldkamp said. “By keeping established businesses growing and hiring additional employees we can develop new revenue streams to fund services that we demand.”
Regarding the U.S. occupation in Iraq, “having flown combat during Desert Storm and as an FBI agent working international terrorism, as well and teaching courses on homeland security, I am familiar with the debate of our troops in Iraq,” Feldkamp said.
“Since 9/11 we have not had a terrorist attack in this country. I believe that our decision to go into the Middle East (Afghanistan and Iraq) has suppressed the ability for terrorists to coordinate and execute another attack on our homeland.”
On the meth problem, “more must be accomplished with respect to punishing individuals that make and sell meth,” Feldkamp said.
“In order to combat this we need to ensure a strong funding source for our law enforcement. Restricting sales of pseudoephedrin is a positive step, but until we ensure that people who are responsible for making and selling this drug are taken off the streets, we cannot begin to focus on rehabilitation of those already suffering from this addiction.”