Hern vs. Harris: Observations

The 1st Congressional District debate Friday night, August 17th between Kevin Hern and Tim Harris highlighted the similarities as well as the differences between the two runoff candidates. Here goes:

Reason for Running

Harris feels a calling for public service. He served 16 years as Tulsa County District Attorney, winning four terms. He wants to be the people's congressman, answerable and accountable to
his constituents. He has, as he stated "the heart of a servant."

Hern's motivations are more issue oriented. He wants to help put people back to work. Liberty is best experienced, he says, if someone is working. Then will they respect one another and the property of one another. He hopes to see more people put back to work in the next four years than any time in recorded history.

Support for Trump

Both support Trump, although Harris is a more recent convert. Hern says he has supported him since March, 2017. Harris has become more enthusiastic in the last 90 to 120 days. On tariffs, for instance, he was skeptical they'd work, calling them a form of socialism. Long term, he agrees that they might work, as our economic adversaries give in to Trump's demands for fairer trade deals.

Term Limits

Both want them. Hern is agreeable to six years, which means three terms. Harris has recently  endorsed a twelve year or six term limit. Former Congressman and now NASA Director Jim Bridenstine served (almost) three terms, keeping his original promise.

The Bridenstine Factor

Harris has been endorsed by Jim's dad. He also repeated the criticism Bridenstine leveled at Hern, where he accused Hern of used his name inappropriately to imply an endorsement and that he plotted a campaign against him. Hern replied that he was the only one of the five original Republican candidates who openly supported Bridenstine in each of his campaigns, donating $15,400 and hosting several fundraisers which increased his support in the business community.

The Race for Speaker of the House

A key difference here. Hern supports Cong. Jim Jordan, who co-founded the Freedom Caucus, has a perfect (American Conservative Union) rating, has been a huge supporter of the Trump agenda and an upfront critic of the Mueller "investigation". 
Harris is undecided between Jordan and House Majority Whip, Kevin McCarthy, who is the favorite and has current Speaker Paul Ryan's unqualified support. Harris adds that he wants to be able to work with everyone, and must maintain a more independent mind before casting his lot behind either contender.

If (heaven help us) the Democrats win the majority of seats in the House of Representatives this November, Republicans will vote for Minority Leader, a position Nancy Pelosi currently holds.

Background

Hern has been an extremely successful businessman. He has owned 16 McDonald's stores and once held a prominent national position with the company, where he counseled  franchisees nationwide.
He has also achieved success in real estate development, finance, and is a private pilot. He says there's a surge in entrepreneurs running for public office and that Trump has shown how successful they can make that transition.
Harris has been a private practice attorney, has taught constitutional law, but achieved his greatest success as district attorney, where he served four terms free of scandal.

House Committee Assignments

Both would seek membership on committees that play to their strengths. Harris mentions the Judiciary Committee, where his background would help ensure that federal dollars are spent properly.
Hern prefers either the Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure or the Space Sciences Committee.
Each expressed a desire to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, a near impossible goal for a freshman congressman.

Pension

Hern said he would not take a congressional pension, which any representative is eligible for after serving five years and one month. He said it wrongly incentivizes politicians to continue
running for office, instead of returning to the private sector.
Harris did not take a position on the matter.

Domestic Policy

Both want to repeal Obamacare, erase continuing resolutions and omnibus bills, cut the federal role in education and reduce our debt and deficit. Hern went further than Harris on some of these matters. He wants to audit the Pentagon, which he says should face the same scrutiny as other programs. He's also against earmarks, which former Senator Tom Coburn (Hern's original political inspiration), called "the gateway drug to excessive spending."

Foreign Policy

Both say we can't be the policeman of the world and that we should stand strong with Israel, our greatest Middle East ally. Harris said we should stand strong with all allies and against Russia. Hern didn't mention Russia but did support Trump's policy of putting financial pressure on our adversaries (such as Iran and Turkey) to make them leave areas where they cause havoc.

Conclusion

Both are conservative, and would have similar voting records on most issues. However, Hern may be slightly more so, taking stronger positions on spending, Obamacare, Trump, immigration and the tax code. His unique combination of private sector success, leadership qualities and detailed knowledge of  domestic policies since the Reagan era could qualify him to have a greater, more positive influence than most first term congressmen.