I think that no matter where they live, Oregonians want the same things — good educations for their kids, expanding economic opportunities for their families, decent and affordable healthcare, and a sense of security.

People may have different perspectives on what that means and how to get there, but the basic idea is the same.

These perspectives take center stage at election time. On Nov. 8, Oregonians will elect their next governor.

It’s an unusual three-way race among a trio of women who are all recent members of the state legislature: former state House Speaker Tina Kotek, running as a Democrat; former House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, running as a Republican; and former state Sen. Betsy Johnson, running as unaffiliated, formerly a moderate Democrat.

In a recent interview, the Capital Press asked all three candidates what they would do to bridge the rural-urban divide.

• Johnson: “Well, show up is the first one. We’ve just come back from a trip to Eastern Oregon. I think being there is important and understanding that whether you’re making silicon chips, or wood chips, or potato chips out in Boardman, or fish and chips in Astoria, that we have throughout Oregon different micro-economies, and the governor needs to understand that.”

• Drazan: Having a Republican governor ensures (lawmakers) have to compromise. They have to listen to the stakeholders, because if they don’t, they’ll get a veto in my administration.”

• Kotek: “For me, it is about how you listen to people, making sure you’re out in local communities, engaging with local leaders.

So, the next governor will listen, or force others to listen. I suppose that’s a start. But it’s not enough for the next governor to listen. We all need to listen.

In these divisive times it seems as though we spend too much time talking at each other, not talking with each other. We are missing all of the things we have in common.

If you want the gap bridged, reach across and talk to your neighbor. Listen to what they have to say.

— Joe Beach