A Fine Debate Takes Shape

The March 30th Gubernatorial debate on the environment promises to be both entertaining and enlightening, with The Oregonian’s David Sarasohn moderating. As a columnist, Sarasohn describes his job as “making fun of politicians for The Oregonian since 1983.”

In Sarasohn’s column, he imagines the phrase “job-killing” as the plot of a horror movie “using not chain saws but pink slips.” He muses how the recession proves a hard time for families and "a great time for ramen noodles” as people trim back their grocery budgets. But his skills go far beyond humor; Sarasohn's chops as a history scholar and managing editor set him up to ensure cogent answers from our three participating candidates as an expert panel poses to tough questions.

Between OEC’s Andrea Durbin and Dr. Catherine Thomasson from the Oregon Medical Association, candidates will be held to a high standard for their leadership vision on climate and energy as well as human and environmental health.

Portland Tribute reporter Steve Law and Pacific University professor Bob Van Dyk are sure to pose thought-provoking challenges to the candidates as they describe how they propose to lead Oregon into a thriving sustainable future.

By the end of the evening on March 30th, The Oregon League of Conservation Voters and the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club hope to have the answers they need from Allen Alley, Bill Bradbury and John Kitzhaber in order to decide which candidate to endorse.