Document text
`Vote Smart' Web site wins notice By PETER WONG CORVALLIS -- Most politicians may not be making use of the global information network known as the Internet, but Oregon is home to the most extensive World Wide Web site of information about federal and state candidates. The Web site, which Project Vote Smart runs from the basement of a building at Oregon State University, has won recognition from the American Political Science Association as the nation's best for political information. With a click or two of the mouse, computer users have instant access to biographical data, issue positions and more on candidates for Congress, governorships and state legislatures. The number of potential users has tripled -- to 40 million -- since the 1996 general election. "The citizen has a powerful tool for information because he or she can compare the candidates," said Adelaide Elm, director of the National Political Awareness Test conducted by Project Vote Smart. "This tests the willingness of candidates to make this kind of information available to average citizens. It's hard when the candidates duck issue-oriented questions, and often you know only what they want to tell you. So if they complain that our test is too short, look at what they usually give the voters." The test Elm refers to asked candidates in the National Political Awareness Test to mark only the positions they support on a wide range of issues. Of Oregon's major-party candidates for Congress, governor and Southern Oregon legislative seats, only four chose not to participate by a mid-August deadline for responses. They were Kevin Campbell of Canyon City, Democratic nominee in the 2nd Congressional District; Sen. Lenn Hannon of Ashland, a Republican unopposed in District 26; Rob Patridge of Medford, Republican nominee for state representative in District 50; and Rep. Carl Wilson of Grants Pass, appointed Republican incumbent in District 49. Thomas Heck of Selma, one of two independent candidates in District 49, also did not participate. Some candidates, however, didn't give the test a passing grade. Patridge said he felt the questions were simplistic. State Rep. Judy Uherbelau, D-Ashland, responded in essay form, as she did in 1996. She said she and a few other Democratic and Republican incumbents agreed with Patridge's criticism. "Two years ago I made another slot for `other' and answered the questions in essay form," Uherbelau said. "I wrote them and said they might have trouble putting those answers on their Web site, but all they had to do was to indicate that I answered their questionnaire and people could call me or them for copies of my answers. But they refused to do that and put down instead that I refused to answer." Elm said based on similar complaints from candidates two years ago, this year's revised test allows candidates to offer some open-ended responses. She said candidates were granted honor-roll status if they answered 70 percent of the questions. "The only wrong answer was no answer," she said. Elm said enough questions were asked so that people can see where candidates stand on a range of issues. Candidates need only to say whether they agree with the statements. "What is the alternative here?" she said. "Are candidates providing this kind of information in a way that citizens can understand and have access to at any time? In most cases, they're not. "The average citizen does not have time to research voting records, and if the candidates are incumbents, he or she may feel intimidated when contacting them. The media usually do not cover every race all the time. "So this is a place for people to start getting issue-oriented information that they know does not come with a slant or hidden agenda or motive." Selected political sites Selected World Wide Web sites for Oregon politics and what you'll find: Unofficial sites: Project Vote Smart, Center for National Independence in Politics -- www.vote-smart.org Biographical data on candidates for Congress, governorships, state legislatures; their responses to questionnaire; voting records and campaign contributors on incumbent members of Congress. People without Internet access can dial toll-free (800) 622-SMART, or (541) 754-2746. Center for Responsive Politics -- www.crp.org Information and analysis of contributions and contributors to congressional candidates. Campaign Reform Project -- www.orcampaigndisclosure.org Oregon is one of six states whose congressional candidates have been asked to provide electronic access to their two pre-election reports of contributions and spending. The major-party nominees in the 2nd District have agreed to participate. Official sites: Oregon secretary of state -- www.sos.state.or.us Information on candidates for federal and state offices and how to reach them; voting procedures and other election information; Voters' Pamphlet candidate statements, and texts, analyses and paid arguments for and against statewide ballot measures. Federal Election Commission -- www.fec.gov Detailed facsimile statements of contributions and spending by U.S. House candidates and political action committees, but electronic access to them on the Internet lags behind paper reports filed with the FEC in Washington. Reports by U.S. Senate candidates are not available electronically. Vic Corchero of Shady Cove, Democratic nominee in House District 46 -- www.ccountry.net/corchero/ He's the only Southern Oregon legislative candidate with his own Web site, although several candidates have e-mail addresses. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA