Kicking Off the New Year in Oregon

Kicking off the new year right, Senator Wyden held town halls across Oregon. 

The first town hall of 2013 took place in Jackson County and from there Senator Wyden traveled north to Josephine, Douglas, Lane, Benton, Yamhill, and Washington Counties. He then headed to Central Oregon to hold town halls number 645 through 647 in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties.  While in Sisters, Senator Wyden stopped to chat with local business owner John Leavitt whose store—appropriately named Leavitt’s Western Wear—has been in business for 37 years.

Next Senator Wyden held a Multnomah County town hall in SW Portland. The town hall was opened by the Wilson High School glee club beautifully singing the national anthem.

It was then off to the coast where Senator Wyden held his annual Clatsop County town hall and stopped for some famous Bell Buoy's chowder. The last round of town halls was in the scenic Willamette Valley in Columbia, Marion, Polk, Clackamas, Wasco, and Hood River Counties.

At many of these town halls, Senator Wyden had the privilege of honoring Korean War veterans by presenting them with the senate resolution declaring 2013 as the "Year of the Korean War Veteran."   These veterans included 5 veterans in Josephine County, Jim Fagundes in Polk County, Bob Clink in Multnomah County, John Roppe in Crook County, Bob Dougherty in Lane County, and Tom Barrier in Deschutes County.

On top of holding town halls, Senator Wyden got a ride in a fire truck to his Yamhill town hall, spoke at a Campaign for Equal Justice lunch, met with the Oregon Winegrowers Association, attended the lease signing between the Port of Portland and the Air Force, and spoke on energy policy at the Portland City Club.

Slideshow: