District 10: Cowan.

Byline: The Register-Guard

E l e c t i o n 2 0 0 6

Two excellent candidates are vying for the House District 10 seat on the Oregon Coast - Republican incumbent Alan Brown and Democratic challenger Jean Cowan. They differ more in approach than ability, but those distinctions tip the scales toward Cowan. District 10 voters should send Cowan, with her 12 years as a Lincoln County commissioner and professional background in health care, to Salem as their representative.

This election is a rematch of the 2004 District 10 race. Despite Cowan's late entry into that contest, which was complicated by her husband's cancer diagnosis midway through the campaign, Cowan lost to Brown by just 414 votes. The vote was close because both candidates are native Oregonians who have a thorough understanding of the district - which includes all of Lincoln County and parts of Lane, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill counties - and its issues.

Brown, 69, has been an effective legislator. As chairman of the state Transportation Committee in the GOP-controlled House, his panel handled the Oregon Transportation Investment Act, which raised millions of dollars in revenue to spend on road and bridge work. Those big transportation projects stimulated job creation and produced much-needed infrastructure improvement.

Brown owns Les Schwab tire stores in Newport and Toledo, which gives him firsthand understanding of problems faced by the district's small businesses. That's the prism through which he sees issues such as access to health care. Brown would like to see a state program that would let small businesses pool their resources to buy health insurance for their employees.

Cowan, 59, has seen the health care crisis from a different perspective - that of an emergency medical technician, medical assistant and office manager at Toledo Clinic. Making health care more affordable and increasing access to preventive care are her top priorities.

Both candidates acknowledge that education funding is on the minds of District 10 voters, but Cowan gives it higher priority than Brown. Cowan also places more emphasis on restoring the depleted ranks of the Oregon State Police.

Cowan and Brown both recognize District 10's need for more job opportunities for its residents. Brown's approach would be to create tax incentives and reduce unnecessary regulations on businesses. Cowan believes more businesses would benefit from higher state investment in education and affordable health care.

In this close contest, Cowan has zeroed in on the most important issues. Her extensive local government service as a Lincoln County commissioner and mayor and city councilor for the city of Elgin, as well as her professional experience in direct health care delivery, give her the background she needs to be an outstanding state legislator. District 10 voters should elect Jean Cowan.