Instructor looks to become a state rep.

MHCC geography and criminal justice instructor Chris Gorsek, who is also a former police officer and Troutdale City Council member, is aiming for the 49th district State Representative seat in the November general election.

Gorsek also ran for Oregon Senate last year, where he accumulated approximately 18,000 votes in a losing cause — the winner drew 24,000.

Gorsek, who won the Democratic primary in May, has been spending his summer campaigning and going from door to door throughout the community.

“(Campaigning) has gone very well,” said Gorsek, adding that he’s been meeting with other organizations and setting up endorsements with groups like the Working Families Party.

“We’ve had a couple productive fundraisers here in the last couple of weeks, so it’s been going really well,” he said.

Asked whether there has been a common concern for the state among the citizens he’s talked to throughout the summer, Gorsek said, “The thing that came up the most locally is the casino (The Grange). The other two key things are education and the economy.”

In regards to the Grange, Gorsek was skeptical of the claims made by companies tied to the proposed casino on positive effects on the community.

“I don’t support the Grange. I know that they talk about jobs, but what we want are really good living wage jobs. I’m not convinced that that’s what we’ll get,” he said.

In general, job creation is something Gorsek is a major advocate for and says it would be one of his main focuses should he be elected.

Gorsek also says he feels it is important to try and fix and clean up the state’s schools and other infrastructure, saying a “lot of it is wearing out,” and hopes to tie it all in with job creation.

In response to how he would create these jobs, Gorsek said, “If we were to start a fund where we would slowly start a fund where we slowly but surely work on the worst of these buildings, that would provide good decent construction type jobs.”

“We’re going to have to start working on our infrastructure more,” he said, referring to roads and bridges as examples.

He said along with the workers needed to physically do the job, you also need someone to provide the supplies and services, so the effect would build up overtime.

Education and all aspects of the finance involved in it is another one of his major concerns.

Gorsek said he is particularly worried for community colleges because the state is looking more to base funding on degree completion rather than the traditional FTE (Full-Time-Equivalent) head count.

“The problem is community colleges do a lot of things that don’t lend itself to completion,” said Gorsek.

Tuition, which has risen with the decreasing state funding to MHCC, is also something Gorsek says he is worried about.

“I’m concerned about tuition increases, I’m concerned about education costs,” said Gorsek, adding should he be elected, he would do anything he could to solve these issues.

Gorseks says with a better-educated populace, companies will be more likely to bring their businesses here as well.

“Good schools prepare students for the real world,” added Gorsek.

“I think it’s the beginning of everything.”

Asked why Gorsek feels he would be a good fit for the role of state representative, Gorsek referred to his background in education, the police force and local government.

“I think that the jobs I have had immerse you in the real world. With the education background plus that background, that makes me a really good candidate for understanding the issues that face average people and being sensitive to those issues,” he said.

“I really want to work to make things better for middle-income folks,” said Gorsek.

With the election month creeping just around the corner, Gorsek was asked about his chances. He said, “I feel really good. Our big thing in this district is we have a 14-point democratic registration edge over my opponent and I’m also endorsed by the worker’s family party and also won the independent primary so I will be running under all three of those.”

Even if he doesn’t claim the seat next month, Gorsek said he may continue to pursue a career in politics.

“I’m definitely interested in continuing looking to work in government. What that would look like, I don’t know, but I would definitely be interested in running again,” said Gorsek.

—Editor’s note: An article on Gorsek’s opponent Matt Wand will appear in next week’s Advocate.