Priorities | Elect Charlie Conrad

Charlie's Priorities for Oregon

Building a Thriving Economy

Oregon can’t keep losing businesses and jobs to other states. I’ve spent my career in local government, and I’ve seen firsthand that when small businesses thrive, communities thrive. We need policies that make it easier—not harder—for small and mid-sized businesses to grow, hire locally, and stay in Oregon. That means cutting red tape, supporting rural economic development, and bringing in more employers than we lose. Oregonians deserve a growing economy that gives people real opportunity, not excuses about why we’re falling behind.

Families shouldn’t be working full-time and still living paycheck to paycheck. The cost of groceries, housing, and basic goods is out of control, and Salem hasn’t done enough to reverse it. My focus is simple: lower the cost of living by increasing housing supply, supporting the workforce that builds it, and ensuring good-paying jobs are available in every corner of the state. Oregon needs practical solutions that put more money back in people’s pockets and give working families room to breathe.

Housing costs are the biggest driver of Oregon’s affordability crisis. We need to build more homes at every price point, especially workforce and middle-income housing, while cutting unnecessary regulations that drive up costs and delay construction. That also means investing in infrastructure so communities can grow responsibly, supporting trades and construction workers, and making sure rural areas aren’t left behind

Protecting Personal Liberties

I don’t believe the government has any business making personal decisions for people. That includes private healthcare choices and decisions about how we raise our families. People should be free to live and raise their families based on their own values, beliefs, and circumstances. In the legislature, I stood alone in my caucus to defend reproductive freedom because I believe personal liberty means something. Oregonians should have the freedom to make the decisions that are right for them without politicians interfering

Improving Education

As a parent of a recent public-school graduate, I’ve seen how strained our education system has become. We keep throwing more money at schools while literacy and math rates get worse. We need to rebuild the system from the ground up—strong curriculum, real accountability, and a focus on getting kids reading at grade level. And we need to expand Career Technical Education. When high schoolers are learning real skills—healthcare, tech, natural resources, modern manufacturing—they’re more engaged and better prepared for good jobs right here in Oregon.

One of the best ways to get there is by listening to the people who are in the classroom every day—teachers—and supporting them with the tools they need to help our kids succeed.

Supporting Rural Communities

My wife, Andee, and I live on a family farm. I know what it takes to keep a small farm afloat—and how Portland-centered policies often make it harder. Oregon has forgotten about family farmers, even though they feed our state and fuel our rural economies. I want to restore balance by reducing regulatory burdens, supporting local producers, and making sure family farms don’t get drowned out by big corporate interests or urban politics.

You can’t support rural communities without investing in the basics. Roads, bridges, broadband, water systems, and emergency services aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities. Rural areas continue to face crumbling infrastructure, unreliable internet, and long emergency response times, even as they are expected to compete in a modern economy. I will fight for targeted, practical investments that keep rural Oregon connected, safe, and economically viable.

Defending Our Second Amendment Rights

I fundamentally believe in the Second Amendment and the right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms. That’s not the problem. I won’t support unconstitutional proposals like arbitrary age limits or laws that punish responsible gun owners. But I also know we have to keep our communities safe from school shooters and violent offenders. That takes real governing — bringing all sides together to craft policies that keep guns out of dangerous hands while protecting our constitutional rights. We should expand training and safety programs so people can exercise their rights responsibly and safely

Restoring Public Safety

My 15-year career in law enforcement taught me that real public safety comes from two things: accountability and opportunity. When people are held accountable for their actions and given real chances to change, they are far less likely to reoffend. I support holding criminals accountable while funding effective programs that reduce prison reentry, help victims recover, and strengthen the systems that keep our communities safe.

Today, those challenges are playing out in communities across Oregon. Oregon is the 3rd in the nation for homelessness, and we can’t ignore the public safety impacts it creates. The fentanyl crisis is killing people, destabilizing communities, and overwhelming first responders. We need a balanced approach that enforces the law, disrupts drug trafficking, and holds dealers accountable—while expanding treatment, mental health services, and recovery programs that are proven to work.

In Oregon, public safety also means being ready for the emergencies that hit rural communities first and hardest. Wildfires are becoming more frequent and more destructive, and Oregon has to do better. When I supported evacuation efforts during the 2020 Labor Day fires, I saw how unprepared our systems were and how powerful communities can be when they pull together. We need to invest in prevention, early detection, and response—especially in rural communities that are on the front lines. Protecting people and property isn’t political; it’s the basic job of government.

Investing in Healthcare

Oregon is facing a full-blown healthcare crisis. Nearly the entire state is a Health Professional Shortage Area, and rural communities are hurting the most. Local clinics are being swallowed up by national healthcare conglomerates, limiting access and driving up costs. We need to reinvest in rural healthcare, protect small clinics, strengthen the workforce pipeline, and make sure healthcare doesn’t become a luxury. Access and affordability have to be at the center of our healthcare policy.