Lindy Williams
Burns Times-Herald

Jim Crary, the democratic congressional candidate running against republican Greg Walden for Oregon’s second district, spoke to the students of Crane Union High School on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Crary was born and raised in Fargo, N.D., attended college for a year, then enlisted in the Army for two years. After the Army, Crary graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a business degree. Then, he attended law school in San Diego, Calif., where he participated in an internship that took him to Alaska for six months. After graduating and marrying, Crary returned to Alaska, where he lived in Anchorage for 24 years. For the first 14 years, he worked for the legal department of the Municipality of Anchorage. In 1996, he began working for BP oil and continued to do so until 2013, when he retired. In 2006, Crary and his family moved to Ashland, where they now reside.

Crary addressed the junior and senior government classes and led a discussion of his views, opinions, and goals.

Topics included the current presidential election, term limits, renewable energy sources, veteran affairs, gun control, the proposed Owyhee National Monument, income inequality, welfare and food stamps, ISIS, college debt, sage grouse, public lands, and campaign financing.

When asked about the Owyhee National Monument, Crary said that, while he enjoyed living on the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, he would listen to his constituents when it came to voting for another one.

“I have to represent the people in Congressional District Two. Over in Malheur County, they took a vote, 90 percent of the people said no. I have to listen to what they say. So I say ‘no’ to that,” he said.

Crary took care to answer each question fully, stating that he disliked it when politicians were asked a question, then didn’t answer.

Crary also spoke of his dislike of the electoral college and his desire for the popular vote to decide presidential elections.

He encouraged the students to register to vote as soon as they were able. Crary reminded the students that the voters have all the power in elections.