KATU Candidate Questions – April 2024

Answers to Candidate Questions presented by KATU News.
2024 Republican Primary.

WHO IS DAVID RUSS?

I am a Patriot Servant Leader who’s highest priorities are “God, The Constitution and You” (RussIsForUS.com/god-the-constitution-and-you). I am the only Republican Candidate running for Congressional District 6 that both has experience as an Elected Official and lives inside of the District boundaries.

I have been a small business owner for over 40 years and am dedicated to supporting the small businesses that are not only the backbone, but the heart and soul of Oregon Congressional District 6. I have served as an executive officer and board member of real estate, manufacturing, farm and retail corporations. This depth and breadth of hands on business experience gives me a strong knowledge of the operations of most business and government entities. (RussIsForUS.com/i-am-not-elite)

I have been a Constitutional Conservative since before I was old enough to vote and have been encouraged by friends and family for decades to run for Congress. I am running for office to serve you through my commitment to God and The Constitution. (RussIsForUS.com/the_oath).

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?

• To serve the people of Oregon Congressional district 6 and The United States of America (RussIsForUS.com/for-you).
• To restore the rule of law, and adherence to The Constitution For The United States Of America (RussIsForUS.com/what-if).
• To recover our Nation’s Economy and reverse the national debt (RussIsForUS.com/virtual-rally#thegiant).
• To end the Federal Government’s involvement in our schools, local institutions, businesses and cultural issues.

WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB?

I have led the City of Dundee Oregon as its Mayor for over 9 years. As the Mayor of Dundee I have ushered in more economic development and infrastructure improvements than any previous Mayor in Dundee’s history (see the complete list at RussIsForUS.com/who-is-this-guy).

My knowledge of real estate, construction and various other industries has led to better project quality, better systems improvements and overall cost savings for the City of Dundee. I have a very strong understanding of The Constitution, Business and Real Estate Law and the operational needs of small businesses.

I am a Patriot Servant Leader. That means:

• I love this country as Founded and will lay my life down for it.
• When I take a position as an “Elected Official” I do so to serve you, your community, our District, the State of Oregon, and the United States of America.
• I am a Leader.
  • I started my first business at the age of 17.
  • Two years out of college I started running corporations.
  • I have served on Corporate Boards for over 25 years
  • I Have managed volunteers for over 25 years.
  • I am an Accountant as well as a business and real estate consultant.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER 1 POLICY PRIORITY IN CONGRESS IN 2025?

At this point in history, the Number 1 policy issue is the Border/Immigration. We need to finish the wall and stop all immigration until we can sort out the issues we face (and will face) as a result of the invasion that has been allowed to take place for the last 3 years. I believe that immigration is an integral part of our nation, but invasion is not. Until we can re-secure our nation, we can not afford to accept any more immigrants, legal or not. Once we have stopped the flow, we need to make changes in our law enforcement and social programs that will make staying in the USA uncomfortable for the invaders.

To a great extent, the immigration issue has been exacerbated by 10^th Amendment Violations committed by Federal Agencies. Most agencies in the Executive Branch are given broad powers to create “administrative rules” that have the force of law. They also have the authority to not enforce those rules if they choose. These overreaching laws often violate more than the 10^th Amendment of The Constitution For The united States Of America, and are never reviewed nor approved by any elected official. Basically, we have unelected bureaucrats creating federal laws. Federal overreach not only wastes tax payer funds, in most cases it violates your constitutional rights, the rights of your state, and can put you and your assets at risk.

It is unfortunate that the current presidential administration has turned immigration into a national security nightmare. Because of that, we must cure this security issue before facing other issues that are existential threats to our nation. Ending federal overreach will solve over 90% of the issues we face as a nation. Including the border/immigration issue. However, with the large number of potentially dangerous people crossing our border unfettered, we must solve our national security issue before we can take on internal policy issues.

WHAT’S THE MOST URGENT ISSUE IN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS IT AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS?

At this time in history, the Federal Government has many programs and earmarks that can specifically benefit local districts and municipalities. Since these programs and earmarks exist, I will seek to take advantage of them as much as possible for Congressional District 6. However, doing so comes with strings (RussIsForUS.com/proposed-bills#strings) that do not serve the constituents.

The issues we face federally are the urgent issues for Congressional District 6, and the State of Oregon. Rogue federal tyrannical edicts by the Biden administration have damaged and destroyed many of our small businesses and farms and are making life hard for all of us. The fact that our federal government has been promoting and funding community destroying “Non-government Organizations” (NGO’s), and the spread of marxist and anti-patriotic philosophies has led to problems with crime, addiction and law enforcement. I intend to reverse these freedom and community destroying federal edicts and thereby restore law, order and prosperity to Congressional District 6 and the Nation.

Seeking to specifically address any issue that is unique to Oregon Congressional District 6 at the federal level is technically violating the 10^th Amendment. However, since that is the system that exists currently, I will seek to garner what ever federal support I can while it is offered. I will also simultaneously seek to end government overreach, and the spread of marxist/communist programs and philosophies through federal programs. Removing onerous federal controls and bringing individual program funding back to the state level will result in better programs and more funding for the things we need.

To clarify specific issues we face as a District, and a Nation I present the following list:

• Unreasonable controls on Law Enforcement leading to increased crime
• Excess government controls destroying our farms and ranches and thereby our food supply and livelihood.
• Uncontrolled immigration leading to:
  • Non-citizens voting in our elections
  • Increased drug trafficking
  • Increased crime
  • Insurance increases for honest citizens (due to losses caused by uninsured parties)
• Increased homeless population caused by poor decisions at the federal level
• Homeless people being unable, or unwilling, to improve their situation due to enabling government programs.
• Destruction of our military and military readiness.

WILL YOU MAKE BIPARTISANSHIP A PRIORITY, WHY OR WHY NOT?

“Bipartisanship” is a buzz word of the “uniparty.” It means that as a conservative you will enter all negotiations from a position of giving up half of what you have, or half of the rights of your constituents. Since this has been going on for over 100 years there really is nothing left to give up. If you give up half of what you have 4 times you end up with 1/16th of what you started with. I believe that “bipartisanship” has led us to a point where we have much less than 1/16th of what we started with.

I am completely willing to “Negotiate” with other legislators to come up with legislation that works for the people. As a Real Estate Professional and Corporate Executive, I have been negotiating nearly continuously about 40 years. That experience has made it plainly clear to me that a winning negotiation does not start from a place of weakness (like giving up half of what you have). I have also learned that in order to prevent accepting terms that are damaging, you must have certain items that you are unwilling to give up. That is especially important where The Constitution and The Bill Of Rights are concerned. For far too many years it has appeared that Republican leaders have had no such boundaries.

I will negotiate with other legislators, and I will seek to enact legislation that can be called “bipartisan” by virtue of being agreed upon by legislators from both parties. However, I will never give up the rights of my constituents just so that I can gain the label “bipartisan.”

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT VOTE FOR YOU?

1. The people deserve a dedicated Patriot Servant Leader that will stand up for them against all enemies Foreign and Domestic.
2. I am the only Republican Candidate on the ballot that has any experience as an “Elected Official.”
3. Local Conservative Leaders have testified to my record as a “Servant Leader” by endorsing me. These are people from my county and local communities that know my work:
   1. All three Conservative Yamhill County Commissioners. Mary Starrett, Lindsay Bershauer & Kit Johnston
   2. Two Dundee City Councilors. David Ford and Tim Weaver (Retired NDPD)
   3. The Mayor of Newberg and a City Councilor. Bill Rosacker & Robyn Wheatley
   4. The Chief of NDPD and Retired Chief of NDPD. Jeff Kosmicki & Brian Casey
   5. My Pastor. Rick Dutton – Promise Church Dundee & Retired NDPD
   6. The Community Oriented Public Servants (COPS) PAC
4. My depth and breadth of experience give me a strong working knowledge of the operations of most businesses and government. This knowledge and experience has consistently led to money savings, better quality construction/programs, and better legislation for the City of Dundee.
5. I live inside of the Congressional District 6 boundaries.
6. My biggest competitor in this race has run for public office six times since 1988. In each of these races he has effectively placed a Democrat into office (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Erickson).