State Politics

Housing First: A More Accurate Description of What It Measures and What It Doesn’t
Homeless / Local News / State Politics

Housing First: A More Accurate Description of What It Measures and What It Doesn’t

With Oregon having the second highest rate of homelessness and with drug and alcohol addiction being significant issues in the Grants Pass area, it is worth taking a closer look at the differences between the “Housing First” and “Treatment First” models. The information below is intended to provide a fair and factual overview of both approaches, particularly for people who may not be familiar with how these models work or how they differ. Under the…

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September 18, 2026
Susan Fischer-Maki’s Democratic Policy Alignment and the Case for Conservative Governance in House District 3
County Politics / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

Susan Fischer-Maki’s Democratic Policy Alignment and the Case for Conservative Governance in House District 3

IntroductionSusan Fischer-Maki is the Democratic candidate running against Republican incumbent State Representative Dwayne Yunker. When evaluating candidates for Oregon House District 3, voters benefit from looking beyond campaign speeches to review a candidate's long-term public record, statements, and policy engagements. A closer look at Susan Fischer-Maki’s work spanning her tenure on the Three Rivers School Board, her consulting practice, state committee involvement, and current platform reveals a consistent alignment with the framework prioritized by Oregon’s…

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September 9, 2026
Judge Bain’s Rebuttal on SB 48 and Josephine County “Catch and Release” Claims
City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News / State Politics

Judge Bain’s Rebuttal on SB 48 and Josephine County “Catch and Release” Claims

A recent article appeared in the Daily Courier that delved into the "catch and release" issues surrounding SB 48, written from Judge Bain's perspective. This is a summary of the article, but I urge everyone to read the actual article in the Daily Courier. Judge Robert S. Bain refutes recent local claims that Oregon’s SB 48 pre-trial release law creates a dangerous "catch and release" cycle, arguing that public perception clashes with court data. Key…

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September 6, 2026
Homelessness, Lawlessness, Fiscal Responsibility and Appointed Commissioner Colene Martin
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Homeless / Local News / State Politics

Homelessness, Lawlessness, Fiscal Responsibility and Appointed Commissioner Colene Martin

There are two completely different groups of people living on our streets. The first group wants help they’ve fallen on hard times or are actively working to break an addiction, and Grants Pass already has the resources to support them. The second group doesn't want help; they choose to live in public spaces, use drugs, and reject any assistance offered. Local leadership is failing to address the lawlessness of this second group. Without accountability, crime…

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September 1, 2026
Oregon’s Big Tent: The Battle Over the State’s Political Mainstream
Local News / Local Politics / National Politics / State Politics

Oregon’s Big Tent: The Battle Over the State’s Political Mainstream

A political “big tent” wins elections by aggregating diverse voter blocs into a governing majority. But in Oregon, where metro progressives heavily influence the state’s Democratic supermajorities, the tent has stretched to its absolute limits. What began as electoral pragmatism has triggered a severe friction point between urban ideological experimentation and traditional community standards. At what point does a political party cross the line from adhering to the standards and integrity it is known for,…

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August 20, 2026
Enabling the Homeless Crisis: How State Laws Undermine Local Enforcement in Oregon
City Politics / County Politics / Homeless / Local News / Local Politics / National Politics / State Politics

Enabling the Homeless Crisis: How State Laws Undermine Local Enforcement in Oregon

Two recent articles at Oregon Capital Chronicle entitled, “2 years after Grants Pass, 14 states, 350 cities have tougher laws on street homelessness” and “Year-over-year homelessness declines”. The first article points out two years after the landmark Grants Pass v. Johnson ruling originated from Oregon, over 350 cities and 14 states nationwide have utilized the decision to implement aggressive public camping bans and crackdowns on street homelessness. The other article points out while nationwide homelessness…

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June 26, 2026
Regarding Seth Benham, Candidate for State Representative, District 3
Election / Local News / State Politics

Regarding Seth Benham, Candidate for State Representative, District 3

I have two serious concerns regarding Seth Benham, who is running for House Representative in District 3 to unseat Rep Dwayne Yunker. To me, these are vital issues regarding integrity, transparency and ethics that every voter should consider. 1. Conflicts of Interest The first issue involves concerns already raised by others within various Facebook groups. It has been pointed out that Mr. Benham has faced questions regarding potential conflicts of interest and proper recusals. This…

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May 2, 2026
Details on Secured State Funding for Josephine County
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Local News / State Politics

Details on Secured State Funding for Josephine County

This details the process behind Representative Dwayne Yunker collaborative process that led to securing $3.5 million for critical local infrastructure and economic drivers. Project Initiation: The effort began in December 2025 when Representative Yunker and Senator Robinson met with the Mayor of Grants Pass and city staff to identify high-priority projects and establish a legislative roadmap. Building a Coalition: Advocacy was expanded to include the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce and other local stakeholders to…

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April 15, 2026
Rep. Dwayne Yunker – Principles Over Payouts
Election / Local News / State Politics

Rep. Dwayne Yunker – Principles Over Payouts

A System Rigged for the MajorityIn the Oregon Legislature, major funding decisions are dominated by a single party and entrenched leadership. For a principled Republican in the minority, "bringing money home" frequently comes with a hidden price tag. Freshman legislatures must wait in line as the senior legislatures and majority party take front row seats to any earmarks. Securing a local payout typically requires a "yes" vote on massive spending packages, statewide tax increases, or…

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April 8, 2026
In Oregon: Do political parties endorse candidates for the primary and for non-partisan elections?
City Politics / County Politics / Election / Local News / Local Politics / State Politics

In Oregon: Do political parties endorse candidates for the primary and for non-partisan elections?

You will often see it happen at the local or county level, and the rules vary significantly depending on which party and which county you're looking at.1. State vs. Local "Neutrality"Generally, the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) and the Oregon Republican Party (ORP) maintain a policy of neutrality during the primaries. Their goal is to let the voters decide who the strongest nominee is. They typically save their resources and official "seal of approval" for…

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March 18, 2026