Senate Democrats have passed SB 1529 that would give the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Director the power to determine a health care emergency, a power previously only held by the Governor.

Republicans voiced concern on the floor about the dangers of giving an unaccountable, unelected bureaucrat ambiguous power.

Democrats stated that the purpose of the bill was to make it easier to deploy volunteer medical workers to respond to strained health care facilities, but it is unclear why the Public Health Director needs emergency powers to do this.

“After two years of overreach from the OHA, we should be reestablishing checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches, not continue to defer to unelected bureaucrats,” said Senator Dennis Linthicum (R-Klamath Falls), member Senate Health Care Committee. “We should be restoring trust in our public health institutions, but this bill will only deepen mistrust. Everyone supports the idea of making it easier to get hospitals the help they need, but that shouldn’t require giving unelected bureaucrats emergency power.”

By striking a single line, the bill would allow the hospitals to get the help they need but also give Oregonians certainty that the OHA is not being granted more ambiguous power.

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Senator Linthicum and other Republicans spoke about how this is an opportunity for the two parties to work in a bipartisan manner to find a compromise. Democrats chose to ignore those concerns and voted in lockstep to pass it along party lines.

a href='https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2022R1/Measures/Overview/SB1529'>SB 1529 will now be considered by the House.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-02-17 06:27:33

Last Update: 2022-02-16 16:54:10

The Oregon Senate has approved SB 1529 on a vote of 18 to 7. According to the Senate Democrat Caucus, this bill streamlines emergency management practices and improves agency response to public health emergencies. “In case of a public health emergency, Oregonians deserve a clear, coordinated response from our state’s leadership,” said Senator Deb Patterson (D-Salem), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care. “Currently, we rely on the Governor to declare a public health emergency to deploy licensed health care volunteers to respond in times of crisis. SB 1529 will allow for the Oregon Health Authority to provide an immediate, direct response by activating health care volunteers during emergency situations.”

According to Oregon Citizens' Lobby, SB 1529 allows an unelected Director of the Oregon Health Authority to declare a health care emergency that impacts the economy of the state to make an impactful declaration for the entire state.

In addition to providing more authority for the Oregon Health Authority during a medical emergency, the bill also removes a provision in Oregon law that would allow a pharmacist or pharmacy technician to scan a driver’s license or ID card when dispensing pseudoephedrine.

In 2019, the legislature passed HB 2185 which imposed a number of requirements on Pharmacy Benefit Managers -- essentially middle-men between health insurers, pharmacies and drug manufacturers -- operating in the state, including prohibiting the requirement that prescriptions be filled via mail order pharmacy and limiting the retroactive denial or reduction of claims. SB 1529 makes those requirements apply to all drug contracts.

“We have a duty to best prepare Oregon for future public health emergencies” said Senator James Manning (D-Eugene), who Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans and Emergency Preparedness. “We are deeply grateful for the dedicated, licensed health care providers that are willing to volunteer to protect their communities in times of crisis. Senate Bill 1529 will provide coverage for volunteers if they are injured while serving our state. This measure will allow Oregon to be more responsive, save lives and better support our frontline health care volunteers.”

SB 1529 also allows the Oregon Health Authority to declare a health care emergency and to deploy SERV-OR volunteers. The State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon is a database of health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, Emergency Medical Technicians, behavioral health providers, respiratory therapists and others who serve in response to emergencies.

SB 1529 now goes to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-02-16 12:45:32

A Salem group is planning a rally for mask choice at Salem-Keizer school district student services center on Friday, February 18 at 10:00am.

Salem Keizer We Stand Together is a nonpartisan group of citizens striving to encourage community engagement and advocate for parent’s rights, educational transparency, equal opportunity, academic excellence, and school choice for every student.

According to the group's chair, Linda Farrington, "We want our schools to offer an excellent education, free of opinions and progressive ideologies, because they are training the next generation. There are many important issues facing us today. But how our children think and the way they approach the world is the most important issue we have. It is the ideology that is at the root of everything else that happens. Children are our future and the perspective that is taught to them will affect every single one of us tomorrow.

Especially since vaccinations are readily available for those who are vulnerable to covid infection, Salem Keizer We Stand Together is advocating for parents to have the right to choose what is best for their children. Masking should be a choice - not a mandate! Parents know better than the government what their children need.

"Schools are only taking into account one side of the mask issue and appear to be completely ignoring the harms that are taking place in terms of increased mental health problems, increasing suicides, lack of communication, isolation, lost learning, lost recognition of social cues, and delayed speech and language development, hurting children with special needs, autistic children, and those for whom English is a second language, the most." Farrington continued. "Once the Governor decided to make the mask mandate permanent I think parents realized that nothing was going to change unless they got involved. Last week we had a rally for mask choice with over 200 community members attending. We decided to do it again this Friday because masking is harming children in so many ways with little measurable benefit. We couldn’t stand by and let them continue abusing children this way.”

For Farrington, the issue is serious. "At this point, going on three years, it is abuse. We know that children rarely get sick from COVID and even more rarely pass it on. Although many have tried to find evidence that masking children decreases the incidence of covid infection, close examination finds the claims are not substantiated. Although the CDC continues to recommend masking in school, the World Health Organization guidelines do not routinely recommend masks for children ages 6 to 11 because of the “potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development.” Masking children ages 5 and younger is not recommended because this age group is at low risk of illness, because masks are not “in the overall interest of the child,” and because many children are unable to wear masks properly. The WHO also explicitly counsels against masking children during physical activities, including running and jumping at the playground, so as not to compromise breathing.

In Oregon, the arbitrary rules about when it is or isn't ok to mask are inconsistent thereby pointing to a political issue underlying the mandates, not a medical one. All the emphasis on masks takes away from real mitigation efforts that could help the community like hand washing, taking extra vitamins, preventing obesity, and early at home treatment to stop the over inflammation of COVID infection that sends people to the hospital.




--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-02-16 09:39:21

Last Update: 2022-02-16 18:36:00

Republican Bob Tiernan announced his entry into the growing candidate field Monday at a press event using a Portland homeless encampment as the backdrop. Tiernan’s remarks centered on Portland’s hot-button issues of homelessness, crime and lawlessness. “It's turning into a national disgrace with a reputation of crime, filth, riots and the problems are spreading into our suburbs." Said Tiernan.

Without getting into specific issues, Tiernan touts general problem-solving capabilities and an ability to overcome obstacles and get things done to his years of experience as a lawyer and leading multi-million-dollar companies.

“Being Governor requires being the Chief Executive over multi-billion-dollar bureaucracies with tens of thousands of employees. My professional background includes managing large multi-billion-dollar and million-dollar retailers with thousands of employees.” Although a late arrival to the crowded Republican field, Tiernan quickly jumped to the financial leaderboard with a $1,000,000 contribution to get his campaign started, including half a million dollars from both himself and RI-Grants Pass, LLC a company headquartered in Berkley, CA.

In addition to his experience as a Chief Executive, his academic credentials are noteworthy. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Oregon State University, a law degree from Seattle University and a Master’s of Law degree from Georgetown University. He has also distinguished himself with service to his country, retiring as a Commander in the Navy and Naval Reserves after nearly 30 years.

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Bob Tiernan is certainly no stranger to Oregon politics. He served two terms representing Oregon’s 24th Legislative District which includes most of Lake Oswego and Southwest Portland from 1993 through 1997. During this tenure, he was the principal author of several ballot measures, all approved by Oregon Voters. Ballot Measure 11, a crime bill, set mandatory minimums for violent crime, Ballot Measure 8, a pension reform measure ending guaranteed-minimum pension increases and requiring public employees to contribute 6 percent of their salaries to help fund their pension. The court suppressed implementation of Measure 8 in 1996, (OSPOA v State). Ballot Measure 17 required prisoners to work full-time. Additionally, from 2009 through 2011 Tiernan was elected to serve as the Oregon Republican Party chairman.

Bob currently lives in Lake Oswego with his wife Carissa and has three grown children and seven grandchildren.

So far, 31 people have filed to fill Governor Brown’s vacated seat. 16 are Republicans and 15 are democrats and with the filing deadline not until March 8th, another day could well bring another candidate announcement -- or two.


--Clarke Vesper

Post Date: 2022-02-16 09:25:59

Last Update: 2022-02-17 15:59:47

Governor Brown will leave office as the worst governor in the United States, a reputation she has worked hard to earn. In her last session to make a good impression, she continues to separate and divide the state with her “equity” agenda, which has a racial application towards segregation in lieu of "equal treatment" for everyone. The more equity measures, the less equitable everyone becomes.

Even though “equity” only shows up in bill titles a few times, it’s there using creative words. Crafting bills using alternative words, may be deliberate for an end run around federal court rulings against discrimination using race. The fact that millions are being directed to the culturally underserved, underrepresented, targeted population, priority population, it still refers to race and ethnicity when defining language, disabled, low-income, sexual orientation, gender identity, and some bills add women or veterans.

A new buzz word is “priority population.” SB 1545, introduced at the Governor’s request, defines priority population as communities of color, women, low-income communities, rural and frontier communities, veterans, and participants in offender reentry programs. This bill establishes equity grant programs in Higher Education Coordinating Commission to prioritize funding for workforce development activities to increase access for priority populations to training opportunities in construction, health care, manufacturing and workforce development services and benefits. It appropriates $115.5 million, mostly going to administering the program. The 2021 budget already provides Higher Education with $200 million, an increase of $30 million for Oregon Opportunity Grants. This bill creates another program and another biennial budget item. SB 1545 passed out of the Senate committee, referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

Another bill is HB 4052, and the chief sponsor is Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego). It appropriates $2 million from General Funds. This bill uses “priority populations” to define targeted populations for Oregon Health Authority to provide grants to operate two culturally and linguistically specific mobile health units as a pilot program. It is to serve priority populations with histories of poor health or social outcomes. The 2021 Budget already allocates $100 million for Cover All People program, which was directed at the priority population. HB 4052 passed out of the House committee, referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

SB 1543 with chief sponsor Senator Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton), appropriates $4.5 million in tax revenue to pay for lawyers to help illegal immigrants stay in Oregon, and another $10.5 million to the Universal Representation Fund. Efforts were made by Republicans to amend the bill to exclude convicted murders and rapists, but the leadership majority overruled. Records from the Oregon Department of Corrections show that at least 615 criminal illegal immigrants are in Oregon’s prison. That includes 142 convicted sexual abusers, 141 rapists, and 97 murderers. They are all eligible for a taxpayer-funded deportation attorney. The 2021 Budget already includes $4 million for the Criminal Justice Commission to establish a new restorative justice grant program, and $2 million to the Innovation Law Lab for immigration defense.. Where did that money go? SB 1543 passed out of the Senate committee, referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

SB 1579 was sponsored by Democrats led by Senator Akasha Lawrence Spence (D-Portland). This bill appropriates $50 million General Funds to the Oregon Business Development Department to develop and implement an Economic Equity Investment Program to award grants to organizations that provide culturally responsive services to support economic stability, self-sufficiency, wealth building and economic equity among disadvantaged individuals, families, businesses and communities whose future is at risk. The 2021 Budget already includes $90 million for technical assistance to underrepresented businesses in the Oregon Business Development Department, $10 million to capitalize Certification Office for Business inclusion and Diversity Loan Fund., another $10 million to lenders to address institutional and social barriers making access to capital nearly impossible, and $3.8 million for the Oregon Diversity Procurement Program. SB 1579 passed out of the Senate committee, referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

HB 4112, sponsored by Representative Teresa Alonso Leon (D-Woodburn), appropriates $1.25 million from General Funds for the Educator Advancement Council to provide professional learning opportunities related to ethnic studies standards adopted by Department of Education. School districts that implement ethnic studies, such as CRT and CSE early will benefit from the funding. Ethnic studies is the interdisciplinary and comparative study of ethnicity, Indigeneity, race, and racism. The 2021 Budget already gaves $600,000 to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission for start-up costs for developing nontraditional pathways to licensure. HB 4112 passed out of the House committee, referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

HB 4099 sponsored by a full lineup of Democrats is led by Representative Andrea Valderrama (D-Portland). Originally introduced in 2021 that proposed a $1 million price tag, it establishes a Racial Equity and Justice Youth Collaborative. It has a complicated structure with an organizing work group that suggests members for the collaborative. Both group members are of racial, ethnic, underrepresented/underserved, sexual identity, English language learners, disabled or poverty communities. Effectively capturing vulnerable youth in the quicksand of another government entity, programming them to believe that government provides the only solution to racial, cultural, and ethnic conflicts. The 2021 Budget already allocates $11.7 million for the Oregon Youth Employment Program, along with statute changes to ensure at least 75% of participating youth are from communities of color, rural communities, or historically underrepresented communities; and $500,000 for a study of the impacts of State School Fund spending to determine if the spending pattern results in disparities between students who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) and non-BIPOC students. HB 4099 passed out of the House committee, referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

The 2021 Budget allocated $259 million just to benefit or handout to the 'underprivileged' ‘priority population’ and all programs have an equity aspect to them to such an extent that socialism has taken over. Oregon's population is 85.06% white. So, these bills represent 15% of the total population. How much does the 85% have to give through taxes, jobs, opportunities, businesses before it violates the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. which says: “No State make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privilege or immunities of citizens of the United States;… nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

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These six new bills total $184,750,000 of additional General Fund money, a 71% increase in funding directed specifically at the underprivileged/priority population. You might ask what these bills are doing in a short legislative session, which was created to rebalance the budget, not create new expenditures.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-02-15 17:30:36

Last Update: 2022-02-15 17:52:08

Police officer, veteran and local community leader Adam Baker (R-Oregon City) recently filed to run for House District 40, which covers Gladstone and Oregon City. The district is currently represented by Representative Mark Meek (D-Oregon City), but the boundaries will have changed due to redistricting. Representative Meek has announced he is running for the Oregon Senate, leaving the seat vacant for the next election.

Adam Baker has served in multiple capacities as a Police Officer and Detective with the city of Gresham for the past 23 years. He is focused on taking this experience to the legislature to lead the efforts in creating safer communities for all Oregonians, especially those living in Oregon City and Gladstone which is seeing the spill over of crime from Portland.

“Our neighborhoods and towns deserve to be represented by someone who understands the complex issues in front of us. Exploding violence and property crimes are out of control in Portland area, it is time for new leadership in Oregon.” said Baker. “I believe we need new leadership in Salem to curb government overreach infecting our lives, businesses and schools. This is why I am stepping up. Oregonians deserve better.”

Baker is focused on bringing local control back to the community. “It is important for us to balance some of the radical legislation that has been passed in recent years. I will bring a common-sense approach to business, education and public safety, which has been lacking for far too long,” Baker commented.

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Baker looks forward to having spirited conversations with families, business owners and community leaders in his race this year. Voters can take the opportunity to meet him at his campaign kickoff event next Wednesday, February 23rd at 6:30pm in Oregon City. Find the event details on his Facebook Page -- Adam Baker for State Representative.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-02-15 09:48:23

Last Update: 2022-02-15 17:30:36

The Oregon Senate approved Senate Bill 1529 on a vote of 18 to 7.

This bill expands emergency management practices and changes agency responses to public health emergencies.

“In case of a public health emergency, Oregonians deserve a clear, coordinated response from our state’s leadership,” said Senator Deb Patterson (D-Salem), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care. “Currently, we rely on the Governor to declare a public health emergency to deploy licensed health care volunteers to respond in times of crisis. Senate Bill 1529 will allow for the Oregon Health Authority to provide an immediate, direct response by activating health care volunteers during emergency situations.”

“We have a duty to best prepare Oregon for future public health emergencies” said Senator James Manning (D-Eugene), who Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans and Emergency Preparedness. “We are deeply grateful for the dedicated, licensed health care providers that are willing to volunteer to protect their communities in times of crisis. Senate Bill 1529 will provide coverage for volunteers if they are injured while serving our state. This measure will allow Oregon to be more responsive, save lives and better support our frontline health care volunteers.”

SB 1529 also allows the Oregon Health Authority to declare a health care emergency and to deploy SERV-OR volunteers.

The State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR) is a database of health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), behavioral health providers, respiratory therapists and others who serve in response to emergencies.

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Providers who are licensed in another state may practice in Oregon upon declaration of an emergency.

Some observers are questioning if this may be fallout from the controversial statewide COVID vaccine mandate.

Senate Bill 1529 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2022-02-14 12:44:18

Last Update: 2022-02-17 11:09:43

Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker have agreed unanimously to sell the former Willamette Industries mill site in Sweet Home to Sweet Home Real Estate Restorations for $800,000.

At the board’s Feb. 1 meeting, two bids were received. In addition to the bid from Sweet Home Real Estate Restorations there was a $450,000 bid from Sweet Home Mill Site, whose principal is Scott Lepman of Albany.

County Property Manager Rachel Adamec told the commissioners the Sweet Home Mill Site bid did not comply with bidding criteria.

Adamec said materials submitted to the county by Sweet Home Mill Site after the bidding deadline were not opened and could not be considered.

Owner Josh Victor said after the meeting that he intends to begin the process of developing a road system to provide access to the neighboring property.

Linn County has already given to the city of Sweet Home, the former Morse Bros (Knife River) rock quarry. The city plans to create a venue for the Oregon Jamboree and other community events at the 250-acre property.

Victor said his plans include both housing and commercial development of the 154-acre property.

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Board Chair Nyquist provided a short summary of the history of the property, noting that in 2010, Linn County received the property in lieu of more than $500,000 in back taxes per state statutes.

Nyquist said former County Assessor Mark Noakes gave owner Dan Desler of Western States Land Reliance Trust numerous “last chances” to make tax payments before the county was forced to foreclose.

Nyquist said the county realized an environmental assessment was needed at the site and that was accomplished with a $360,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Quality. The county has been working with environmental agencies since that time and has mitigated most of the areas of concern.

Commissioner Tucker has previously said he believes the remaining areas of concern could receive an environmental approval within a year if the mitigation process were to continue.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2022-02-14 11:52:49

Last Update: 2022-02-14 12:51:36

The Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan Act passed by Congress in early 2021 gave Oregon the resources to contain COVID-19 and rebuild the economy. Under ARPA, states may use their share to replace revenues lost as a result of the pandemic and to address the economic and public health impacts of COVID-19.

To efficiently and effectively spend approximately $6.4 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Governor Kate Brown has laid out principles on the Governor’s ARPA website. Governor Brown summarizes those principles saying, “The American Rescue Plan offers Oregon the ability to turn around its economy from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this historic relief package, Oregon can revitalize and rebuild our economies — and our communities — with equity and fairness at the center.”

It has been contentious among legislators because Governor Brown didn’t distribute the funds in a timely manner to small businesses that were forced to close, and some have never reopened.

Apparently, there is still a reserve of funds that Representative Ricki Ruiz (D-Gresham) found to fund HB 4122. But, does it meet what is required of ARPA funds?

HB 4122 directs the Department of Human Service to distribute funds to community-based organizations to provide one-time maximum financial assistance of $695 per individual, to recipients of federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). It’s broken down into two payments, a one-time check of $495 and up to an additional $200 for legal costs to help them renew their DACA paperwork.

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Representative Ruiz amended HB 4122 so funds are distributed through community-based organizations instead of directly to every DACA eligible individual in Oregon. This little wordsmithing appears to provide the appearance of meeting a community principle. But, does it provide economic relief and replace revenues lost as a result of the pandemic?

HB 4122 appropriates $7,000,000 for distribution to approximately 9,700 DACA eligible individuals. Dare we ask the balance of ARPA funds? The bill passed out of the House Committee on Human Services referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-02-14 11:52:28

Last Update: 2022-02-15 09:48:23

State Representative Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) has brought forward HB 4133 to use the last four digits of a voter's social security to register voters online. Currently, this can be done on a paper application, but not online, using an Oregon ID or drivers license. Third party organizations will be able to gather and submit those social security numbers for voters as well.

Chair Barbara Smith Warner and the committee voted it to the House Floor without discussing the tremendous submission of 172 Oregonians who took the time to let these legislators know they opposed the measure as opposed to the 17 who approved of the idea. That is a 10-1 ratio against the measure.

Many of those who supported the bill may possibly benefit as one of the third party entities that will have the ability to gather social security numbers and register voters through their organizations. What happens to this information before and after it is submitted online? What if they make an app to do this? Those processes were not discussed.

Some of the supporters were Planned Parenthood, Oregon AFSCME, SEIU, ACLU, PCUN, Next Up Action Group and Oregon Student Association. Some stated that they were Political Policy Analyst or Political Strategists for these various groups. Their testimony was about modernizing the election system, equity, and ease in voting.

The testimony against the bill was spirited and diverse.

Steve Mangold said, “Who are these third party organizations?” and Robert Hafer suggested that “this will make forever Oregon voting corrupt, regardless of party in power”

“I want all legal, eligible voters to be heard and counted, regardless of their party affiliation,” said Sloan Neal. “That's why it's absolutely critical we finally get serious about election integrity. This system is fraught with potential abuse. Voters who are legal residents of this state should not have their voices and votes watered down or jeopardized by some swiss-cheese system that allows any bad actor to cast a fraudulent vote. Protect legitimate votes!”

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Marcus Winston considered the technical aspect of the bill, “I Strongly oppose HB 4133. It is a completely misguided and disingenuous attempt to make "voter registration easy". Specifically, subsection 5 requiring an Application Programming Interface will open up the voter registration system to incalculable fraud. Computer APIs are very simple to hack and misuse. I know this because I am, by profession, a computer engineer. Putting an API on the voter registration system is, quite simply, to open it up to untold fraud. The State would be negligent to allow such a thing. The only responsible action is to let this bill die in committee.”

The bill passed out of the committee on party lines. 4-3. It now waits a second hearing on the house floor and then a vote by the entire House before it goes to the Senate.


--Janice Dysinger

Post Date: 2022-02-14 11:22:21

Last Update: 2022-02-14 11:52:28

Less than half way through the Oregon Legislative Short Session and the trickery is starting to show up. With barely 24 hours notice, Senator Deb Patterson (D-Salem), chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care, rushed through a committee sponsored amendment to SB 1529. What was a good bill that authorized pharmacy or pharmacy technician to swipe identification card or driver license of purchaser of pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, turned ugly.

The amendment that was pushed through by Democrats on the committee allows the Oregon Health Authority to declare a health care emergency and to deploy the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR). To completely close voters out of their voice, the bill declares an emergency, effective upon passage. This emergency prevents any challenges to the bill by voters.

SB 1529 redefines ‘Health care emergency’ to include:

• A state of emergency declared under ORS 401.165;
• A state of public health emergency declared under ORS 433.441; or
• A determination by the Public Health Director that there exists a disease outbreak, epidemic or other condition of public health importance statewide or in a specified geographic area of this state.

A last-minute amendment in the work session prevented the public from giving testimony or submitting testimony for public record. The pandemic emergencies are still very raw to many, so threats of more emergencies won’t set well with those still struggling.

The bill goes to the Senate floor for a vote this week, then to the House for a public hearing.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-02-13 22:27:20

Last Update: 2022-02-13 22:32:19

Oregon's Governor Kate Brown has announced that she will appoint Cynthia Kaufman Noble to the Yamhill County Circuit Court.

Kaufman Noble will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John L. Collins.

Her appointment is effective immediately.

“Cynthia Kaufman Noble’s broad experience and history of service in the Yamhill County community make her an excellent fit for this position,” Governor Brown said. “I look forward to seeing her new role as a Circuit Court Judge.”

Kaufman Noble currently divides her time between her roles as Municipal Court Judge for the City of McMinnville, Chief Judge for the Tribal Court of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, and as an attorney in private practice in McMinnville doing primarily juvenile defense work and serving as a family law mediator.

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Over the course of her 29-year legal career, she has also served as a city prosecutor for the city of McMinnville, an attorney for Legal Aid, and has maintained her own private practice for doing defense-side criminal and juvenile work, in addition to family law. Kaufman Noble earned her bachelor's in fine arts from Syracuse University, and her law degree from Willamette University College of Law.

Kaufman Noble currently serves on the Tribal Court State Court Forum and the Ensuring Racial Justice Committee; as a board member for the Oregon Municipal Judges Association and the Yamhill County Bar Association.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2022-02-13 11:01:18

Last Update: 2022-02-13 11:13:36