Senator Wyden holds town halls in every Oregon county each year. He has held over 1,000 town halls since he joined the US Senate in 1996.
About 25 people attended the townhall in Condon on Saturday.
Kathleen Cathey (left) with Gilliam County Judge Cris Patnode. Cathey is a longtime field representative for Senator Wyden in Eastern Oregon and will retire this year.
Condon City Councilman Tom Fatland introduces U.S. Senator Ron Wyden at the Veterans' Memorial Hall in Condon on Saturday, August 24.
Gilliam SWCD District Manager Herb Winters gives Senator Merkley an update on the Lone Rock Fire and asks how funds can be made available to those impacted, particularly cattle producers and farmers, in a timely manner.
Erin Heideman with the Oregon Wheat League asks Senator Wyden about the next generation of farmers, and what can be done to keep more young people on family farms.
Senator Ron Wyden returned from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week to hold townhalls in Enterprise on Friday and in Condon on Saturday.
Senator Wyden, who started his career in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, was introduced by Condon City Councilman Tom Fatland.
Wyden began by saying that he has been committed to visiting every county in Oregon and that holding townhalls to engage with constituents has been a priority.
After giving a brief opening speech, Wyden fielded questions from the public. Each person that wished to ask a question was given a ticket, and Tom Fatland drew numbers until all questions were asked.
Questions included the proliferation of arms sales to Ukraine and Israel, the need to have aviation fuel at the Condon Airport, how the federal government could support emergency medical services (EMS), the federal government's ability to respond to large wildfires, and how the next generation of farmers could be talked into staying on the family farm.
On some points, Senator Wyden spoke at length and with a great amount of knowledge – specifically on the need to confront Vladamir Putin of Russia, and that steadfast support of Israel was essential. On others, he asked questions when he lacked understanding.
The question of EMS services was posed by Commissioner Grant Wilkins, who said that the volunteers that are tasked with running ambulances need more support. The topic was hard for Wyden to grasp, as he was mostly familiar with the needs of patients and how they can better be served through Medicare and Medicaid.
Wyden recognized the challenges that exist in rural communities, and said that he has seen how the boom in renewable energy has helped the region. Still, he said that without more work on energy transmission and further investments, the potential of the so-called green energy revolution would not be fully realized.
He also spoke about the challenges in access to healthcare, and spoke about the closure of maternal healthcare centers in Eastern Oregon.
"It's going to be pretty hard to deliver babies at all in rural Oregon," Wyden said. "I went after St. Al's in Baker City because they got out of the baby business."
Before finishing the townhall meeting, Senator Wyden thanked his longtime field representative Kathleen Cathey who is set to retire this year.
Following the townhall, Senator Wyden paid a visit to the Liberty Theatre in Condon. Last year, Senators Wyden and Merkley helped to secure $250,000 for the aging theatre in federal congressional pass-through funds.
Taking to the stage at the theatre, Wyden said, "I'd love to do a townhall here one of these times."
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