1StatesmanJournalminiquestionnaire

Statesman Journal mini-questionnaire for 2016 General

Election
Thank you for responding to this questionnaire.
For those of you who filled out our Primary Election questionnaire this year, this
one is similar although some questions have changed. We ask that you fill this out
completely, instead of referring to the previous questionnaire, or your resume, etc.,
because we will be posting this questionnaire online.
Why this matters: The Statesman Journal Editorial Board will use this
questionnaire in deciding whether and whom to endorse for the Nov. 8 General
Election. Reporters, who operate separately from the Editorial Board, may use your
answers in writing stories.
Please return the finished questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an email or an
attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com. (Handwritten, pdf,
WordPerfect or fax responses dont work.)
Important: Please return the questionnaire by the end of the day Monday,
Sept. 12.
Questions? Contact Editorial Page Editor Dick Hughes, 503-399-6727,
dhughes@StatesmanJournal.com, or Editorial Assistant Nancy Harrington, 503-3996864, nharring@StatesmanJournal.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Your name as listed on the ballot: Chris Telfer
Age: 66
(If your age will change before Nov. 8, please indicate your birthday. We want to
ensure we use accurate ages in pre- and post-election editorials and news
coverage.)
City/town of residence: Bend
Political party, if this is a partisan office: Independent
Position you are seeking (name of position, district number, etc.): State Treasurer

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Are you currently a full-time resident within the boundaries of the specific area
(district, county, etc.) that you seek to represent? Yes
Number of current, consecutive years living within the district you seek to
represent: 39 yrs 9 months
Family (name of spouse/partner; number and ages of children if at home, or
number of grown children): 2 grown daughters
Your education (high school, trade, college, post-baccalaureate; indicate degrees
you earned):
BSBA University of Denver
Post graduate Franklin University (Ohio) and University of Oregon
If employed, current occupation, employer and job duties:
CPA; Chris Telfer CPA LLC; managing member
Oregon Lottery Commissioner
Instructor-Oregon State University
Previous employers and when:
Instructor (full-time) Central Oregon Community College 1978-1980
Horsefield Crawford & Shepler CPAs 1980-1984
City of Bend 2002-2009 (Bend City Councilor)
Oregon State Legislature 2009-2012 (State Senator)
Military service and when: None
Volunteer/civic/religious service and when:
Treasurer, Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon 1980-2002
Treasurer, Coalition 14 (National Episcopal organization) 1982-1999
President, Oregon Society of CPAs-Central Oregon 1995-1996
Chair, Bend Urban Renewal Agency 2001
Treasurer, The Shepherds House 2012-2016
Treasurer, Rotary Club of Bend
Member, Bend Area Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Member, Central Oregon Cities Council
Treasurer, Save Mirror Pond

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Bend Urban Development Board
Economic Development of Central Oregon
Board member of numerous nonprofits in the Central Oregon Region

Please list all public offices to which youve been elected, and when:
Bend City Council 2002 &2006
Oregon State Senate 2009
Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:
Oregon State Treasurer 2010
Oregon State Senate 2012
Other prior political and government experience:
Senate Finance and Revenue
Oregon Growth Board
Chair Bend La Pine School District Budget Committee
Co-Chair Oregon Redistricting Joint Committee
Senate Rural Health Care
Vice Chair Workforce Development
Captain Senate bipartisan Pole, Peddle Paddle team

How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be
made public):
Mail address: PO Box 1622 Bend OR 97709
E-mail address: Chris@TelferforTreasurer.com or, Chris@ChrisTelferCPA.com
Web site URL: TelferforTreasurer.com
Phone: campaign 541213-1020 personal cell 541-678-3157
Facebook and other social media: https://www.facebook.com/Chris-Telfer-forOregon-State- Treasurer; https://Twitter.com/ChrisTelferOR
Please limit your response to each of the following questions to about 75 words.

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1. To an outsider, how would you describe the region you wish to represent -geographically, economically, politically and socially?
Statewide. Diverse with rural and urban, ocean bordering the entire west coast of
the State, various mountain ranges, lush valleys and wide open desert space.
Mostly rural with a few metropolitan areas with nearly half the population living in
a handful of metropolitan areas. Vast differences in wages between rural and
urban. Rural areas very dependent on natural resources. Politically, most left of
center on social issues and slightly right of center on fiscal issues.
2. Describe the positives and negatives of this region (ward, district, county or
state) that you wish to represent:
The geographic diversity in Oregon is both a blessing and a negative. The
population centers representing slightly more than dictate the way of life for the
rest of the state. Lack of understanding of rural areas is a major roadblock to life
in rural Oregon. Oregon has a one-size-fits-all mentality. The progressive issues of
the urban areas and the more conservative culture of rural Oregon can meld
together better and create an even more amazing state.
3. What specific skills or experiences do you have that would make you
effective in this office?
As a CPA I have the specific skills and experience to transform the figurehead
Treasurers office into an active participant in Oregons economic success as well
as oversight of the $90 billion of State assets. My analytical skills and ability to
analyze financial data have made me a problem solver. As a former State
Senator I know how to work within the system and know how to get things done.
As a Lottery Commissioner, I know how critical maintaining, if not improving, our
bond ratings is. My governmental experiences have enabled me to focus on issues
of Oregonians versus any those of a specific political party.
4. What separates you from your opponent(s)? Be specific.
My experience and training. I am a problem solver. I am planning on the future
with plans to address many of the problems facing Oregon. My opponents focus on
their past accomplishments and maintaining the Treasurers office in the same-olesame-ole manner. Specifically, I have a plan to assist the cannabis industry with
their banking obstacles, address the affordable housing crisis with
underperforming PERS dollars, utilizing some of the Bank of North Dakota Bank
model in increasing student loans and their affordability and increasing economic
development dollars into local communities with partnering with credit unions and
community banks.
5. How much will your General Election campaign cost? Be specific.

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$450,000
6. Have you ever been convicted of a crime, been disciplined by a professional
licensing board/organization or had an ethics violation filed against you? If
so, please give the details.
While not personally, when I previously sold my CPA practice, the new partners
were assessed a $500 fine by the Board of Accountancy for some of their verbiage
on the website post acquisition. I was named in the investigation as my name was
still on the letterhead, though I was no longer practicing in the firm.
7. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your taxes or other
major accounts, or been sued personally or professionally? If so, please give
the details.
No
8. Is there anything (such as health issues, etc.) that would affect your ability to
serve your full term? Are any relevant changes in your life situation expected
or contemplated before the election or before you would take office?
No health issues. I am currently in negotiations to merge my CPA practice with a
regional CPA firm. This merger should have no impact on my campaigning other
than to allow me to focus 100% on the campaign.
9. What are the three most important issues you would address if elected, and
how? (75 words for each issue)
A. Cannabis banking
B. PERS & affordable housing
C. Increasing the value and revenue from our State lands under the control of the
State Land Board
9. What do you see as other important issues?
School Bond Guaranty Program-This program, vital to Oregon schools, must be
watched so it doesnt become another BETC-type drain on finances. As these
guarantees affect Oregons bonding caps and like the BETC, no actual checks are
being written, constant review of these guaranties against our general fund and
bonding capacity must be closely watched.
Implementation of the Retirement Savings Plan that is seamless, cost effective and
affordable for both employers and employees.

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Columbia River Crossing costs. This topic will again face Oregonians and the
financing of such will be a topic of concern, analysis and guidance of the State
Treasury.
Sale of Elliot Forest as well as other State lands.

10.
There is a strong anti-government sentiment in much of the nation and
Oregon. How would you deal with that?
I changed my party to Independent in the hopes that this new major party would
give Oregonians the choice to elect candidates that were concerned with the
wholeness of Oregon and not just 1 partisan direction. Leadership that is willing to
work across the isle to do whats best for all Oregonians, leadership that is willing
to be absolutely transparent and open, and leadership that is honest with
constituents will bring faith back to our various forms of governance.
11.
How would you evaluate the work of the Attorney General's Public
Records Reform Task Force. Are the proposed changes adequate, inadequate
or just right?
I think 15 days is too long to respond. I would like to see more teeth in
consequences for those failing to respond in a timely manner. There needs to be a
cap on the cost to those requesting records. In todays electronic world there is no
reason all public documents and information could not be automatically posted on
line.
13. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that
you should disclose before it comes up in the campaign? NO
14. As a political candidate, your views on national politics are relevant to voters.
Whom do you support for U.S. president in the General Election? Ugh. At the
moment, Gary Johnson
15. As a political candidate, your views on state ballot measures are relevant to
voters. Please indicate whether you favor (YES) or oppose (NO) each of these
measures:
Measure 94, Amends Constitution: Eliminates judges mandatory retirement age.
YES NO
Measure 95, Amends Constitution: Allows investments in equities by public
universities. YES NO

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Measure 96, Amends Constitution: Dedicates 1.5% of state lottery net proceeds
to services for Oregon veterans. YES NO As Lottery Commissioner I have to stay
neutral
Measure 97, statutory: Increases corporate minimum tax when sales exceed $25
million. YES NO
Measure 98, statutory: Requires state funding for dropout prevention, career and
college readiness programs in high schools. YES NO
Measure 99, statutory: Creates Outdoor School Education Fund funded through
Lottery to provide outdoor school programs statewide. YES NO As Lottery
Commissioner I must remain neutral
Measure 100, statutory: Bans purchase or sale of parts/products from certain
wildlife species. YES NO

Thank you. Please return this questionnaire to the Editorial Board as an

attached Word document to Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com by Sept.
12, 2016.