Candidates’ Forum on Health Care this Tuesday, September 25

All candidates for the Oregon House of Representatives from the three districts that include some portion of Benton County have been invited to a forum sponsored by Mid-Valley Health Care Advocates. Open to the interested public, the forum will be held at the Corvallis Benton County Library at 645 NW Monroe on Tuesday, September 25th, from 7-9 PM.

Accepting the invitation to attend the health care forum from House District 16, representing Corvallis, Philomath and Adair Village, are Sara Gelser, incumbent Democrat, and challenger Rachel J. Feigner, Libertarian.  From House District 23, a largely rural area surrounding HD 16, will be Jim Thompson, incumbent Republican, and challengers Ross Schwartzendruber, Democrat, and Alex Polikoff, Pacific Green and Independent Party. Attending from House District 15, representing Albany and a slice of north Benton County will be challenger Ron Green, Democrat; Andy Olson, incumbent Republican in HD 15 and Andrew Decker, Republican challenger for HD 16 have indicated that they will not be attending.

Candidates will be asked to describe their views on health care in Oregon and what reforms, if any, they support. Audience members will be able to submit additional questions to the candidates through the moderator.  Initial topics will include Coordinated Care Organizations, Health Insurance Exchanges, the role of private and public sectors in health care, health care delivery systems, and the future of a single payer system in Oregon.