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This article was originally published by the Bend Bulletin. By KYLE SPURR The Bulletin Housing, transportation and other major issues in Bend were discussed Tuesday at a virtual forum for three City Council candidates. Anthony Broadman, an attorney at an indigenous rights law firm running for Position 2, and Position 4 candidates Rita Schenkelberg, a mental health counselor, and Michael Hughes, a cannabis lawyer, each took turns answering questions on a wide variety of topics. August Paul Johnson, an Oregon State University-Cascades student running for Position 2 and Anon “Bubba” Walters, who works in commercial flooring and is running for Position 4, did not participate. The forum was hosted by the City Club of Central Oregon and the League of Women Voters of Deschutes County. The three candidates at the forum agreed Bend is facing a housing crisis and there is a need for more diverse housing options. “Let’s be clear, the crisis is that many people who work in Bend cannot afford to live here,” Broadman said. “That’s not the type of city any of us want to live in.” Schenkelberg said she believes that making neighborhoods better connected to basic services should be included in any discussion about improving affordable housing. “We can’t just stop with having diverse housing units,” Schenkelberg said. “It needs to include having complete neighborhoods so humans can walk or bike to grab something from the store. It also means that we have to have safe transportation within those complete neighborhoods.” Hughes supports more affordable housing options, but warned that changing the city’s zoning codes could cause legal issues if not done right. “Anytime we do anything with zoning, the city has to do so in a very cautious manner so we don’t create land use disputes that get stuck in the courts for years,” Hughes said. Each candidate did not support the bond to build a new library in Bend due to the proposed location and investment, but the candidates had differing views on the $190 million transportation bond on the general election ballot. Broadman said now is the time to invest in Bend’s future transportation needs, and not doing so would hamper the city’s efforts to become more bike friendly and environmentally conscious. “If we make this the most bikeable, busable, walkable city, it will also be the most drivable city,” Broadman said. Schenkelberg also supports the transportation bond and wants to see more connection for travelers from the east side of the city to the west side. Schenkelberg wants to prioritize safer sidewalks and bike lanes, as well. “Crossing from the east side of Bend and trying to go over or, rather under, Greenwood or Franklin is kind of terrifying,” Schenkelberg said. Hughes said he does not support the transportation bond and said it is too much money to ask, as many residents are hurting financially from the COVID-19 pandemic. He understands residents wouldn’t have to pay the bond for another two years, but the $190 million is still too much. Other specific transportation projects could be done, such as reexamining speed limits and creating better bike paths, Hughes said. “We need to do more to connect our bike paths along the river to make this a more bike friendly town,” Hughes said. As for addressing climate change, the three candidates said they support the city’s Community Climate Action Plan. But the candidates said they want to see the city take the work further. Broadman said it is the responsibility of all levels of government, from city councils to the federal government, to find climate change solutions. “We need to take this matter very seriously,” Broadman said. “I reject the idea that this is too big of a problem for the city to take up.” Schenkelberg said she was encouraged to see several community members involved with the city’s climate action plan. With that much involvement, Schenkelberg could see Bend being a leader in climate change policies. “There were so many different individuals that were able to share their perspective on the climate right now and really have conversations,” Schenkelberg said. Hughes said he has fought for the environment many times as an attorney. He wants to see the city do more to examine the chemicals it uses to treat landscaping and roads. “I think the city could do a lot more than the action plan,” Hughes said. “I would be in favor of looking at anything that would involve making our environment cleaner.” Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com

This article was originally published by the Bend Bulletin. By JACKSON HOGAN The Bulletin There were topics that Republican state Rep. Cheri Helt and the Democratic challenger for her legislative seat — Deschutes County deputy district attorney and Bend Park & Recreation District board member Jason Kropf — agreed on during a virtual forum Tuesday. Those include abortion rights, gun safety and campaign finance reform. Yet, the two House District 54 candidates — who have had a heated campaign this fall — found a multitude of ways to continue attacking each other for much of the hourlong forum, hosted by City Club of Central Oregon and the League of Women Voters. During her opening statement, Helt immediately focused on the fact that Kropf had to return over $20,000 in campaign contributions from the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. An argument about this topic lasted so long, that both candidates had little time to answer the moderator’s first question, about redistricting. In a tweet Tuesday morning, Kropf admitted to returning contributions from the trial lawyers association. The association allegedly requested silence from former Deschutes County prosecutor Jasmyn Troncoso, who earlier this year issued an intent to sue the office of District Attorney John Hummel for having a sexist and racist workplace, Kropf wrote. An investigation into the district attorney’s office, commissioned by Hummel himself, disproved a number of Troncoso’s claims, Hummel said in September. Throughout the first 10 minutes of the forum, Helt repeatedly told Kropf that his return of the association’s contribution was a “clear admission of wrongdoing,” and that he needed to issue Troncoso an apology. “I want to point out that he still has not apologized to Jasmyn,” Helt said near the end of the argument. “You can do better, Jason.” Kropf said he respects Troncoso, and wouldn’t attempt to silence her, which is why he returned the contribution. He also chastised Helt for asking him to compromise his ethics by discussing a potential lawsuit involving his workplace. “I understand you’d rather mislead voters about my record than talk about your record, but it’s time for open and honest discussion about the issues,” Kropf said. Both candidates also repeatedly assailed each others’ actions in their elected positions. Kropf attacked Helt for voting against the Student Success Act in 2019, which taxes businesses to create millions of dollars in additional school funding for disadvantaged students. She also voted against a failed cap-and-trade bill in 2019, which would have fought greenhouse gas emissions, Kropf noted. Helt defended her vote against the cap-and-trade bill, calling it too expensive for Oregonians. She also voted for other environmentally focused bills, such as bills that banned fracking and offshore drilling, she said. “We cannot raise the cost of heating to where people on fixed incomes cannot afford it,” Helt said. “We cannot raise gas prices … where people living paycheck to paycheck cannot get to their jobs.”Kropf said he felt the high cost of both the Student Success Act and cap-and-trade were worth it to guarantee better educational outcomes and protect Oregonians from climate change-induced wildfires. “I’ve heard Rep. Helt say, ‘It costs too much,’” Kropf said. “What costs too much is when we have a school system that doesn’t work for every kid. What costs too much is what we just saw on the western slope of the Cascades, when wildfires devastated huge towns.” Helt condemned Kropf’s Bend Park & Recreation board for its high developer fees, which she said prohibits the building of affordable housing. “I’m wondering, when are we going to do something about that, Jason?” Helt said, regarding developing fees. “You’re in the position to change that.” Knopf said the parks board has waived these fees on some recent affordable housing projects, and he’s voted against raising the fees. Both candidates also brought forward many ideas to improve Bend. Kropf repeatedly stressed the need to increase funding for mental health care. “We have to make sure people’s basic needs are being met,” he said. “We’re trying to prevent crisis, as opposed to dealing with crisis on the back end.”Helt — who served on the Bend-La Pine School Board before being elected to the Legislature in 2018 — introduced a bill recently that would build secure entryways for every Oregon school, something many local schools already have, she said. Helt also touted her moderate stance, reminding listeners that she supports abortion rights and doesn’t like President Donald Trump, yet still values small government. “Most people agree with my policies, because they’re right down the middle,” she said. “I don’t have my party’s affiliation on my yard sign; that’s offensive to me.” Reporter: 541-617-7854, jhogan@bendbulletin.com

This article was originally published on Herald and News. Measure 107 is packed with proposed new limitations on campaign contributions that would amend the Oregon Constitution. The measure, which will be on the ballot this November, would allow the Legislature, local government bodies and voters to create laws that would limit political campaign contributions and expenditures, require disclosure of political campaign contributions and would require advertisements to display information about who funded them. Currently there are no such limitations on political campaigns in Oregon. A “yes” vote on the measure would allow laws to be created in Oregon that limit those contributions and expenditures. A “no” vote would keep current laws on the books. There are no limitations to campaign contributions in the Oregon Constitution, because the Oregon Supreme Court interprets the Oregon Constitution to prohibit limits on expenditures when it comes to political campaigns, according to the State of Oregon’s Voters Pamphlet. The measure would have no financial impact, according to the pamphlet. The Joint Legislative Committee, appointed by the Oregon Legislature, wrote a letter in support of the measure. “Oregonians have a fundamental right to know the true source of money that influences our state’s election process,” the letter states. “Voting yes on Measure 107 will allow Oregon to require strong transparency measures that will give voters more insight and information about how campaign spending tries to impact our democracy.” Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Republican running for Oregon Secretary of State, wrote a letter of support for the measure. Rebecca Gladstone, president of League of Women Voters, also wrote a letter of support for the measure. Kyle Markley, a Libertarian candidate running for Oregon Secretary of State, submitted 12 of the 13 letters in opposition, which are printed in the Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet. Markley argues that the measure is a “fundamental attack on the Oregon Bill of Rights” and threatens freedom of speech. hdillemuth@heraldandnews.com; @HollyDillemuth

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This article was originally published on OregonLive. As the November election approaches, in the tense atmosphere of a national pandemic, wildfires and civic unrest, Oregon’s decades of experience with mail-in ballots and online voter registration mean we could equal or exceed the voter participation rates of previous elections. Just one question remains: will we? The League of Women Voters has conducted voter registration drives for a century at public meetings, citizenship ceremonies, schools and street fairs. Those opportunities are not available now; yet we persevere. We just need to ask, in a grocery line or in online classes and throughout the community, “Are you registered to vote? Can I help you with that?” Then, masked and at a six-foot distance, we can direct future voters to the state’s online registration site Oregonvotes.gov or to the League’s national website VOTE411.org, which also offers nonpartisan election information. (Voters can also use these sites to check that they are registered or to update the address on their registrations.) With government-issued ID, like a driver’s license, one can register to vote online in minutes. Lacking that ID, aspiring voters must deliver or mail a printed application to the county elections office by the registration deadline, October 13. Every vote is a voice. When you help someone register, you are saying “I believe you have a right to be heard.” That is a powerful message to send each other right now. Debbie Kaye and Katie Pool Kaye is president of the League of Women Voters of Portland and Pool is the organization’s voter registration coordinator.

Date: September 21, 2020 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Claudia Keith, Climate Portfolio Support the Congress4Juliana Climate Press Conference Register Today! Join League members all over the country to support a virtual press conference to introduce the Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Congressional Resolution! This congressional resolution for Our Children’s Trust, #Congress4Juliana, recognizes the rights of children, the disproportionate impacts from climate change on youth, and the need for national climate recovery planning. Register today at http://bit.ly/StandwithJuliana and help support #Congress4Juliana and this resolution! #youthvgov For more info, contact: Claudia Keith, Climate Portfolio

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Download the President's Message using the link below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/27/2020 CONTACT Rebecca Gladstone, President 503.581.5722 www.lwvor.org lwvor@lwvor.org [Salem, Oregon] – The League of Women Voters of Oregon (LWVOR) calls for civil discourse amid Portland’s ongoing protests. We reaffirm Americans’ First Amendment right to peaceful protest. Our 100 year-old League defends every American’s constitutional rights for racial justice, voting rights, and equal opportunity. Courthouses should be havens of justice and safety for all but attention to structural vandalism is obscuring racial justice efforts. Pandemic defense and recovery funds fall short while federal spending to “dominate” frightens citizens. This unconstitutional approach is failing as more citizens become enraged. The federal help we desperately need is clear response to the protest issues: centuries of racial injustice, discrimination, and continued racial inequality. Governments at all levels need to promote economic opportunity, improve voting rights for all, combat police brutality, and honor our constitutional rights to free speech and to “peaceably assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” “Unrequested federal intervention is obstructing legitimate public demands. The Portland protesters are mostly peaceful, from all backgrounds, ages, and professions. Our Leagues, LWVUS, LWVPDX, and LWVOR, call for racial justice and police reform. Unconstitutional and criminal actions must stop.” -- Becky Gladstone, President, LWVOR We support Oregon’s police reform bill passed in June: HB 4208 To proclaim Black Lives Matter, review current and historic police experiences; prohibit tear gas except during riots, require adequate announcements and warnings. NEW: We will testify to Oregon’s new Joint Committee on Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform for these “legislative concepts” directly relevant today: • LC 742 Regulate “chemical incapacitants, kinetic impact projectiles, and sound devices; define riot conditions”. Think of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and sound bombs. • LC 743 Establish police ID and visible identification requirements (show ID on request), define police uniform and vehicle marking requirements. • LC 744 Officers are required to intervene and report misconduct by another officer. • LC 745 Restrict “choke holds”; amendments are being discussed to ban them. • LC 746 Establish state-wide policing standards. If an arbitrator finds misconduct, discipline cannot be overturned and discipline matrix/guidelines will not be part of collective bargaining. • LC 748 (not yet publicly posted) Police who relocate to avoid discipline will be tracked in a state-wide police database being established. Those hiring police must consult previous employers. “The overwhelming majority of our protesters are peaceful. Most of our police are conscientious individuals trying to do a good job. We now need to get together as human beings and work out practical policies to reduce racism and unnecessary use of force.” – Barbara Ross, LWVOR Public Safety Advocate. See the LWVUS response to Portland protests and in Portland, LWVPDXDemands Equal Rights for All and is studying police accountability and reform. The League continues to monitor and advocate at local, state and national levels.

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Date: June 8, 2020 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Chris Cobey, Redistricting Coordinator REDISTRICTING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW! Contact Chris Cobey: redistricting@lwvor.org, 650.743.5653 To VOLUNTEER In the Salem Campaign Office: Help process incoming petitions NOW! To VOLUNTEER Around Oregon: Outreach for signatures, answer questions, supply petitions Get E-Petitions HERE We need you to help process petitions in Salem under COVID-19 restrictions, follow up on direct and electronic mail, and collect signatures from family, friends, neighbors and the general public. This is an historic petition drive. As far as we know a “distance” petition drive has never been attempted before and is very expensive. Remember to sign and return the petitions. Get more petitions from the People Not Politicians (PNP) campaign website, the sooner, the better! Petitions need to be mailed by June 29th to be processed and filed with the Secretary of State by July 2. After that, petitions must be hand delivered to the campaign. For any questions, please contact Chris Cobey at redistricting@lwvor.org or 650.743.5653. Support Oregon IP 57: Citizens’ Independent Redistricting Commission LWVOR, the League of Women Voters of Oregon, supports this initiative. The LWVUS is actively working for Redistricting Reform in ALL 50 STATES! See the People Not Politicians campaign website for IP 57 information.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.

Download the President's Message using the link below.