In the wake of the presidential election, many have been motivated to be more politically active than they have in the recent past. In Bend, that’s translated into a renewed interest into the activities of Oregon politicians including Representative Greg Walden (R), who represents the 2nd District covering the eastern two-thirds of the state. While that’s a giant district—the seventh-largest in the nation, in fact—local constituents say they’re unhappy with Rep. Walden’s lack of presence in the area.
In coordination with MoveOn.org, organizers say about 200 people gathered at Rep. Walden’s Bend office today, specifically requesting that Rep. Walden host a town hall in Bend during the upcoming legislative recess.
“We deserve the chance to meet publicly, in Bend, with Representative Walden to discuss vital issues for our democracy,” said Bonnie Walker of Democracy Happens in a Tuesday release.
Rep. Walden held a telephone town hall for about 4,000 listeners Feb. 6, but many people reported being left out of the call, even after signing up—including Source reporter Brian Jennings.
Source reporters asked Rep. Walden’s representatives about future town halls (stay tuned for “How to Rock a Town Hall” in the 2/16 issue). Rep. Walden’s communications director Andrew Malcolm said the Congressman held 27 in-person town halls in the 20 counties he represents in 2016, and plans to hold at least one in Deschutes County this year.
Meanwhile, representatives from Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley‘s offices say the Senators hold at least one town hall in each county each year.
Sen. Wyden’s upcoming town halls include:
Monday, Feb. 20:
· DESCHUTES COUNTY: 5:30 pm, Sisters High School auditorium, 1700 McKinney Butte Rd., Sisters
Tuesday, Feb. 21:
CROOK COUNTY: 12:30 pm, Crook County High School auditorium, 1100 SE Lynn Blvd, Prineville
Wednesday, Feb. 22
JEFFERSON COUNTY: 10 am, Madras Performing Arts Center, 412 SE Buff St., Madras
“I look forward to continuing the conversation in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties about how to preserve and protect the Oregon way focusing on solutions,”said Sen. Wyden in a Feb. 14 release.
This article appears in Feb 8-15, 2017.
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Why won’t Greg Walden have an in-person town hall in Bend – thousands have been requesting one and even picketing for one. Instead he had ones in supporter towns with populations of 1000 or less.
I would welcome the opportunity to attend a townhall with Rep. Walden. I would like to hear firsthand directly from him his views on the current administration and other regional topics as well. I do respect that he has a huge district, and it is great that he is out in the rural areas. Hopefully he will include Central Oregon in his schedule in the near future.
https://form.jotform.com/70427769010151
This is a petition to Rep Walden asking him to have a Town Hall in Deschutes County on his upcoming Congressional recess. The petitions will be hand delivered on Friday.
Please support the efforts to hold Where’s Walden and the GOP/Trump party accountable, their anti environmental efforts damaging the resources that are so important to the Central Oregon tourism economy, in particular, need loud and constant opposition, so show up, and check Deschutes Democrats website/facebook pages for info on actions that are currently happening, and, most of all, write Walden, call his office , call the media outlets that don’t cover Walden’s agenda actions very well, and Show Up, the more the better we are able to be heard!
Mr Walden: Thanks for devoting so much time and effort to making Oregon great again. With failing government infrastructure like dams and bridges, riots in Portland, and police executing protesters in Eastern Oregon, Governor Brown and her DemocRAT “partners” in stare government are systematically dismantling the soul of our precious state. Brown, your hired goons do not scare us. If Blue PDX continues to lead the Obummer agenda in the face of America’s great restoration, we will be the laughing stock of the country.
We, along with the gracious Rep Walden, will continue to work (not golf, ehem) to bring our founding values back to Oregon. God bless Oregon and all who cherish her.
I tried to sign up for Walden’s recent telephonic town hall, but his computer kept kicking me off–saying I hadn’t completed the form. (I rechecked it several times. I had). I tried to contact his local representative–and got no response.
But clearly a telephonic “town hall” involving 4000 participants is useless for expressing views or concerns, anyway. Walden, why are you so afraid of holding real town halls in each of the counties you represent? There are many critical issues, on which we are entitled to have a voice.
As is usually the case with Walden’s staff, they characterize even his private events as “town halls.”
And, when he actually does hold a genuine public meeting, his staff arranges to pack the audience with Walden supporters, while giving the rest of us only a few hours notice. Nevertheless, in the past we have been able to spread the word sufficiently well to usually take up half the room.
Thank heavens we have two of very best 5 Senators in the nation representing us.