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Washington County 2024 Primary Candidate Meet & Greet
Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Come meet your candidates running for office here in Oregon such as Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer as well as Washington County state house and senate legislators and local county commissioners. Food and a no-host bar. Family friendly.
Scotch Church Road Vineyard 30125 NW Scotch Church Rd. Hillsboro, OR 97124



Dorchester Conference 2024
Friday, April 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Dorchester Conference 2024 April 26th-28th
Welches, Oregon



Multnomah County Fair
Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 9:00 am
Multnomah County Fair
Oaks Amusement Park



Memorial Day
Monday, May 27, 2024 at 11:00 am
Memorial Day
A federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving.



Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 12:00 am
Juneteenth
Celebrated on the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when in the wake of the American Civil War, Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.



Lincoln County Fair
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.thelincolncountyfair.com
July 4-6
Lincoln County Fairgrounds



Independence Day
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 11:59 pm
Independence Day
USA



Marion County Fair
Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.marion.or.us/CS/Fair
July 11-14
Oregon State Fair & Expo Center



Jackson County Fair
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 8:00 am
TheExpo.com
July 16-21
Jackson County Fairgrounds - The Expo



Columbia County Fair
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 8:00 am
columbiacountyfairgrounds.com
July 17-21
Columbia County Fairgrounds



Linn County Fair
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.linncountyfair.com/
July 18-20
Linn County Expo Center



Washington County Fair
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.bigfairfun.com/
July 19-28
Washington County Fairgrounds - Westside Commons



Coos County Fair
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.cooscountyfair.com
July 23-27
Coos County Fairgrounds



Curry County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.eventcenteronthebeach.com
July 24-27
Curry County Fairgrounds - Event Center on the Beach



Hood River County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.hoodriverfairgrounds.com
July 24-27
Hood River County Fairgrounds



Jefferson County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.jcfair.fun
July 24-27
Jefferson County Fair Complex



Lane County Fair
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.atthefair.com
July 24-28
Lane Events Center



Clatsop County Fair
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://clatsopcofair.com/
July 30 - August 3
Clatsop County Fair & Expo



Malheur County Fair
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.malheurcountyfair.com
July 30 - August 3
Malheur County Fairgrounds - Desert Sage Event Center



Benton County Fair & Rodeo
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
bceventcentercorvallis.net
July 31 - August 3, 2024
Benton County Event Center & Fairgrounds



Deschutes County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://expo.deschutes.org/
July 31 - August 4
Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center



Union County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.unioncountyfair.org
July 31 - August 3
Union County Fairgrounds



Yamhill County Fair
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.co.yamhill.or.us/fair
July 31 - August 3
Yamhill County Fairgrounds



Klamath County Fair
Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.klamathcountyfair.com/
August 1-4
Klamath County Fair



Wallowa County Fair
Friday, August 2, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://co.wallowa.or.us/community-services/county-fair/
August 2-10
Wallowa County Fairgrounds



Baker County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.bakerfair.com
August 4-9
Baker County Fairgrounds



Harney County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.harneyfairgrounds.com
August 4-9
Harney County Fairgrounds



Sherman County Fair
Sunday, August 4, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.shermancountyfairfun.com
August 19-24
Sherman County Fairgrounds



Crook County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.crookcountyfairgrounds.com
August 7-10
Crook County Fairgrounds



Douglas County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.douglasfairgrounds.com
August 7-10
Douglas County Fairgrounds Complex



Grant County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.grantcountyoregon.net
August 7-10
Grant County Fairgrounds



Josephine County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.josephinecountyfairgrounds.com/
August 7-11
Josephine County Fairgrounds & Events Center



Polk County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.polk.or.us/fair
August 7-10
Polk County Fairgrounds



Tillamook County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.tillamookfair.com
August 7-10
Tillamook County Fairgrounds



Umatilla County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.umatillacountyfair.net
August 7-10
Umatilla County Fairgrounds



Wheeler County Fair
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.wheelercountyoregon.com/fair-board
August 7-10
Wheeler County Fairgrounds



Clackamas County Fair
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 8:00 am
clackamascountyfair.com
August 13-17
Clackamas County Event Center



Morrow County Fair
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.co.morrow.or.us/fair
August 14-17
Morrow County Fairgrounds



Wasco County Fair
Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.wascocountyfair.com
August 15-17
Wasco County Fairgrounds



Gilliam County Fair
Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
http://www.co.gilliam.or.us/government/fairgrounds
August 29-31
Gilliam County Fairgrounds



Lake County Fair
Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
https://www.lakecountyor.org/government/fair_grounds.php
August 29 - September 1
Lake County Fairgrounds



Oregon State Fair
Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 8:00 am
www.oregonstateexpo.org
August 31 - September 9
Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center



Linn Laughs LIVE with Adam Corolla
Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Linn Laughs LIVE with Adam Corolla 5pm-9pm
Albany, OR


View All Calendar Events


Analysis: The “Science” of Gender Identity
“Gender is like outer space”

For complete understanding, “science” has historically been a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts systematically arranged in the form of testable explanations showing the operation of general laws in the physical world.

The word “transgender” gained widespread popularity in the 1990s as an umbrella term to describe people who cross over -- or trans -- traditional gender roles. Currently, transgender is generally understood to be a broad category encompassing many gender identities and expressions, including transsexual, genderqueer and cross-dresser, among many others. Adults can’t settle on what the word transgender means.

However, the Oregon Department of Education, has settled the science for kindergarten through fifth grade. Empowered by Governor Brown, Rob Wagner and Tina Kotek, transgender science has been institutionalized, and is sexual and phycological abuse of young children in our public schools.

Portland Public Schools have adopted a 198 slide lesson curriculum for the fall, targeting Kindergarteners through fifth graders, titled "Understanding our Bodies - Kindergarten Health Scientists."

Under “Kindergarten Health – Unit 5 (page 17), it states “Gender is like outer space because there are as many ways to be different genders as there are stars in the Sky! Each person is different and that is cool.” The curriculum was developed by trans people as “very intentional” and teachers are asked to “use the wording written on the slides.” (page 26)

Second grade students are forced to ingest the idea that “Gender is Colonized.” “When the United States was colonized by white settlers, their views around gender were forced upon the people already living here” (page 89), and (page 90) it states “Other cultures around the world, especially Black, Indigenous, and Brown cultures and people, view gender in different ways and use different words.”

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The science gets real fuzzy presenting sex and gender as an assigned option that the student has the right to choose. At birth, doctors and adults assign gender based on physical appearance, but they don’t really know the child’s gender because they can’t ask the baby. (page 40)

Starting in Kindergarten the students learn about private parts that are of two kinds. From there the science goes down hill fast. God created male and female. He also created each as unique individuals with special gifts or aptitudes, which doesn’t include nonbinary or LBGTQ+. The two-spirit message presented (page 105) as some spiritual indicator of two gender spirits is a better confirmation that we all have masculine and feminine traits. Neuroscientist Lise Eliot, Chicago Medical School, says brains are a unisex organ.

Because we are a social culture and our brains are formed within a culture, our way of viewing ourselves as men and women is imprinted by the cultural environment we grew up in. The cultural definitions of which traits are appropriate for men and women influence the personality characteristics that boys and girls develop. Such a curriculum is intended to influence your child’s cultural environment.

Research, reported by Popular Science, shows that culture’s "Big Five" personality traits of psychology -- openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism -- do not categorically vary between men and women. The curriculum is aimed at arousing emotional responses, intensifying undeveloped brain activity hindering aspects of normal development – in all aspects it is abusive.

Now our school system wants to confuse students, too young to know who they are, and question their God given birth gender. They are being abused for having normal feelings for both genders. According to Psychology Today, they should be encouraged to accept themself with all of their different characteristics and personality traits as who they are. It isn’t sexual or gender identity that causes difficulties, it’s human character.

Ben Edtl, candidate for SD19, wrote in his newsletter of the Portland School curriculum: “I believe that educating children that Black, Indigenous and Brown people viewed gender in different ways until the white Europeans showed up is completely senseless and blatantly racist to every person mentioned. Our schools should be focused on uniting our children regardless of their differences and focusing on basic education like math, reading and writing.”


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2022-08-10 06:54:21Last Update: 2022-08-10 10:33:19



Proposed Initiatives Create STAR Voting
Supporters say we could skip the primary and just vote in November

Two initiative petitions proposed for the November 2024 election have been filed with the Oregon Secretary of State to significantly change the way Oregonians vote. Initiative Petitions 11 and 12 are the same, except that the former contains a provision for presidential elections.

Chief Petitioners for the initiatives are Deanna Kallen and Bryan Lewis of Portland and Zach Hudson of Troutdale.

The text of the initiatives describes how the process works:

For each seat up for election by means of STAR Voting, votes shall be tallied using a two-round process which consists of a scoring round and an automatic runoff round. The scoring round shall calculate the sum total of the scores received by each candidate and determine the two candidates who received the greatest total scores. Those two candidates shall be the finalists and shall advance to the automatic runoff round, where the finalist preferred by more voters wins.

According to the website, starvoting.us "In STAR Voting, voters fill in the bubbles to score candidates from zero up to five stars. Voters give their favorite(s) five stars, their last choice(s) zero stars, and score other candidates as they like. The five-star ballot allows voters to show their preference order and indicate their level of support for all of the candidates. Voters are allowed to give candidates the same score, if they support them equally. Candidates left blank receive zero stars.

"With STAR Voting we could skip the low-turnout primary and just vote once in November. STAR Voting eliminates vote splitting and the spoiler effect, so it’s highly accurate with any number of candidates in the race. Skipping the primary would save taxpayers money, would save voters time, and the shorter campaign season would make it much more accessible for grassroots candidates to run for office.

"For situations where a primary is needed, such as partisan primaries or the presidential primary, STAR Voting can be used for either or both elections."




--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-09 11:04:28Last Update: 2022-08-09 13:24:14



Skarlatos Calls Out Hoyle
She backs Biden’s bill to hire 87,000 IRS agents

Oregon 4th Congressional District candidate Alek Skarlatos is calling out his opponent, Val Hoyle for backing a bill that will pack the Internal Revenue Service with thousands of new agents.

According to Skarlatos, “Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle has always stood with the extreme wing of the Democratic Party, and it’s no surprise that she voiced her support for Joe Biden’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act that will hire 87,000 new IRS agents. For context, Autzen Stadium can only hold 54,000 people, and Reser Stadium can only hold 26,400, which combined is less people than the 87,000 new IRS agents that Joe Biden and Val Hoyle are going to hire to audit your taxes.

“Oregon’s 4th Congressional District is the poorest in the state, nobody feels the pain of inflation and high gas prices more than us, and Val Hoyle’s response is to support Joe Biden’s decision to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to audit small businesses and families in Oregon,” said Oregon National Guard Veteran Alek Skarlatos. “While large corporations have an army of lawyers to deal with the IRS, that’s not the case for small business owners and is further proof why Val Hoyle’s extreme idea to hire 87,000 new IRS agents is bad for small businesses, farmers, fishermen, timber workers and families in Oregon.”

According to the Washington Times "The reconciliation bill Democrats rushed through congress calls for $80 billion in new IRS funding so the agency can hire as many as 87,000 new agents and auditors. Democrats are doubling the size of the IRS, with most of the new money going into its enforcement arm. The bill provides 14 times as much funding for “enforcement” -- what some are calling fishing expedition audits -- than it does for “taxpayer services” such as answering the phone. It is dangerous to give an unaccountable and incompetent agency this much power over families and small businesses.” (The Washington Times, 08/08/22)


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-09 09:55:22Last Update: 2022-08-09 11:04:28



GOP Voters Vent in Washington CD3 Primary
Kent is a conservative endorsed by former President Donald Trump

Voters in Washington state participated in a primary on Tuesday, August 2 and in at least one race, the result is too close to call. The State of Washington has a "Top 2" primary system for choosing who advances to the general election and incumbent CD3 Congressional Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler is in danger of being knocked out in the primary by challenger Joe Kent. The results have not yet been certified.

Kent or Buetler will almost certainly face left-leaning Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a graduate of Reed College in Portland and an owner of an independent auto-repair shop. Kent grew up in Portland and is an Army veteran and a Gold Star husband, having lost his wife Shannon in Afghanistan. Kent is an unabashed conservative who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

According to the Washington Secretary of State, "The Washington Top 2 Primary allows voters to choose among all candidates running for each office. Voters do not have to declare a party affiliation to vote in the primary.

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez(Prefers Democratic Party)64,71830.97%
Joe Kent(Prefers Republican Party)47,62322.79%
Jaime Herrera Beutler(Prefers Republican Party)46,66322.33%
Heidi St. John(Prefers Republican Party)33,52516.04%
Vicki Kraft(Prefers Republican Party)6,6043.16%
Davy Ray(Prefers Democratic Party)4,6392.22%
Chris Byrd(Prefers None / Independent Party)3,6061.73%
Leslie L. French(Prefers Republican Party)1,0370.5%
Oliver Black(Prefers Am. Solidarity Party)4330.21%
WRITE-IN1450.07%
Total Votes208,993
"Candidates for partisan office may state a preference for a political party, which is listed on the ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the Primary Election qualify for the General Election. Candidates must also receive at least 1% of the votes cast in that race to advance to the General Election."

Herrera Buetler has been under criticism by conservative Republicans for, among other things voting to impeach then President Trump. Many experts consider this primary result as a bellwether of GOP anger.

Washington's 3rd congressional district encompasses the southernmost portion of western and central Washington. It includes the counties of Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, part of Thurston, and Klickitat.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-09 09:40:49Last Update: 2022-08-09 11:01:21



Gubernatorial Candidates Raise Big Cash
As if we didn't know, the race is going to be a tight battle

If campaign cash was the only thing determining the outcome of elections, both the Democrat and Republican parties would find themselves on the outside looking in this Fall. Betsy Johnson (I-Scappoose) is leading the pack, while Tina Kotek (D-Portland) and Christine Drazan (R-Portland) have similar financial performance. Drazan has raised a little less and spent a little more than Kotek.

Johnson has collected some large checks from some big names, including Phil Knight of Nike fame, Tim Boyle of Columbia Sportswear, Sidney DeBoer of Lithia Motors in Southern Oregon and timber giant Robert Freres, Jr., as well as from a diverse array of industry, including the heavy equipment supplier, Eugene-based Pape Group, and lumber producer Sierra Pacific Industries and Portland's Schnitzer Properties.

Interestingly, the Association of General Contractors -- the road building industry -- has hedged their bets in a large way, sending $100,000 to both Johnson and Drazan, and nothing to Kotek -- perhaps indicating that they don't trust her to effectively spend money on large transportation projects.

Kotek is heavily dependent on labor money, especially government employee unions. Among her largest contributors is the Service Employees International Union, representing most state workers, and the Oregon Education Association, representing public school teachers.

As if we didn't know, Oregon's gubernatorial race is going to be a tight battle. Both the National Democratic and Republican Governor's associations have taken notice. The Democratic Governor's Association has donated $878,850 to Kotek, while the Republican Governor's Association has propped up Drazan to the tune of over half a million dollars.

Johnson leads the cash race by a 2:1 margin over Kotek and Drazan with a little over $10 million, but she has a way to go to beat Republican Knute Buehler's record haul of $19,382,866.93 in the 2018 Oregon Governor's race.

KotekDrazenJohnson
Cash on Hand$1,393,296$1,713,603$4,532,864
Spent$4,125,888$3,287,689$5,568,153
Total Raised$5,519,184$5,001,293$10,101,016



--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-08 10:11:55Last Update: 2022-08-08 11:56:27



CD 6 Republicans Elect State GOP Officers
Salinas drew the district to include her and then filed to run

In a convention that included all Precinct Committee Persons in Oregon's 6th Congressional District, Republicans have elected officers to serve in the State GOP Executive Committee. Voters will remember the process which some considered tainted in which then Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek reneged on a pledge to include Republicans in equal numbers on the redistricting committee.

ChairDavid HillYamhill
Vice ChairJames GoingsYamhill
Alternate
Chair
Don PowersClackamas
Alternate
Vice Chair
Carla ParadineMarion
SecretarySatya ChandragiriMarion
TreasurerNan CramerWashington
During the redistricting process, Kotek appointed then Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) to Chair the House Committee on Redistricting, upon which she drew the new, vacant district -- Oregon's 6th Congressional District -- to include her and then filed to run for the seat herself. The new district includes the Western part of Marion County, Polk and Yamhill Counties and the Southern part of Clackamas County -- reaching just enough into the Portland Metro Region to include Lake Oswego, where Salinas lives.

The officers of this new GOP CD 6 Committee will help elect GOP nominee Mike Erickson. According to many PCPs, the new elected officers bring new vitality and energy to this new district.


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2022-08-07 19:34:21Last Update: 2022-08-09 07:17:06



SoS Adopting Changes to Candidate, Political Party and Recall Manuals
The Elections Division has held public hearings

The Election Division of the Secretary of State's office has provided notice of two permanent administrative orders for OAR 165-010-0005 and 165-014-0005. Prior to the effective date of the administrative rules, the Elections Division held public hearings and allowed time for public comments to be submitted.

OAR 165-010-0005

RULE TITLE: Designating the Candidate's Manual, Minor Political Party Manual and Forms

FILING CAPTION: Updates filing deadlines and implements legislative changes regarding candidate, and political party manuals and forms.

RULE SUMMARY: The changes to this rule and the associated manuals and forms update the write-in notification and acceptance deadlines for the 2022 election period required by Senate Bill 1527 (2022). Further, it modifies the formula for determining if a party can maintain its minor party status. Additional changes were made throughout the manual to provide clarity for the various processes related to candidacy filings.

OAR 165-014-0005

RULE TITLE: Designating the State and Local Initiative, Referendum, Referral and Recall Manuals and Forms

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

FILING CAPTION: Updates signature verification deadlines and implements required legislative changes to the Recall Manual.

RULE SUMMARY: The changes to this rule and associated Recall Manual and forms include update of recall petition signature verification deadlines required by Senate Bill 1527 (2022). Additional changes were made throughout the manual to provide clarity for filing deadline time.


--Ritch Hanneman

Post Date: 2022-08-07 16:44:03Last Update: 2022-08-07 17:08:53



Money for Afghan Refugees in Oregon
$2.8 million in funding made available

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Refugee Program is inviting community partners to apply for a portion of $2.8 million in funding that is available to provide services and support to Afghans.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 25 and the application can be found online.

The U.S. Resettlement Program is operated by the U.S. Department of State through contracts with national non-profit organizations called resettlement agencies. These organizations have local affiliate offices throughout the nation.

The ODHS Refugee Program is responsible for some of the services that are outside of the initial resettlement provided by the resettlement agencies.

The Refugee Program provides cash, medical, employment, and acculturation services to refugees (and those eligible for refugee services) who are within 60 months of gaining their eligible immigration status.

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Since August 2021, nearly 800 Afghan individuals have resettled in Oregon.

ODHS says that the purpose of the request is to get applications from culturally and/or linguistically responsive organizations who provide services to immigrants or refugees (and those eligible for refugee services) to increase services and supports.

Funding is available to support: Organizations may express interest in supporting more than one service area.

Community organizations are eligible to submit proposals for the funding if the organization can demonstrate they are:
--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2022-08-07 08:31:02Last Update: 2022-08-07 16:40:28



State Wildfire Map Withdrawn After Outcry
“We know how important it is to get this right ”

Cal Mukumoto, Oregon State Forester and Director of the Oregon Department of Forestry has ordered the State Wildfire Risk map withdrawn after the initial draft caused an outcry among impacted parties.

Mukumoto released a statement saying that "Oregon’s wildfire environment has changed significantly in the past decade. Climate change is bringing us hotter, drier summers and historic levels of drought, resulting in severe wildfire conditions and longer, more complex and more expensive fire seasons. We find ourselves at a critical juncture when it comes to wildfire and need to take bold action to mitigate further catastrophic impacts to Oregonians, communities and our state’s natural resources."

State Representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford) shot back. "Hypocrisy is alive and well with the majority party in this area. As they push their climate change agenda, they fail to address and even push back on positive ways to manage our carbon sequestering forest resources, as they are beholden to the environmental groups that oppose any best management practices for the forest resources within our state."

In addition to writing the rules for map development and maintenance with a rules advisory committee, we were also tasked with defining the wildland-urban interface and assigning a risk classification at the property ownership level (1.8 million tax lots across Oregon). This work had to be completed by June 30, 2022, less than a year after the bill was adopted. We knew the first iteration of an undertaking of this scale and complexity wouldn’t be perfect, but we have been and continue to be committed to improving the map and our processes related to it. At the same time, our partner agencies are working to collect input as they develop the new codes for defensible space (Office of the State Fire Marshal) and home hardening (Building Codes Division) and address concerns related to homeowner’s insurance (Division of Financial Regulation).

According to Mukumoto, "We’ve been soliciting and collecting questions, concerns, and other input since the statewide wildfire risk map was released just over a month ago. We’ve received specific feedback from nearly 2,000 Oregonians that has helped us understand the key areas of concern related to risk classification. We have a window of opportunity before the new codes go into effect to take some immediate steps toward addressing those concerns, and we will be taking full advantage of the opportunity."

Mukumoto continued, "As required by SB 762, we posted a wildfire risk map on the Oregon Explorer on June 30, 2022 and sent notifications to property owners in the extreme and high risk classifications shortly after. In response to input received since posting, we have decided to remove the current iteration of the wildfire risk map from the Oregon Explorer and withdraw the notices sent. We will immediately begin working with Oregon State University on some refinements to improve the accuracy of risk classification assignments based on what we’ve heard from property owners thus far.

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Mukumoto addressed those who had filed appeals. "Since we are withdrawing the initial map and notifications, the current appeals process will end and any appeals filed will become moot. For those who did submit an appeal, we will be reviewing the information submitted and using it to identify any additional areas where we may need to take a closer look at the data. Please note, this decision does not impact the code development and adoption processes currently underway through Office of the State Fire Marshal for defensible space or Building Codes Division for home hardening."

Mukumoto concluded, "We know how important it is to get this right, and we’re fully committed to continuing to work with the Governor’s Office, legislators, our partner agencies, local governments, and Oregonians to do just that."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-05 11:17:41Last Update: 2022-08-05 12:46:24



Forestry Department to Hold Wildfire Risk Meetings
Time will be available to address questions from community members

The Oregon Department of Forestry -- under the watch of State Forester Cal Mukumoto -- is holding a series of community information sessions in eastern and central Oregon Aug. 2, 3 and 10. Each session will include a presentation about the Oregon Wildfire Risk Map’s function and purpose, how wildfire risk is assessed, and how property owners may appeal their assigned risk class. Time will be available to address questions from community members.

The wildland-urban interface and Oregon Wildfire Risk Map available through the Oregon Explorer is a tool to help inform decision making and planning related to mitigating wildfire risk for communities throughout Oregon. Representatives from Oregon State University who produced the map based on rules adopted by the Board of Forestry will also attend the sessions.

All meetings will start at 7 p.m. Dates and locations for each community meetings are: Those wishing to file an appeal, may consult the agency's appeals page.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-04 16:47:05Last Update: 2022-08-04 16:58:49



Property Tax Relief for Seniors Proposed
Give seniors a break on property taxes

A now proposed initiative in Oregon is aiming to amend the Oregon Constitution to in order to provide relief to seniors and freeze their property taxes.

“The ability to age safely in place is the number one concern I hear from senior citizens in my community,” said Senator Kennemer. “Making these matters worse, are the realities and the impact of the pandemic and skyrocketing inflation. And with many of our seniors on fixed incomes, freezing senior property taxes will empower many seniors to retain their independence and their cherished family home.”

In 2019, House Joint Resolution 25 (HJR 25) was sponsored by Representative Hayden, now PAC director for the Committee to Pass the Oregon Senior Property Tax Freeze Act. It was part of a larger tax package drafted by Senate and House Republicans aimed at bringing down the high cost of living for working families and small business owners. “In 2019, we were thinking further out about what Oregon would look like when the next recession hits and how could we help families in anticipation of such an event,” Hayden stated. “Covid and supply chain and inflation issues created a situation that has devastated working Oregonians and seniors, particularly those on fixed incomes. HJR 25 was blocked by the majority party, so we’re going to find another way to get this to the people of Oregon on their ballots.”

Rep. Moore-Green said HJR 25 was brought to the floor for consideration 2019 but the bill died on a party-line vote. “When I think about how seniors’ buying power for food, prescription drugs, and everyday necessities has been dramatically compromised, this is something we can do to help keep people aging at home.” Moore-Green, who serves on the House Health Care Committee, said her interest in petitioning the measure stems from worry that there are not enough senior long-term care facilities and the cost to move people into those facilities, when space is available, is much more expensive for taxpayers than freezing property taxes. “We know it much less expensive for the state to invest in programs like Oregon Project Independence and other social service supports that keep people at home. But those are left behind in every budget cycle. This measure will permanently prioritize the security of seniors in Oregon."

However, Senator Kim Thatcher said for her, the measure boils town to fairness. “At what point has a senior, who is of Medicare age, not paid their fair share,” Thatcher asked. “We’ve talked for years about the need for a homestead exemption for seniors because they are getting gouged in retirement with high income taxes, gas taxes and surcharges, and now they’re stuck paying the cost of the CAT tax at a time when they have higher medical bills and prescription drug costs. And every year, as their retirement income dwindles, their property taxes keep climbing. It’s simply unfair,” said Thatcher.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

To qualify for a ballot title, the petitioners must submit 1,000 valid signatures and go through the ballot titling process with the Secretary of State’s Elections Division. Upon achieving a ballot title, the measure will need valid signatures equaling eight percent of the total ballots cast in the upcoming 2022 gubernatorial election to qualify the measure for voter consideration in 2024. Signatures needed to qualify a constitutional measure for the 2022 general election was 149,360; petitioners believe the number will be just slightly higher than that next cycle given the likely increase in voter participation anticipated this November.

“Regardless of that the count needed is, we’re going to go chase those signatures,” said Rep. Hayden. “When we polled this issue in 2019, 79% of Oregonians – a majority of all age groups and all political parties – stated that they would support this measure. If the legislature won’t get it done, then we’ll use the power of the initiative system to get this to the people for a vote.”

The Committee expects to turn in the signatures to qualify for the title later this fall so that the petitioners can have a full ballot title ready for signature gathering in early 2023.

According to the text of the initiative, "A home is eligible for property tax relief in this section for any property tax year when at least one person is 65 years of age or older on or before April 15 immediately preceding the beginning of the property tax year and, either individually or jointly, owns and occupies the home as their primary residence."

Another thing the initiative does for seniors is enforce simplicity. It says that "Each county must have a simple and easily understandable process allowing persons to enroll their home for the property tax relief in this section. Property tax relief starts in the tax year after enrollment."


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-04 06:28:34Last Update: 2022-08-03 11:52:40



Medford Mayor Calls for Special Session on Wildfires
“We can do better than this. It doesn’t have to be this way”

Randy Sparacino, Mayor of Medford and candidate for Oregon State Senate District 3, calls on Governor Brown to convene a Special Session of the State Legislature to fix SB 762, “The Wildfire Bill” which was passed in the 2021 session of the Oregon Legislature. In a released statement, Sparacino expressed profound disappointment in the bill as written and his dedication to advancing meaningful and reasonable fire mitigation policies.

"The consequences of this bill outweigh the good it attempts to do. We are all aware that the vast majority of fires and smoke we endure every summer are burning on government owned land—homeowners are not the problem, and the burden should not be on homeowners to solve it. The Wildland-Urban Interface Map and the underlying bill must be fixed immediately, and I am calling on Governor Brown to convene a special session of the Oregon Legislature before any more property owners receive notices of canceled insurance and increased rates in the midst of ongoing economic challenges.

Southern Oregonians were recently notified via mail of Oregon’s new WUI map, which was created as a result of SB 762. This letter notified many of us that our homes or properties have been designated as a “high” or “extreme” wildfire risk according to this new map.

Because of the “Wildfire Bill” and the WUI map, many have also received notices from insurance companies informing them of drastic increases in rates or providers declining to renew home policies at their next scheduled renewal.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

In Southern Oregon, we know how important fire readiness is, and our neighbors, cities, and counties have adopted fire-wise programs and worked diligently for many years to effectively manage our land and watersheds.

I support efforts to mitigate the impact of wildfires on our communities and ways we can protect our region from fire, but we can do better than this. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Randy Sparacino is the current Mayor of Medford and is running to represent Oregon’s 3rd State Senate district.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2022-08-03 15:14:50Last Update: 2022-08-03 15:51:57



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