There are many reasons to vote for a candidate for governor. However, none are more critical than how they affect an Oregonian’s health and safety, especially our children.

Without a woman’s right to an abortion, more women will suffer and die. Christine Drazan is against Oregon’s current abortion law as a health care right. If her stance were adopted, it would damage many women’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

But it gets worse. Oregon has the highest per capita gun deaths on the west coast, and firearms are the second leading cause of death of Oregonians under 18. Yet Drazan voted against school districts having the ability to prohibit guns on campus, against mandating safe firearm storage, and against protocol development to remove guns from domestic abusers.

Although Betsy Johnson is pro-choice, she voted against prohibiting guns at schools and is against mandating safe firearm storage. Also, Johnson voted against keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted stalkers and those at risk of suicide. Gun-related deaths by suicide outnumber firearm homicides in Oregon. Both Drazan and Johnson’s votes reveal a callous disregard for firearm safety.

I’m voting for Tina Kotek, who supports firearm safety and a woman’s right to health care autonomy and self-preservation.

Linn Goldberg, Lake Oswego