Know Your Candidates 2024: Joanna Harbour (R), Congress, District 3
Throughout the 2024 election, KATU News is helping you "Know Your Candidates" with a series of interviews with people who will appear on your ballot.
We are asking local candidates running for the same office the same series of questions, so you can compare their answers.
Candidates were given approximately seven minutes to answer seven questions. Some candidates may have spent more time on some questions and so did not answer all of them on camera. We also sent questionnaires to candidates. We will post them as we receive them.
All candidates running in Congressional District 3:
Democrats
Republicans
Responses to candidate questionnaire below:
WHO IS JOANNA HARBOUR?
My name is Joanna Harbour. I am a lawyer, graduating from Willamette University College of Law in 2003. I graduated from Estacada High School. I obtained my bachelor degree in Political Science in Idaho. In 2004-2017 I had a solo law firm in Estacada, taking on Business formation, Divorce, Estate Planning, Adoptions, Guardianships, Property Disputes, and other types of cases. Between 2016 and 2021 I was a property manager/personal assistant, health and fitness coach, and independent caregiver. I reactivated my law license in 2021. Since then, I have worked for nonprofits on a pro-bono basis and practiced Family Law and Estate Planning cases.
I believe it is important to give back to the community, which is why I have been an active community member volunteering with various nonprofits in my community. I am a strong supporter of our Constitution, our freedoms, and the American Dream.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS?
We have had the same leaders for decades. They are responsible for the shape of our state and country, and continue heading us in the wrong direction. We must change! We need new ideas and new leadership! I have the education, experience, skills, tough skin, and backbone to go into the swamp of D.C. and fight for the people of the 3rd Congressional District.
WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB?
As a lawyer, I represent my client’s and fight for their interests in the legal system. Listening to my clients about their problem, coming up with solutions, and implementing those solutions is fundamental to my practice. I negotiate and reach settlements. These skills are necessary for representing citizens at the US Congress and qualifies me to write laws and to read and understand laws.
In addition to my lawyer work, I have also been a business owner, business partner, worked with nonprofits (as former board members, President, Secretary), community ambassador who taught fellow community members leadership skills, community volunteer, active church member, served on commissions/committee for my city, Republican Precinct Committee, Former Treasurer for Clackamas County Republican Party, Former Delegate to Oregon Republican Party, Oregon Republican Party Bylaws Committee Chair, Oregon Republican Party Parliamentarian, Mt Hood Republican Women Treasurer, and a myriad of experiences that have affected who I am. All of my life experience prepares me to be the voice of others in Congress.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER 1 POLICY PRIORITY IN CONGRESS IN 2025?
We are heading in a dangerous direction as a nation and as a Congressional District. My number one priority is to change that direction: fix our economy, close the border, and work to bring security and safety back to our communities. I will work on measures to lower inflation (e.g., work towards a balanced budget, reduce government spending); become energy independent again; and make a strong, vibrant economy. Securing the border actually is not difficult. We simply need to stipulate the funding and directions in the law so that whoever is President actually follows it, unlike the current administrations who ignores our laws. Finally, while security and safety are state and local responsibilities, the Federal Government also provides funds for law enforcement and prosecution. As your Congresswomen I will make sure audits are made to identify how these important dollars are spent, and what is happening in every state all the way down to the local level. Any local government that is not doing the job properly should have a short time to repair their programs or lose their federal funding. That will be an incentive to get them on the right path.
WHAT'S THE MOST URGENT ISSUE IN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RIGHT NOW, AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS IT AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS?
This is a complicated question due to the diverse needs of my constituents. In the recent redistricting the communities of Multnomah County were combined with Hood River County and a small portion of rural Clackamas County, which face different issues. With that said, these counties face challenges like many Americans: the economy (gas prices, inflation, costs of living, groceries), affordable housing, homelessness, and crime crisis. The ways that I would address these issues are listed above in the question regarding #1 priority response. Affordable housing is a difficult topic that does not have a one size fits all solution that will work in every state or in every environment (what works urban may not work rural, etc.). As your Congresswoman I will identify places that are getting this issue correct and work on getting those resources to other areas.
Regarding the Homeless it is similar in that what works in one region may not work in another and that it needs to be resolved at a local level. However, compassionate care that restores human dignity and hope is essential. Here are some suggestions:
First Step: Is to address it at the individual level and find out why that person is homeless and get that individual to the correct resources.
Second Step: The key is to have the correct resources, enough rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, job resources, affordable housing, etc.
Third Step: Audit the resources to make sure they are effective. The resources that work need to be rewarded and the ones that don’t work need to no longer receive funds.
WILL YOU MAKE BIPARTISANSHIP A PRIORITY, WHY OR WHY NOT?
In Congress I am one member of 435. To get things accomplished I will work with a wide group of people. Where bipartisanship can be reached on certain issues, I will work to make it happen. If bipartisanship becomes a political obstacle rather than a strategy for the benefit of my constituents, then it will not be a priority. I will work with whoever will work with me to get the job done. But the priority is representing my district, not who I work with to get the job done.
It is important to note that I will be only one member of the Oregon Delegation: there are 6 congressional representatives and 2 senators. It will be my goal to work with the whole delegation regardless of party affiliation for the benefit of all Oregonians.
WHY SHOULD PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT VOTE FOR YOU?
Because it is time for change. It is time for us to have control of our lives and not have people in elected office who think they know better than we do on how we should live. This district has had the same democrat representation for 28 years and the problems he talked about have gotten worse and worse over that time (affordable housing, homelessness, etc.). The democrats who are vying to replace him only offer more of the same. They are cut from the same cloth, while they have different backgrounds and perspectives, they are offering more of the same. I will go to D.C. with the sole purpose of representing the people in my district and fighting for them to get us on to a new path that will, hopefully, improve everyone’s lives for the better.