Blog Archives - LINN COUNTY DEMOCRATS

LINN COUNTY DEMOCRATS

March 31st, 2025

3/31/2025

Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They're taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, Albany Region Indivisible and our like-minded partners are taking to the streets locally — and nationwide — to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! Meet at the Linn County Courthouse at noon.
A short march starts at 12:15, followed by a rally along Ellsworth Street until 2 p.m.
Email [email protected] with questions

March 31st, 2025

3/31/2025

Signs of the times: Friday protests
continue in Albany

Bernadette Niederer, with Albany Regional Indivisbile (and a Linn County Democrat) writes: "Given that the news never stops we're decided to make our protest a regular event. Unless there are extenuating circumstances and until further notice, we're rallying every Friday, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., in downtown Albany near the corner of 4th Avenue & Ellsworth (by City Hall & the County Courthouse). Bring your opinions, bring your signs! Come find out if we'll finally experience a non-rainy rally!" More than 30 people turned out for the March 28 honk and wave (see gallery above).

March 28th, 2025

3/28/2025

Linn Dems endorse six candidates, Albany
local option levy in May 20 election

Updsted April 16
The Linn County Democrats have unanimously endorsed Brad Longman for Linn-Benton Community College Board of Director Zone 5 in the May 20 Special District Election. The endorsement came during the county party's April 3 hybrid monthly general meeting at Albany Public Library and on Zoom.
It brings to six the number of endorsed candidate by the Linn Dems. A measure for the "Renewal of the Albany Ambulance, Fire and Police Local Option Levy" also received unanimous endorsement during the April 3 meeting.
   Longman, an epidemiolgist, is an instructor in the Oregon State University College of Health and technical director of the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative. He is running for the LBCC board "because I believe win the power of community colleges to provide accessible, high-quality education that prepares students for successful cares without the burden of excessive debt."
   In nominating Longman for endorsement, Linn County Democrat Nancy Greenman said, "he has a profound understanding of what a community college does."
Three of the candidates endorsed by the Linn Dems during a special Zoom meeting March 21 seek election to the Greater Albany Public Schools Board, and two are running for seats on the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Service District Board of Directors.
  For the GAPS Board, the candidates receiving endorsements were::

Kristopher Schendel (Zone 1), senior code compliance officer for the city of Albany and the father of three school-age children. “I’ve worked with Kristopher through the city and found him to be an honest and patient person,” said Jackie Montague, an Albany City Councilor and Linn Democrat.
Stephanie Lunceford (Zone 2), a mortgage loan originator, said she has raised her four children for 27 of the 30 years she has lived in Albany. She said her oldest child was enrolled in special education classes and her youngest has struggled with anxiety. “It’s important to make the schools more inclusive … and better for our students’ well being,” Lunceford said.
Kris McLaughlin (At-Large Position 2) is a retired teacher who taught for 38 years at Calapooia Middle School. “I want to be part of bringing this district back together again,” McLaughlin said. Linn Democrat Stacey Bartholomew said McLaughlin “has a depth of wisdom I have seldom seen.”

For the Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD Board, the Linn Dems endorsed:
• Bill Hays (Zone 1) a retired United Methodist minister who also was a special education bus driver in the Albany school district. Linn Democrat Nancy Greenman said she admires Hays’ “compassion, sense of humor and sense of responsibility.”
• Michael Thomson (Zone 3) is an Albany City Councilor and past GAPS board member. He was appointed to the ESD board to fill a vacancy last year and is running unopposed. “I have great respect for Michael Thomson,” said Linn Democrat Susan Leonard, “particularly around education.'

March 27th, 2025

3/27/2025

NAACP Linn Benton Branch members gather March 22 to dedicate the Dr. Cal Henry Memorial Fountain in Corvallis Waterfront Park. From left are Albany Mayor Alex Johnson, Albany City Councilor Ramycia McGee, Branch President Barry Jenkins, 1st Vice President John Phillips IV, Deidre Green and Renee Merritt.

NAACP dedicates waterfront fountain
in honor of civil rights leader Dr. Cal Henry

Dr. Cal Henry

CORVALLIS — The nice new drinking fountain in Waterfront Park has a plaque listing a few of the many accomplishments of its namesake, Dr. Cal Henry. It notes that he co-founded the local NAACP chapter — now known as the NAACP Linn Benton Branch — in 1971. And he served as his its first president. He earned a doctoral degree in education at Oregon State University and taught in OSU's College of Education. He was an Oregon civil rights leader, and in 2015 received an NAACP national "History Maker" award.
A number of branch members and friends gathered by the fountain Saturday to remember Henry, who is in declining health and couldn't be there, and to dedicate the fountain in his honor. Branch 1st Vice President John Phillips IV of Albany received a plaque for his work with Steve McGettigan, Corvallis Parks Operations coordinator, to make the fountain a reality.
Henry, a Democrat, was involved in civil rights in Oregon since the 1960s. In 1977 he started the Oregon Assembly of Black Affairs. This non-partisan, non-profit political organization focused on educating the Black Community and the public. In 1983 he helped start the Oregon Commission on Black Affairs, a governmental commission working on economic, social, legal, and political equity. Henry also served on the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry, the Oregon Council on Civil Rights, and the Oregon Governor's Task Force on Equality.

March 27th, 2025

3/27/2025

International Women's Day
protests in Albany and Salem

Nearly 50 people in downtown Albany and more than 300 at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem turned out for International Women's Day protests on March 8. Linn County Democrats took part in both events. "If we all stand together, we can't be divided. We can change what's happening in our country," said Melissa Evans, one of the event organizers in Albany. Evans is part of a new grassroots organization, Mid-Willamette Valley For the People, which has a Facebook group page.

March 27th, 2025

3/27/2025

CD5 Committee elects new officers, Democratic Party of Oregon standing committee members

Delegates and other participants gathered virtually for the 2025 Congressional District 5 organizational meeting March 5. Linn County was well represented by 10 attendees, including CD5 Delegates and Alternates, State Central Committee Delegates and Alternates, and Precinct Committee People.
CD5 is tasked with helping to elect and support a Democratic representative to Congress in the Fifth District, and also with organizing support for Democratic candidates throughout the district..
Congratulations to new CD5 officers: Chair Eileen Kiely of Deschutes County, Vice Chair Susan Rodway of Clackamas County, Secretary Karyssa Dow of Marion County and Legislative Monitor Deb Barnes of Clackamas County.
The CD5 representative to the Democratic Party of Oregon Executive Committee will be Adam Kane, a new PCP from Clackamas.
The CD5 Committee also elected members to DPO standing committees. Linn County will be well represented as follows:

Budget Committee: Steve Harbert (Delegate).
Credentials Committee: Nichole Case (Delegate); Steph Newton-Azorr (Alternate).
Rules Committee: Mark Leonard (Delegate); Elaine Wilder (Alternate).
Local Events and State Fair Committee: Ashley Sisneros (Delegate); Stacey Bartholomew (Delegate); Katie Pleis (Alternate); Raquel Padilla Moore (Alternate).

There remain unfilled two Delegate seats on the Fair Committee and one Alternate spot on Rules. If you are interested, please contact Mark Leonard, [email protected], to register your nomination for the next CD5 meeting.
— Mark Leonard
Organization Chair
Linn County Democrats

March 22nd, 2025

3/22/2025

Linn Dems endorse GAPS, ESD candidates

The Linn County Democratic Central Committee has endorsed five candidates in the May 20 Special District Election.
Three of the candidates seek election to the Greater Albany Public Schools Board, and two are running for seats on the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Service District Board of Directors.
For the GAPS Board, the candidates receiving endorsements during a special Zoom meeting Friday evening were::

Kristopher Schendel (Zone 1), senior code compliance officer for the city of Albany and the father of three school-age children. “I’ve worked with Kristopher through the city and found him to be an honest and patient person,” said Jackie Montague, an Albany City Councilor and Linn Democrat.
Stephanie Lunceford (Zone 2), a mortgage loan originator, said she has raised her four children for 27 of the 30 years she has lived in Albany. She said her oldest child was enrolled in special education classes and her youngest has struggled with anxiety. “It’s important to make the schools more inclusive … and better for our students’ well being,” Lunceford said.
Kris McLaughlin (At-Large, No. 2) is a retired teacher who taught for 38 years at Calapooia Middle School. “I want to be part of bringing this district back together again,” McLaughlin said. Linn Democrat Stacey Bartholomew said McLaughlin “has a depth of wisdom I have seldom seen.”

For the Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD Board, the Linn Dems endorsed:
• Bill Hays (Zone 1) a retired United Methodist minister who also was a special education bus driver in the Albany school district. Linn Democrat Nancy Greenman said she admires Hays’ “compassion, sense of humor and sense of responsibility.”
• Michael Thomson (Zone 3) is an Albany City Councilor and past GAPS board member. He was appointed to the ESD board to fill a vacancy last year and is running unopposed. “I have great respect for Michael Thomson,” said Linn Democrat Susan Leonard, “particularly around education.'
Linn Dems Chair Ben Watts said more nominations from Precinct Committee People can be considered at the organization’s monthly meeting April 3. PCPs must, however, send notification of a nomination for a measure or candidate to [email protected] by Thursday, March 27.

March 20th, 2025

3/20/2025

'Honk-and-wave' protest planned Friday in Albany

Given that the news never stops Albany Regional Indivisible has decided to make its honk-and-wave protest a regular event. "Unless there are extenuating circumstances and until further notice, we're rallying every Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m., in downtown Albany (on Ellsworth Street at Fourth Avenue, by City Hall and the Linn County Courthouse)," said Indivisible member Bernadette Niederer. "Bring your opinions, bring your signs!"

March 17th, 2025

3/17/2025

Nathan Solz elected DPO chair

Nathan Solz

Nathan Solz, a Marion County Democrat, has been elected chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. He succeeds two-year chair Rosa Colquitt.
“Nathan Solz cut his ‘political teeth’ with the Jackson County Democrats where he served as an intern before he was a teenager and not old enough to vote,” the Jackson County Democrats wrote on their Facebook page, in a congratulatory message to Solz. “He went on to serve many roles in our local party as a Precinct Committee Person and as Vice Chair of the Jackson County Democrats. Those of you who have worked with Nathan here in Jackson County know first hand what an outstanding leader he is.”
Solz was elected March 16 during the second and final day of the DPO State Central Committee meeting at the Oregon State University Memorial Union in Corvallis. Also:
• Kim Schmith of Jefferson County was reelected state party vice chair.
• Eileen Kiely of Deschutes County was reelected state party vice chair.

• Jesse Maldonado of Lane County was elected state party secretary.

March 17th, 2025

3/17/2025

More than 900 people turned out for Sunday's Town Hall in the LBCC Activities Center.

Wyden, Bynum fire up Town Hall crowd

Ron Wyden chats with Oregon State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin after the town Hall.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Janelle Bynum fired up a friendly crowd of more than 900 during a 90-minute Town Hall on Sunday afternoon in the Linn-Benton Community College Activities Center.
Both emphasized that they hear the voices of constituents loud and clear and are doing everything in their power to push back against the increasingly damaging policies of the Trump administration.
Bynum even led the crowd in a chant: “Given ‘em hell, Linn County!” she exhorted. “Give ‘em hell, Janelle!” the crowd roared back.
Wyden said that he’s committed to using more whistle blowers. “I got the word from whistle blowers when Medicaid portals (were) shut down, he said, noting that within 12 hours they were back up.
“Courts are pushing back,” he added. “And let's stand up for U.S. marshals, who ensure there’s not going to be a coup."
Bynum, a former eight-year state representative, said she came to Congress this year to be a disrupter. “I refuse to allow (Trump) to be a destroyer,” she said. “We can’t let it be Elon Musk and his billionaires boys club.”
Wyden took aim at Musk later in the Town Hall.
“Elon Musk called Social Security a Ponzi scheme,” he said. “What I’m concerned about on Social security is this administration beginning to hallow out the government functions — laying people off (and saying) the technology isn’t getting taken care of … When you hallow a program out and start taking away those key functions that have been performed by government and start handing them to private contractors, you’re on your way to privatizing Social Security, and it’s not going to happen on my watch. Period."
This was the 1,107th town hall for Wyden and the first time he teamed up with Bynum. The two headed north for a Clackamas County Town Hall later Sunday afternoon.
LBCC President Lisa Avery hosted the Linn County event with Albany Mayor Alex Johnson. Other elected officials on hand included State Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, Albany City Councilors Jackie Montague, Marilyn Smith and Michael Thomson, Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker, Salem City Councilor Irvin M. Brown and LBCC Board Chair Jeff Davis.

Picture U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Albany Mayor Alex Johnson and U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum.

Ron Wyden poses with Nancy Mildren of Corvallis after the town hall.

Albany City Councilor Jackie Montague and Mayor Alex Johnson talk with Janelle Bynum after the town hall.

• Ron Wyden: In My Opinion: Under Trump, it's not business as usual. Here's how we fight back. (March 16, Oregonian)

• Will packed town halls have an impact? (March 16, Oregonian)

Videos: Wyden-Bynum Town Hall Q&A