Germond courts DeFazio’s fourth-district constituents
From our weekly issue dated December 02, 2009
Roseburg resident Jaynee Germond made her pitch to would-be constituents on Wednesday, Nov. 25, as the Fourth Congressional District candidate appeared on the KAJO Radio talk show.
Germond is seeking the Republican nomination for the Congressional seat, which has been held by U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Springfield) since 1987. She ran against DeFazio on the Constitution Party ticket in 2008, as the Republican Party was unable to field a candidate.
The district comprises Lane, Linn, Curry, Coos, Douglas and parts of Josephine and Benton counties.
During the interview, Germond said that her professional experience includes 25 years of working in the health-care industry. She also has taught at public and private schools, and been a small business owner. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I’m a real person, and I’ve spent my life working real jobs,” Germond said.
The candidate said that she first became involved with the Constitution Party in ‘06 after becoming disappointed with the Republican Party.
“I was a lifelong Republican, and like many Americans today, I felt like the party’s candidates and elected officials no longer represented me,” she said. “This need to win an election at all costs is hurting the party, and it’s losing the party members.”
But Germond said that she felt compelled to return to the Republican Party to try and change it from the inside. She expressed concern that there is too much factionalizing occurring among conservative-leaning voters, including members of the Constitution and Libertarian parties.
“First we have to take back our party, and then we can take back our country,” Germond said.
She said that she spent only $4,500 in her 2008 Congressional bid, while DeFazio spent more than $450,000. DeFazio received 82 percent of the vote in that election. Germond got 13 percent.
Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken has been recruited by the National Republican Congressional Committee to seek DeFazio’s seat. On Monday, Nov. 16, the Oregon Elections Division announced in a press release that it found Leiken in violation of two campaign finance laws and fined the candidate $2,250.
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That controversy began in June, when an investigation began regarding the use of $2,000 that Leiken transferred from his campaign committee to his consulting business. Leiken told the elections division that the money had been used to reimburse his firm for a poll conducted by a company owned by his mother regarding Springfield city issues.
However, Leiken and his mother were unable to produce proper documents.
Germond characterized Leiken’s transfer of campaign funds as a “poor decision,” and said that voters would likely hold the violation against the mayor.
“I think that this is something that the people will remember,” she said.
Leiken has amassed considerable name recognition in the Eugene media market in his stint as Springfield mayor. But Germond said that “a lot of people don’t know who he is” throughout much of the vast Fourth District.
Germond offered a series of promises to constituents. She said that if elected, she would oppose any bill to increase spending and debt or enables the federal government to usurp states’ rights; term limit herself to 12 years maximum; support any bill that would reduce taxes; and would ensure that military veterans receive the best available health care.
“I believe in personal rights and limited government,” Germond said.
At this point, it is unknown if DeFazio will seek another term. His name has been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate, and DeFazio may wait until the March filing deadline to announce his intentions.
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