Mark Mays, well-informed, jovial, and loquacious, is running on the Democratic ticket in the 5th Congressional District: which includes Spokane and Walla Walla: for the U.S. House of Representatives.   His opponent is Republican incumbent Cathy McMorris-Rodgers.   On Wednesday Oct. 1, Mays spoke at the Democratic Headquarters in Walla Walla, fielding the attendants’ questions.

Mays runs an issue-driven campaign, a fact verified by willingness to speak almost exclusively about the points of his platform. He wasted little time or energy lambasting his opponent or establishing the respectability of his character.   Though Mays’ campaign is largely bolstered by issues, he lamented the disinclination of the print media to address his or his opponent’s platform as opposed to their political wiles.

The weight of the current economic crisis and the initial failed pass of the bail-out bill were given the most consideration by Mays and the audience.   Mays emphasized that the current issues in the economy equals the current issues in the campaign.   He claimed that as responsible citizens dealing with the economic crisis and the new political arena, we must ask, “What kind of a country do we want this to be?”   He discussed the need for stricter regulations on banks and investment companies and greater fiscal responsibility for the institutions that handle the country’s money. Mays decried the uncooperative stubbornness of the Congress members who refused to pass the bill because of a desire to point fingers and punish the perpetrators.   Mays beseeched the listeners to “ask if we are in this together as a country, or are we on our own?”

Mays spoke passionately about socially-conscious economic reform.   When asked about his methods of balancing the budget, Mays suggested the need for gradual and incremental improvement:   “We have the wealth to do things that need to be done.   We need to target infrastructure development in non-urban areas…spending more money in targeted ways…that help develop our infrastructure.”   Mays used the example of increasing and improving the transportation system in Dayton.   By increasing the number and quality of jobs in rural areas, those towns become wealthier, eventually contributing to the growth of the nation.   Mays also suggests implementing universal health care, developing alternative energy and teaching art to gradually improve the quality of life and the health and efficiency of the nation.

Mays also focused on the negative stigma against Democrats in many parts of the country.   He professed that his biggest obstacle in getting his voice heard in Eastern Washington lies in the misconception that only Republicans fight against moral degradation and create opportunities.   As Mays claimed, “People see democrats as people who want to give money to teenagers who want to have their third baby and never work again…Democrats need to emphasize that we are not about entitlement, but about opportunities.”

Mark Mays’ debate against his opponent, Cathy McMorris-Rodgers will be aired on October 16 on Channel 7 and 790 KJRB.