Occupation: Retired educator
Occupational Background: Professor of Communications
Educational Background: Ph.D., Educational Policy and Management, University of Oregon; MA, English, Eastern Washington University; BA, Literature, University of California
Prior Governmental Experience: None
Military Experience: United States Army, 1967-1970. Vietnam service: 1968-1969. Honorable discharge, Sergeant E-5
Personal Information
In almost twenty years at Oregon Institute of Technology, Ross became known as a leader with a special talent for building consensus and working through tough problems. He served as President of the Faculty Senate and Department Chair of Communications. He will use these skills to work for his legislative priorities: job creation, strong support for agriculture, stable school funding, a sensible Oregon Health Plan that protects low-income working families and keeps health costs down, support for senior citizens, and increased funding for veterans' services.
Ross has lived in Klamath Falls for twenty years. His wife Mary teaches science at Ponderosa Junior High School. They have been married for twenty-nine years.
Fair Taxation + Stable Revenue = Jobs for Oregon
The Oregon Business Association lists its first priority for Oregon's business and economy as "the establishment of a long-term sustainable funding system to meet the legal and social objectives of the state" (www.oba-online.org, February, 2004). Ross believes we can achieve tax reform and promote job growth if we commit to five simple principles:
- Tax reform must be revenue-neutral for individual taxpayers;
- A rainy-day fund will get Oregon through hard times without the need for tax increases;
- Profitable major corporations such as PGE should not be paying state taxes of $10. At the same time, tax codes should reward businesses that create jobs for Oregon. Small business development is key to our rural counties;
- Tax reform must be tied to a well-crafted spending limit; and
- No sales tax! Oregon does not need a sales tax to provide stable funding.
(This information furnished by Friends of Ross Carroll PAC.)