Balance The Scales, Dems: Report From A Washington County Commissioners Meeting

by Clayton Callahan, Washington County Democrats Communications Committee Member

I heard it whispered that there is a place liberals dare not go. A place we neglect, yet our political opponents exploit, a place open to the public. The place… Washington County Commissioner’s Meetings.

Now, not being one to believe every rumor, I decided to go to such a meeting and see for myself. I checked the county website (Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Washington County) and decided to attend the one on Tuesday, April 22nd at 6:30 PM. And, I’ve got to say, it was all pretty “normal.”

Before I even entered the conference room, I was greeted by a man in a red MAGA ballcap. Normal, right? His t-shirt said “Make America Godly Again” and he offered me a sign that read, “Don’t Commit Treason!” Now, I’m a pretty by the book guy, so to me a sign that tells people not to commit treason belongs next to the one that reads, “Try Not To Kill Anybody This Week,” or “Breathe Air At Least Once Daily,” so I declined his kind offer on the basis of redundancy alone.

Once I got in the main hall, I was met by another guy whose nametag announced he was, “Dale.” He shook my hand and asked why I was there. I gave a vague answer about civic engagement and he gave me a dirty look. Now, I’ve no idea why he thought it was his business to ask why I was at a public meeting in the first place, but Dale wasn’t alone. In fact, he was with a group that filled the entire row in front of me. They were mostly people in their 50s and 60s who sported MAGA gear as a normal fashion statement.

Then, as the county commissioners filed in to take their places, the meeting formally got going. What followed was some boring procedural stuff before the public commentary portion of the show. And guess who got up to speak? That’s right, Dale and all his friends! Now, I will say they were all polite and followed the decorum of the occasion. Respectfully, they decried the vote by mail system that Oregonians have used since the year 2000 as socialist, and they also made some truly weird allegations about voter fraud. Also, as their speakers held the floor, the audience held up signs reading things like, “Photo ID To Vote!” or “Count Legal Votes Only!” or “Clean Voter Rolls!” You know, the kind of normal stuff that Republicans use as an excuse to disenfranchise legal voters who happen to have Spanish last names.

Our elected officials listened respectfully and Commissioner Jerry Willey (R) even gave them a thumbs up gesture. And why not? After all State Senator Brock-Smith (also an R) is proposing a bill called SB 210 to do just that in our state house. This would likely purge voters throughout the more liberal areas such as Portland but leave conservative spots like Pendleton largely alone. But what of the Democratic response at our Washington County’s government meeting?

There wasn’t one.

That’s right, nada, nothing, zip, zilch. Of the over fifty people packed into that meeting hall, not a one represented an opposing point of view to counterpoint all this MAGA malarkey. And I have to ask, is that normal?

If it is, it shouldn’t be! Democrats: we need to let our voice be heard and our presence be known. Don’t let MAGA voices take over our community!

The Washington County Commission holds hybrid (virtual and in person) meetings every first and third Tuesday of the month at 10 am, and every fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. You will need to sign up ahead of time to participate in public testimony. For more information and to sign up, go here!