The 2022-23 edition of the Oregon Statewide Report Card is now available on the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website. This annual look at Oregon’s kindergarten through grade 12 education system includes key data on students, teachers and schools.

“Academic excellence for students in Oregon remains the top priority for our agency. I took this role to make a difference, and we need to see what the data are telling us and be responsive to that,” Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “Clearly the results show we have more work to do to set Oregon’s students up for success. I care deeply about helping each and every scholar, and know that through centering their needs, aspirations and talents, we can prepare every student for their future.”

“Learning from this report helps us build a stronger education system that serves every student. Moving forward I’m focused on three areas that are central to student success:

• Early literacy
• Sense of Belonging
• Accountability.”

The Oregon Statewide Report Card includes new and returning data, most of which has already been released in the last year. Take aways from the report:

• There are 333 unique languages spoken by Oregon students, which includes about 11.3% classified as English Learners. However, a previous survey showed that there were no students that didn’t speak English.
• In the October 1st, 2022 student enrollment included 2,777 non-binary students. This is an increase from the 1,772 non-binary students reported in the October 1st, 2021 student enrollment.
• In three years, the overall enrollment has dropped 30,281, while teachers increased by 1,328.
• The majority of students in Oregon attend large school districts, comprised of 7,000 or more students.
• Homeless students total 21,478, but only 2,769 are actually unsheltered. The total includes those in shelters, unsheltered, motels and the majority (15,212) are in sharing housing. This group has a 58.6% graduation rate.
• All students four-year graduation rate is 81.3%.
• English Language Arts Academic Achievement’s long-term goal is 80% of which the achieved average is 43.6%. Out of 11 categories, 7 increased slightly after the COVID shutdown for grade schools and 6 for 11th grade, but all categories declined in middle school. The highest achievement categories are Asians at 62.0-64.4% compared to Whites at 50-52.3% and Multi-racial at 47.6-51.3%. At the bottom are English Learners at 11.3-20% and the disabled at 15.8-20%. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanic made the biggest progress as they advance from 20.4 to 30.3 and 34% in high school. Black and Underserved came in at 25.4 to 34%
• Mathematics Academic Achievement also has a long term goal of 80%. Overall the score decline from 36.6% in grade school to 28.5% in middle school and 20.9% in 11th grade. The categories ranked the same with the best performing being Asian (42.6%) and White (25.2%) as 11th grade scores. All categories declined as students advance, and most declined after the COVID lockdown.
• Charter schools made up 7.5% of enrollments or 41,577 students. They out performed public school by 6.3% for English Language Arts and 3.1% in math.
• Ninth Grade On-Track data increased in 2022-23, compared to 2021-22. The total statewide rate increased by 0.8 percentage points to 83.6 percent and is approaching pre-pandemic levels. What it means is they completed the course work.
• Attendance averages increased to about 66% and 61.2% for 11th grade.
• Discipline incidents have increased from 6.5% pre-pandemic to 6.8% in 2022-23. Incidents are below 3% until 4th grade when it gradually rises and going into middle school it jumps to 11.2% and peaks in 8th grade at 14.4% then gradually declines to 3.6% in 12th grade.
• The report doesn’t include 2023 graduation rates. Despite the suspension of the Assessment of Essential Skills, Oregon’s dropout rate more than double in 2021-22.

Probably the most disturbing numbers are for high school. These students have less time to make up where Oregon has previously failed them, and they will soon be competing in the world market for higher education or employment.

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Oregon has some of the most demanding graduation requirements in the country, as measured by course credit requirements. The subject-area credit requirements are listed on the Oregon Diploma webpage. The passage of Senate Bill 744 (2021) suspended the Assessment of Essential Skills policy through the 2023-24 school year. Oregon continues to administer statewide summative tests; however, these tests are not designed to determine if a student should graduate from high school.

ODE has not eliminated state tests of proficiency for Oregon students. Oregon’s state summative tests in language arts, mathematics, and science are required by both state and federal law. Students are expected to take Oregon’s state summative tests. The only change made thus far is to eliminate a duplicative testing requirement, which evidence has shown was not working. The Assessment of Essential Skills policy suspension was recently extended through the 2027-28 school year by the Oregon State Board of Education; however, the nine essential skills have not been eliminated. Students continue to receive instruction and are assessed on these essential skills in classrooms, including those who graduated in 2023.

The report clearly points towards the need for middle school reforms. ODE changes over the past few years have impacted middle schoolers the most, and perhaps the failure of those changes should be analyzed for a more successful high school experience.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-12-01 10:38:43

Last Update: 2023-12-01 17:18:17

Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has announced she will follow the usual procedure for Oregon presidential primaries and not remove Donald Trump from the ballot for the Oregon Republican Party primary. The former President’s qualification has been a major topic in national media, and the Secretary’s office has received significant voter contact on this issue.

In a letter from the Oregon Department of Justice, she was warned, "In recent months, scholars and advocates have argued that, as a result of his role in the January 6 insurrection, Donald Trump is barred from serving as President under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In light of this controversy, you ask whether you should omit him from the upcoming presidential primary ballot. We conclude that Oregon law does not charge the Secretary of State with determining whether a major party candidate in a residential primary election will be qualified to serve as President if ultimately elected."

“Oregon law does not give me the authority to determine the qualifications of candidates in a presidential primary,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “I will follow our usual process and expect to put Donald Trump on the primary ballot unless a court directs me otherwise.”

State law treats presidential primary elections differently than other elections where the Secretary has the authority to disqualify a candidate. In a presidential primary, voters are not deciding who will hold office or even who will go on the general election ballot. Instead, they are communicating their preference to party delegates who choose a nominee at the party’s nominating convention.

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Legal advice from the Oregon Department of Justice concluded the Secretary lacks the authority to disqualify a candidate in a presidential primary election because there is no set of qualifications for who can be considered at a party nominating convention.

The Secretary’s decision applies only to the primary election, not the November general election.

“I understand that people want to skip to the end of this story. But right now, we don’t even know who the nominee will be,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “When the general election comes, we’ll follow the law and be completely transparent with our reasoning.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-30 17:36:41

Last Update: 2023-11-30 17:45:38

The Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response announced the agenda for its third meeting scheduled for December 4th at 9:00 AM.

Since Governor Tina Kotek has indicated she rejects Oregonians desire to repeal M110, she is standing firm in her decision and ignoring reports that thousands of Oregonians are losing their lives to drug addiction every day. She openly admits that she doesn’t think that a full repeal is the answer and that she would rather continue exploring avenues that hasn't proven to help young lives at risk.

Lawmakers continue to hold hearings on effective ways to treat drug addiction and build on drug treatment programs inside and outside of jails. However, this does not address the availability of lethal drugs and how they are entering the state.

The committee's meeting December 4 will allow public comments on solutions to solve the drug crisis Oregonians want to see the state pursue in their communities. Legislators say they will carefully consider these ideas as they continue their work to build a response to the drug crisis attempting to save lives and keep our streets clean and communities safe.

You can register to give public comments scheduled for 11am to 1pm online or call 833-588-4500.

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During the committee’s first two meetings in October and November, legislators dug into the current public health and public safety responses to the drug crisis, hearing from treatment providers, law enforcement experts, and more about programs that are working and problems that need to be solved.

The Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response is co-chaired by Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D – Beaverton & SW Portland) and Representative Jason Kropf (D – Bend). The joint committee serves as the legislative hub for the coordination of an urgent public health and safety response to the drug crisis. Through the 2024 session and beyond, this bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators will provide oversight of state programs and funding, while seeking short and long-term solutions to the drug crisis.

Oregon Push Back has put forth the need to again fund the $21 million passed in 2021 in SB 893 that has closed down illegal pot farms, stopped illegal drugs and slave trafficking. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called the proliferation of cannabis growing operations run by foreign cartels a humanitarian, environmental and public safety crisis. Without a repeal, this funding gets to the source of Measure 110.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-30 11:42:48

Last Update: 2023-11-30 16:34:56

In response to the growing role that generative artificial intelligence is playing in society, Governor Tina Kotek issued Executive Order 23-26, which creates the Oregon State Government AI Advisory Council to develop recommendations for its utilization across state government.

“Artificial intelligence is an important new frontier, bringing the potential for substantial benefits to our society, as well as risks we must prepare for,” Governor Kotek said. “This rapidly developing technological landscape leads to questions that we must take head on, including concerns regarding ethics, privacy, equity, security, and social change. It has never been more essential to ensure the safe and beneficial use of artificial intelligence – and I look forward to seeing the work this council produces. We want to continue to foster an environment for innovation while also protecting individual and civil rights.”

The Council will provide a recommended action plan framework to the Governor’s Office no later than six months from the date of its first convening and a final recommended action plan no later than 12 months from its first convening.

The action plan will aim to maximize potential benefits of ethical and effective artificial intelligence implementation and adoption, along with thoughtful governance and standards to mitigate risk and address privacy, ethics, and equity. The goal will be to ensure Oregon has clear usage policies that outline the acceptable use of AI tools, providing transparency, uplifting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and protecting personally identifiable information and other sensitive information.

The Council will consist of no more than 15 members, all of whom must have a commitment to data ethics and data equity. Council structure seems to be aimed at promoting the majority party’s agenda with members from the Oregon State Chief Information Officer (who will chair the council), the Oregon State Chief Data Officer, a representative from the Governor’s Racial Justice Council, the Department of Administrative Services Cultural Change Officer, and an additional agency representative to be appointed by the Governor.

Governor Kotek will also appoint up to eight additional members, which may include community organizations with demonstrated expertise in data justice, artificial intelligence experts from Oregon universities, and representatives from local governments. Additionally, the President of the Senate shall appoint one member of the Oregon State Senate and the Speaker of the House shall appoint one member of the Oregon House of Representatives.

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Last year, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights. The document is a non-binding ‘white paper’ intended to support the development of policies and practices that protect civil rights and promote democratic values in the building, deployment, and governance of automated systems. It lays out five principles centered on the need for ethical and equitable principles that should guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems to protect the American public in the age of artificial intelligence.

While the Governor and the ‘white paper’ both lay out specific data privacy practices, it seems contrary to the Secretary of State’s pilot project gathering information and the plans to develop spying software.

Full membership and meeting times will be announced at a later date.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-30 10:19:31

Last Update: 2023-11-30 00:37:41

Newberg human rights attorney, Will Lathrop (R-Newberg), has filed to become Oregon’s next Attorney General. Lathrop began campaigning on January 2nd of this year. Lathrop has raised $300,000, campaigned in 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties, and earned endorsements from over 70 elected leaders and law enforcement members from every corner of the state. The current Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D-Portland) has said that she will not seek re-election.

“I am running for attorney general because I have the vision and experience to lead our state towards a future with safe, healthy, and thriving communities,” said Lathrop. “It’s painful for me to watch the state that I love suffer. Oregon is a wounded beauty – a beautiful state marred by crime and addiction. I represent a dawn of new leadership that will bring lasting change and ensure a safer, healthier future for Oregonians.”

According to a statement from his campaign, Lathrop is a sixth generation Oregonian who has spent his career fighting for victims of crime and abuse, rebuilding criminal justice systems, and taking on corrupt politicians and governments. As a prosecutor in Yamhill County and child-abuse prosecutor in Marion County, Lathrop worked on protecting victims from violence. In Northern Uganda, Lathrop fought violent land grabbers and returned land to widows and orphans after a 21 year civil war in the region. In Ghana, Lathrop rescued victims of child trafficking and forced labor, and successfully prosecuted slave traders and masters in his project area.

“As Oregon’s next attorney general I’ll focus on reducing crime and restoring safety in our communities, limit harmful government overreach by ensuring state agencies follow the law, and restore trust in our government institutions by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for public corruption,” added Lathrop.

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Notable supporters include U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and 2022 Republican nominee for Governor, Christine Drazan.

“I’m proud to endorse Will Lathrop to be Oregon’s next attorney general, who I trust to combat drug trafficking, stand up for crime victims, and restore peace and safety in our communities. Will’s vast experience, from his work protecting victims at the county level in Oregon to the world stage as a human rights attorney, makes him uniquely qualified to serve Oregonians as our next attorney general,” said Rep. Chavez De Remer.

“Oregon needs new and inspiring public safety leadership that isn’t driven by political agendas and partisan politics. Salem politicians have failed to repeal Measure 110 and have sided with defund-the-police radicals over the men and women in law enforcement,” said Drazan. “Will Lathrop is an experienced public servant who Oregonians can trust to stand up for victims of crime, work with law enforcement to protect our neighborhoods, and hold agencies and public officials accountable to the law.”


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-29 10:53:18

Last Update: 2023-11-29 11:14:18

All eyes have been on the teacher’s strike at Portland Public Schools and, at last, they have reached a tentative agreement. The minute Governor Tina Kotek involved herself in the strike, it indicated there would be statewide implications. Governor Kotek has now announced the next steps she will lead to address core issues that educators have raised to improve outcomes for students across Oregon.

“The strike was a reflection of larger challenges that districts across the state are facing,” Governor Kotek said. “From salaries not staying competitive with the market, to backlogs in facility maintenance, to classroom disruptions related to the behavioral health needs of students, we clearly have work to do.

“I commit to continuing the work. As your Governor and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, I commit to partnering with educators across the state to tackle the systemic issues that contributed to this strike. We all have an opportunity to do our part to ensure our schools are safe, successful places for students, teachers, and school employees.”

To address many of the underlying structural needs facing our schools, Governor Kotek will take the following steps:

1. Develop a statewide action plan, with the help of a multidisciplinary group of leaders, to support the social-emotional health needs of students in school settings and strengthen resources and capacity of school staff to meet these needs.
   
   
2. Partner with the legislature on their work to establish minimum teacher salaries and review funding for schools.
   
   Salary Schedules: The Governor will closely monitor and review the recommendations of the legislature’s Task Force on Statewide Educator Salaries. She wants to see a proposal for minimum teacher salary schedules that make Oregon competitive with our neighboring states, mitigate competition between neighboring districts, and reflect local cost of living. She also wants to see a plan to fund that proposal over the next several years.
   
   Funding: While the legislature ultimately adopts the budget, the Governor’s office must be a partner to ensure the methodology makes sense for today’s realities. The Governor will direct the Chief Financial Officer and the Oregon Department of Education to partner with the legislature and education stakeholders to review and revise the methodology for school funding.

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3. Create the Office of Transparency within the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to make budget information that the State already collects from districts more accessible and easier to understand. This is intended to ensure labor and district partners and the public have the same budget information that the State does and strengthen transparency and improve customer service to Oregonians. ODE will include data about future estimated revenues that districts may have, the share of district funding that comes from State sources compared to local sources, and the share of district expenditures spent on administration. This work will draw from the work of states such as Arizona, Illinois and Michigan, and from ODE’s ESSER dashboard.

A full document outlining Governor Kotek's commitments can be found on the government webpage.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-28 16:58:22

Last Update: 2023-11-28 17:41:02

Free Speech For People, a national nonpartisan legal advocacy group, has spearheaded the nationwide effort to “hold insurrectionists accountable for their role in the violent assault on American democracy” that took place on January 6th, 2021. Despite release of videos proving Trump supporters were not the instigators of January 6, FSFP along with Mi Familia Vota (TrumpIsDisqualified.org), are calling on Secretaries of States and top election officials across the country to apply Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment against Donald Trump, and all other elected officials who participated in what they call an insurrection, from running on any future ballot. They have sent letters to secretary of states and chief election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits anyone who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” after taking an oath to support the Constitution from again holding public office.

The letter states, “Pursuant to ORS 183.410 and OAR 137-001-0080, we request that you issue a temporary rule (and subsequent declaratory ruling) that Mr. Trump is constitutionally ineligible to appear on any Oregon future ballot for nomination of election to federal office. Due to the urgency involved in this determination and the time required for probable judicial review before the printing of Oregon’s 2024 primary election ballots, we request a response to this request by December 1, 2023.”

After several pages trying to convict President Trump in their narrative, they suggest if he is innocent, he should still be denied to run even though the Senate failed to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial. They claim it is irrelevant. After all, Mr. Trump still has due process of law.

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This is an out-of-state organization attempting to put a bigger wedge of distrust between the Secretary of State and voters. They are suggesting Oregon taxpayers can foot the bill when Donald Trump takes on the state in a court challenge, which many observers predict that the state will lose according to recent video releases of January 6 events.

Many Oregonians think that Oregon’s Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade has already insulted voters with her intentions to spy on communications in search of what she classifies as misinformation. Restricting a key candidate on the Presidential Ballot will further insult voters intelligence and charge taxpayers.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-25 10:02:19

Last Update: 2023-11-27 17:09:12

Dana Hindman-Allen has filed to run for Clackamas County Commissioner for the seat currently held by Martha Schrader. She is a Realtor, business owner, and fifth generation Oregonian, who is currently serving on the Clackamas County Parks Advisory Board since 2021.

“I believe that we have to take meaningful action to protect quality of life, public safety and livability throughout Clackamas County, we don’t want failed Portland policies imported to our County.” Hindman-Allen said.

She added, “All over the metro area, residents have witnessed businesses suffering due to crime and cost of living spiraling out of control. As a Realtor for the last 11 years, I have worked with clients who expressed the resounding sentiment of wanting to relocate to neighboring Clackamas County because of the lower property taxes and fiscally conservative County operations.” “However, we cannot stay idle because our communities are fragile and need efficient, professional leadership to maintain and support thriving Communities. In Oregon we have seen how quickly bad decisions in Government have consequences on us all.” Furthermore, “Fresh perspective is needed in a long held incumbent seat, and I believe I have the foresight and business competency to improve efficiency and create dynamic successful relationships with community partners and elected officials to keep Clackamas County from being derailed. I will also welcome businesses seeking a new home and advocate for businesses that are overburdened by oppressive taxes, regulations that suppress innovation and make it hard to maintain a quality work force.”

Hindman-Allen was an Educational Assistant for the Oregon Trail School District for over 10 years, she even launched a volunteer-run theater program there where she produced and directed full-scale theatre productions for the Oregon Trail Academy. She also was a licensed residential Mortgage Broker and understands fiscal strategies and accountability. It is essential for public participation in your government. I will welcome all the community members.

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Hindman-Allen said, “Everyone has been impacted by forest fires, we need to partner with our Forestry Management leadership and firefighters to work on sustainable Forest management practices, while making sure our Fire Fighters have enough resources to fight the fires swiftly and efficiently before they get out of hand. My main frustration is with politicians serving their political careers rather than their constituents, and lack of true collaboration with citizens is the driving force behind the desire to serve. When the citizens make it clear to the government that they are opposed to a particular policy and the government continues to steam roll the public, we have problems. One such example is the tolling proposal of Interstate 205, which I do not support. It is just another tax that residents don’t want, another short-sighted policy that will have lasting consequences for citizens who live, work, and travel throughout the area.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-24 18:29:40

Last Update: 2023-11-25 09:57:05

The Oregon Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers who plan to apply for the new Agriculture Employer Overtime Tax Credit that they need to set up a Revenue Online account soon.

Taxpayers who want to apply for the tax credit need to have a Revenue Online account prior to filling out an application. Applications must be filed electronically and will be available by January 1, 2024. No paper applications will be accepted. The application window closes January 31, 2024.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4002 in 2022 along party lines. The measure requires agricultural employers to pay certain workers for overtime hours worked, and creates a refundable personal or corporate income tax credit for employers for a percentage of wages paid as overtime pay, starting with the 2023 tax year.

The bill was passed despite a year-long workgroup saying they could not find a viable compromise that didn’t harm agriculture. Representative Anna Scharf (R-Polk) said, “this bill will only harm the workers that the supporters of the bill said it was designed to help. Farms cannot afford the overtime costs associated with this bill and will cut workers hours, cut positions, and automate additional processes eliminating jobs permanently. Tax credits take years to get, if they are received at all.”

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This tax credit shifts the burden onto taxpayers for up to $55 million when Oregon is already one of the highest taxed states. The tax credit table is designed to hit employers that employ over 25 the hardest. The bill also specifies the hour threshold at which overtime is paid for different years, industries, and number of employees. Dairies that employ not more than 25 can apply for 100% overtime over 55 hours, while nondairy can claim 90% for 2023 then 80% for two years reducing to 60%. Employers over 50 are eligible for somewhat less graduating down to a 40-hour threshold and a 15% credit.

The department provides a video about how to set up and log in to a Revenue Online account.

If Ballot Initiative 3 is successful, which criminalizes breeding practices, labor cost will be the least of Oregonian’s worries.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-22 10:22:14

Last Update: 2023-11-22 15:50:41

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has announced that Shana McConville Radford has joined the administration as her Tribal Affairs Director. Radford has recently served as the deputy executive director of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“Communication and transparency are cornerstone to the state’s relationship with Oregon’s nine sovereign Tribes,” Governor Kotek said. “Shana McConville Radford has extensive experience in Tribal matters, policies, and government-to-government relations through a career of promoting Tribal sovereignty, fostering positive relationships, and advancing the interests of Oregon's Tribal nations.”

Shana McConville Radford brings over 15 years of Tribal relations, policy, Tribal facilitation, negotiation, and intergovernmental relations experience to the role. Outside of her role with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Radford previously served as the Superintendent of the Flathead Agency in Montana for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has also worked with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and served as a Tribal consultant on energy, education, and health. During the 2020 Decennial Census, Radford played an instrumental role with the U.S. Census Bureau as the Tribal and Congressional lead in ensuring that Oregon and Idaho’s historically undercounted Tribal nations were meaningfully and accurately counted.

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Radford is a former American Australian Association Education Fellow and holds a postgraduate degree in international law and international relations from the University of New South Wales. Radford is also a former Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellow, where she served as a Tribal legislative liaison and advisor to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden.

“It is with great honor and humility that I step into public service as Tribal Affairs Director for Governor Tina Kotek’s Office on behalf of Oregon’s Tribal nations and the state of Oregon to foster collaboration and cooperation that is respectful of the unique Tribal cultural and historical perspectives, values, sovereignty, and self-governance," Radford said. "I will promote and practice transparent and integrous policy design and implementation by centering true collaboration through curiosity, empathy, candor, and reciprocity. As a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and an Oregonian, I bring with me a deep sense of pride and commitment to our shared values of connection, history, collaboration, and gratitude for the community that raised me.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2023-11-22 10:07:04

Last Update: 2023-11-22 15:51:39

Retired Air Force Colonel Monique DeSpain has announced her candidacy for the 4th Congressional District in Oregon. Oregon's 4th Congressional District is the Southwest part of Oregon, going as far north as Eugene. The seat is currently held by Val Hoyle (D-Eugene).

"As a mother, I understand the hopes and dreams we hold for our children," Said DeSpain. "As a retired Air Force Colonel, I've seen the impact that strong leadership and a commitment to service can have on a community. And as an advocate for transparency and accountability, I firmly believe that our government should work for us, the people."

DeSpain served our nation for 30 years in the United States Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Oregon Air National Guard, retiring with the rank of Colonel. For 20 of those years, she served as a lawyer with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in various locations and deployments, including Singapore, Bosnia, Kosovo, Cypress, Italy, the Pentagon, and Oregon, developing policy, handling investigations, managing litigation, and advising senior commanders on military justice and ethics. Concurrent with her military service, DeSpain worked as a legal consultant for a full spectrum of business and family matters including policy development, Veterans' affairs, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. She volunteered for ten years as a Board Member, President, and Mediator with the Center for Dialogue & Resolution in Eugene, Oregon.

DeSpain was clear on her focus. "Our current challenges -- economic uncertainty, community safety concerns, and the state of our education system -- are pressing. Our children deserve an environment that nurtures their potential and prepares them for the future. I am determined to make this a reality."

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"Together, we can tackle issues such as the lack of transparency and accountability in government, ensuring that our elected officials prioritize the needs of their constituents over special interests," DeSpain continued. "It's time for a representative who is ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work."

Following her retirement from the military in 2019, DeSpain joined the Kevin Mannix Law Firm and pursued legal causes fighting for the rights of crime victims, business owners, and other Oregonians. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) currently serves in the Oregon Legislature. In 2022, she joined the non-profit Common Sense for Oregon, where she worked to formulate policies that would better serve Oregonians and improve public policies to address rampant homelessness, addiction, and crime in Oregon communities.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-11-16 15:24:50

Last Update: 2023-11-17 21:05:17

The Oregon State Police, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Grants Pass Police Department, and multiple local interagency drug teams concluded an 18-month investigation November 14 when nine search warrants were served in southern Oregon resulting in 23 arrests.

They were able to seizure 37 firearms and 33,000 dollars in cash as the culmination of a local drug trafficking organization. Additionally, the search warrants resulted in 2,000 grams of methamphetamine, 636g of fentanyl pills, 52g of fentanyl powder, 58g of cocaine, 250 pounds of marijuana, and ¾ of a pound of illegal mushrooms. The investigation had already yielded 40 pounds of methamphetamine, 9.25 pounds of fentanyl, 3 pounds of cocaine, and ½ a pound of heroin over the course of 18 months. These quantities are significant and their removal from the distribution chain is a significant outcome.

Nine years after Oregon voters passed a ballot measure legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and its regulated cultivation and sale, the state is grappling with an explosion of illegal marijuana farms that have brazenly cropped up, primarily in Southern Oregon. There are four countries reporting cartels with slave camps in Oregon as a result of legalizing drugs and defunding police. The public is still mostly unaware that Oregon is a target for slave camps.

In the Second Special Session in 2021, SB 893 was passed dedicating $21 million to help police, sheriff's offices and community organizations in 14 counties paying for costs of cracking down on the thousands of industrial-scale, illegal pot farms, and trafficking of illegal drugs and slaves. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called the proliferation of cannabis growing operations run by foreign cartels a humanitarian, environmental and public safety crisis.

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This investigation has put a spotlight on what enforcement can do with funding. As legislators talk of a special session to repeal Measure 110, legislation to extend funding investigations is also of importance. Apprehending cartel doesn’t just cut off the supply chain for illegal drugs, but it curtails trafficking of slaves. Reports include abuse, rape, and two girls were recently shot by cartels. These victims won’t talk to police because they’ve been told they will be deported.

Captain Kyle Kennedy told local communities; “we need your help. You are the eyes and ears of everything that happens in your neighborhoods. We ask you to report any suspected criminal activity to local law enforcement. We can work together in the disruption of these drug trafficking organizations.”

The Oregon State Police continues to work in collaboration with local interagency drug teams around the state in order to deter and disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into Oregon communities.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-11-16 11:56:19

Last Update: 2023-11-16 00:02:10