Last modified: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 10:18 AM PDT Noah Lemas, Democratic candidate to represent Oregon’s Second Congressional District, addresses the audience at the candidate forum, Monday in the Weese Building at Treasure Valley Community College. Candidates speak out at forum By Larry Meyer Argus Observer ONTARIO — Twelve candidates running for federal, state and local offices appeared before a small crowd attending the candidates forum Monday evening at Treasure Valley Community College. Each candidate delivered a brief presentation and answered questions from the audience. Many of the queries from the audience focused on spending and finances. The event was sponsored by the American Association of University Women and TVCC. Leading off the evening were two candidates for Oregon’s Second Congressional seat, Tristin Mock, La Grande, a member of the Pacific Green Party, and Democrat Noah Lemas, Bend. They are seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Congressman Greg Walden, R-Hood River, who did not appear. Introducing the Pacific Green Party, Mock said, “We believe in grass-roots democracy. We believe in social justice.” Other positions of the party, Mock said, include support for universal health care, adopting a green economy and non-violence.  “We believe in a community-based economy,” Mock said, adding that includes the production and sale of food locally. Challenged on the health care issue, Mock said how well universal health care works depends on how it is set up. “We need to have quality health care people can afford to get,” she said. Lemas said he does not support universal health care. However, he said he would support a program to provide adequate health care for all children. The United States has the best health care, he said, but it will not remain the best if people can’t afford it, so the system has to be refashioned.  Both candidates said they do not take money from political action committees or lobbyists. “Despite the development, this is still a rural area,” Lemas said, and he noted the rural economy is down. The rural portions of the state are losing population, he said. “Everything is moving to the urban areas,” Lemas said. He proposed allowing the counties with plenty of federal land to use the acreage for alternative energy projects. Lemas said he was running to make sure voters have a choice, and  Eastern Oregon should have a realistic and viable economy to replace reliance on the federal payments program, which may not last. Alternative energy is one area the region should look at investing in, he said. State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, who is unopposed in the November election, took much of his time talking about what may happen in the up-coming legislative session, which starts in January. Noting the Democrats may have larger majorities in the Legislature, he said it will be more difficult to make the case for alternative legislation. “We’re looking at enormous challenges,” he said. “We may see a proposed increase in the gas tax.” Asked about annual sessions, Bentz said they are good idea if there is a time limit, pointing out the special session last winter, went three weeks, instead of the scheduled four. “My hope is we will have annual sessions, with limits,” he said.    Health care and schools could be at risk if there is budget shortfall, Bentz said. “Across the board, cuts are not the way to go,” he said. Malheur County Commissioner Louis Wettstein, who is unopposed for his seat on the County Court, expressed frustration at the county’s inability to attract industries into the area. “It’s been a real struggle,” he said. “We need to be able to get businesses up and going in quick fashion.” Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz, who is running for his fourth term as sheriff, also unopposed, said it is important people still cast a vote because the process allows officials to gauge their own performance.