March 17th, 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.

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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