DPO Vice Chair Valdez Bravo to speak at Nov. 2 general meeting

Valdez Bravo, first vice chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon, will be the guest speaker Thursday, Nov. 2, at the monthly general meeting of the Linn County Democrats.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Albany Public Library, 2450 14th Ave. S.E. A social time starts at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Bravo is expected to talk about campaign finance reform, Ballot Measure 101 and his takeaways from the Democratic National Committee Fall Meeting, held Oct. 18-21 in Las Vegas. He’ll also field questions from the audience. 
“I mostly look forward to hearing what’s on the minds of Linn County Democrats,” he said.
Bravo, 40, a native Oregonian, has spent his life in public service. After serving eight years in the Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan, he returned home and went to work at the Portland VA Hospital. He continues to work there as a healthcare administrator. 
His volunteer efforts have centered on veterans, education, and health care. 
A lifelong Democrat, Bravo was elected as the state party’s first vice chair in March. He also serves on the Portland Community College Board of Directors.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Portland State University and a master’s degree in health administration and an MBA from Baylor University.
Bravo lives in Portland with his wife and daughter. 
 Also on the agenda Nov. 2 will be a discussion and vote on a draft resolution supporting Ballot Measure 101, which will appear on the Jan. 23 mail ballot. Measure 101, if approved, would affirm the Healthcare Protections Bill passed by the Oregon Legislature earlier this year.
  Bravo said he supports Measure 101. “Anything we can do to fund health care we have to do, he said. “Health care is a human right.”
  For more information, contact Linn Dems Co-Chair Graham Kislingbury, 541-974-2075.