OLSON, PRICE FIELD QUESTIONS FROM BUSINESS CROWD

Covering topics ranging from gay marriage to SAIF, the candidates for
state representative in House District 15 answered questions Wednesday
as they faced an audience of more than 300 business people in Albany.

At the annual "Businesses on Display" luncheon at the Linn County Fair
& Expo Center, Republican Andy Olson, a former State Police station
commander, and Democrat Wes Price, a retired accountant, were each
given eight minutes to define themselves for the audience of 330.

Olson came out against gay marriage, as he had before, saying he
supports the Defense of Marriage Act and believes that marriage should
be defined as between one man and one woman.

Price said he was not in a position to judge others. "I think we need
to treat all people equally, and give them equal opportunities," Price
said.

On SAIF, Olson said he and business owners he's spoken with want to
keep SAIF, Oregon's publicly-owned workers' compensation company, the
way it is.

"They tell me please don't dismantle it and sell it to a private
company. I would keep SAIF where it's at, but the voters will also
make that decision in November," Olson said.

He added that he would tweak the program to provide additional
oversight to ensure accountability.

Price's position on SAIF was similar. "I think it's working for small
businesses, and working for those people like contractors who have a
difficult time getting insurance. SAIF should be safeguarded," Price
said.

A number of questions prepared by lunch guests went unasked because of
time.

Interviewed this morning, the candidates responded to some of those
orphan questions on issues relating to funding for state police to
medical marijuana.

Olson said more funding needed to be found to support state troopers,
and that businesses and community leaders he's spoken with are in
favor of that as well. The problem, he said, is in finding new money
to support more troopers on the highways, because Oregonians have
historically come out against tax hikes. He said he would look for
more funding by targeting other state programs that were
inefficient.

"I'd like to take a look at (the Oregon Health Plan). I think we have
to return to what was constructed 10 years ago, and support the
elderly, the disabled, and the most vulnerable Oregonians. But from
stories I've heard, there's some things about that program that are a
little out of whack and need to be looked at," Olson said.

Addressing the state police issue, Price said he would look elsewhere
for ways to get OSP back to full strength.

"The thing is, of the 150 police positions that were cut, they've
already hired back 140, so as far as personnel goes, that's already
happening. The crime lab is the big thing for me. I don't say we go to
OHP to look for ways to get that back. In that way, Olson is mirroring
me by looking for an inefficient program and take a hardball look, and
generate funds in those areas," Price said.

Both candidates said they favored siezing assets in drug crimes, both
to fund law enforcement and to deter criminals.

On medical marijuana, Olson said he was in favor of leaving the
existing law the way it is, but opposed Ballot Measure 33, which would
increase the quantities of medical marijuana it would be legal to possess.

In contrast, Price said he wasn't in favor the new measure or the
old.

"I have to say that I'm against it. I just don't see any real reason
for it," Price said, meaning medical marijuana.