(Source: Mark Gamba for Congress/Twitter)
Today, I was proud to interview Mark Gamba, the mayor of Milwaukie, Oregon, and a candidate for Congress in the state's 5th district. Mark is challenging Rep. Kurt Schrader from the left in the Democratic primary, and I spoke with him today about his campaign, and why he believe that he is the better choice for the district.
What inspired you to run for Congress in the first place?
"I got into politics because as a National Geographic Photographer, I was seeing the early signs of global warming occurring for decades. I ran for my local city councilor and then Mayor to do that work, which I have done. Milwaukie has one of the strongest climate action plans in the State of Oregon. When the IPCC report came out it became clear that we only had 12 years to take significant action in order to stop climate chaos. The Federal Government has the greatest ability and responsibility to do that. My congressman has a very poor record in that realm. So I decided to run against him."
What is your strategy to win?
"Classic grass roots campaign similar to AOC. Strong field work, hundreds of volunteers, lots of events, getting the message out to as many people as possible."
Kurt Schrader has been in Congress for over a decade. How do you convince Democratic voters that you're a better choice?
"He is not beloved. No one has every seriously run against him in the primary. People are hungry for a change. I can point to my record as a mayor - passed a $15/hr minimum wage when Kurt voted against an increase in the federal $7.25 minimum wage. Passed and implemented a strong climate action plan when Kurt voted to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. I've raised money to build affordable housing, Kurt has voted for budgets that reduce the HUD budget dramatically almost every year he's been in office. I've passed resolutions and been a vocal advocate for Medicare for All, Kurt has actively tried to stop it. I don't take corporate money, Kurt's donors look like the who's who of […] corporations."
So, you just mentioned Medicare For All, affordable housing, climate action, and a $15 minimum wage as some of your policies. Among all your policies, including the ones you didn't mention, which one would you pick as your top priority?
"By top priority do you mean the thing I would do first or the thing I think is the most important?"
I mean the latter.
"If we don't solve climate change, none of the rest of it will matter in 50 or a 100 years."
What are you most proud of during your time as mayor?
"Three things: Transforming my council from 5 old white men with conservative leanings to 4 women and myself who work well together and are focused on the critical issues not just going along to get along. Rallying the entire city behind a powerful vision whose opening line reads: In 2040, "Milwaukie is a flourishing city that is entirely equitable, delightfully livable and completely sustainable," and then putting those words into action and law across the board. Again, rallying the entire city behind a plan to raise and spend over $52 million to build out our bike and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the city so that kids can walk safely to school, families to the park, folks to the stores or downtown and connections to mass transit."
You mentioned how you're not taking corporate money, and you criticized Schrader for doing so. If elected, will you pledge to cosponsor the We the People Amendment (introduced in the House this session as H.J.Res.48) that would declare that corporations are not people, and that money is not speech?
"Absolutely. I will also fight for publicly funded campaigns."
One issue that I've recently started to prioritize is some form of a direct democracy at a national level. Would you support that (you don't need to worry about the details right now, just whether or not you're in favor of some form of it)?
"A little more detail would be helpful by what you mean by direct democracy..."
I mean allowing citizens to vote on certain issues (e.g. raising the minimum wage or legalizing marijuana). Civil rights and civil liberties would not be voted on -- we have a constitution for a reason -- but certain issues such as the aforementioned ones would be eligible to be put up for a vote.
"I think that is possible. It would require restoring the third leg of our democracy : real, honest, unbiased journalism."
Another candidate that I've interviewed, Daniel Kilgore, who ran for Congress in Ohio, had a fantastic idea for a bill that I wanted to get your opinion on -- the Aaron Burr: Public Servants Trust Act -- which he says is "designed to fine those taking lobbyist funds before a vote or insider trading." What do you say to that? Would you support it in Congress?
"I would love to read it, but generally yes. I might take it a step further and disallow congress people from directly investing in the stock market. I also thing capitol gains should be taxed at the same level that all other income is taxed."
Anything you'd like to add?
"Our current system for choosing our leaders, generally speaking, is a contest to see who can raise the most money - not who is best qualified, most visionary, most proven to get good work done, has the best ideas - nothing actually that will be important once elected. It goes a long way to explain why our federal government is so dysfunctional. Fix that, and we fix our government."
Well, that's all! A big thank you to Mark for his time; you can learn more about him here, and if you live in OR-05, primary day is May 19!
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