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Gubernatorial debate in Medford focuses on local issues Incumbent Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Republican challenger Bud Pierce participate in a gubernatorial debate at the KOBI-TV studios Thursday night in Medford. Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch Friday Oct 14, 2016 at 2:00 AM Oct 14, 2016 at 3:46 PM Damian Mann Mail Tribune @reporterdm Gov. Kate Brown and Republican opponent Bud Pierce zeroed in on issues that affect Southern Oregon, including the economy, timber issues, armed guards in schools and the Klamath River, in a debate held Thursday night at KOBI-TV. Patsy Smullin, owner of KOBI, asked the candidates if they would commit to having a town hall every year in Southern Oregon, similar to the town halls of Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkeley, both Democrats. "Yes, a town hall, but way beyond that," Pierce said. He said he would commit to spending three months a year in rural areas of the state. Pierce noted that this was his eighth trip to Medford since he began his campaign. Brown said she'd been down to the Rogue Valley a number of times but wouldn't commit to an annual town hall. "I'd love to make a commitment, but crises, challenges come up," she said. When the mass shooting took place at Umpqua Community College, Brown said she was in Roseburg in a matter of hours. This was the fourth of five debates the candidates will be holding statewide. Cliff Thomason, the Independent Party candidate and a Grants Pass resident, wasn't at the debate, with KOBI citing a scheduling issue. Both candidates reiterated their positions on a number of issues, including Measure 97, the corporate tax that is opposed by Pierce, a doctor, and endorsed by Brown, who was the former Oregon Secretary of State before she replaced John Kitzhaber, who resigned as governor in February 2015 amid an ethics investigation. But the KOBI panel asked the candidates specific questions about Southern Oregon, including about voters' continued rejection of increasing taxes to pay for law enforcement in Josephine County. "We need to get the economy growing in Josephine County," Pierce said. Once people have good-paying jobs, they would be more willing to pay for government services, he said. Pierce said he would back some legislative solutions that would provide basic services. Brown said rural Oregon counties are faced with decreasing federal dollars. She said she would fight for an increase in the number of Oregon State Police troopers who would aid in handling calls in rural areas of the state. "There are half the number as in the 1980s," she said. The candidates differed on how they might resolve a class-action lawsuit by 15 Oregon counties to push ahead with logging harvests on state-managed lands . Brown said she wants to strike a balance between conservation and sustainable harvests. "We need to put people back to work in Coos and Douglas counties," she said. Pierce said he would work with various groups that have interest in timber harvests to come up with a resolution. "I would move into aggressive negotiations with the counties," he said. The pair differed over expanding the idea of armed guards at schools after Grants Pass campuses began patrols. "If armed guards work for a period of time, then that's what's needed," Pierce said. He said he views school safety in a holistic way where society has to address a number of issues that affect students, from violence on campus to providing a safe environment, including providing adequate facilities. Brown said she wouldn't support armed guards and couldn't endorse more militarization of schools. "It's unacceptable for kindergartners going through lockdown drills," she said. Pierce said he wanted more local control over proposals such as the Jordan Cove natural gas pipeline project. "We need to come to a more rapid decision-making," he said. "If it doesn't work, it won't go forward." Brown said she views her role as governor as more of a referee, describing herself as neutral on the question of the pipeline. Both candidates said they support taking out four dams along the Klamath River, though they said they wanted to make sure farmers had adequate water.. "It's the right thing to do," Brown said. Pierce said, "I'm excited about the river being wild again." Human trafficking along the Interstate 5 cooridor was another topic that both candidates weighed in on, with Pierce calling it "abysmal" and Brown saying it's a "huge problem." She said shelters need more help to provide services immediately instead of turning down one out of four women who seek assistance. "I believe we need to work on a safety net for survivors," Brown said. Pierce said law enforcement needs more tools to help identify the problem, and a better system needs to be in place to aid the victims. "They need an easy way to call out and get help," he said. Both candidates said they would accept more refugees from Syria in Oregon. "We are a land of immigrants," Brown said. "We should welcome them." She said the federal government has a two-year vetting process to ensure the refugees coming into the country will fit into society. Pierce (attribution corrected from previous version) was a little less sure about investing in refugees when Oregon has other problems, including the large homeless population. "My heart goes out to refugees," he said. "It's good to have a big heart, but your own family is important, too." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.