Julia Shumway, a writer for the Oregon Capital Chronicle, highlights the importance of effective communication skills in today’s fast-paced world. She emphasizes the need for individuals to be able to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, in order to be successful in both personal and professional settings.
Shumway points out that effective communication is not only about speaking clearly, but also about listening actively and being able to understand other people’s perspectives. She emphasizes the importance of being able to empathize and connect with others, as this is key to building strong relationships and fostering collaboration.
According to Shumway, effective communication skills are particularly important in the workplace. Employers value employees who can effectively communicate their ideas and thoughts, as this leads to better teamwork and productivity. Good communication skills also enable individuals to express their needs and concerns, and to resolve conflicts in a constructive manner.
Shumway suggests that individuals can improve their communication skills by practicing active listening, asking questions to clarify information, and being mindful of their body language. She also encourages individuals to seek feedback from others and to continuously work on improving their communication skills.
In conclusion, Shumway underscores the significance of effective communication skills in today’s society. She emphasizes the need for individuals to be able to clearly express their ideas, listen actively, and connect with others. By honing these skills, individuals can enhance their personal and professional relationships, and ultimately achieve success in their endeavors.
Two Republican state senators, who are ineligible to seek reelection, are planning to make a move to statewide office. This unexpected development comes as a surprise on the final day to file for Oregon office.
Senators Brian Boquist and Dennis Linthicum, both Republicans, are among the 10 state senators who are ineligible for reelection due to their involvement in a six-week walkout during the 2023 legislative session. Just hours before the filing deadline, they announced their candidacies for the positions of treasurer and secretary of state, respectively.
While Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, a Bend Republican, was present to observe the flurry of candidates, elected officials, and lobbyists on the House floor eagerly awaiting the appearance of their names on the projector screens, neither of the individuals mentioned in the previous paragraph were among them. Despite not being able to run for reelection, Knopp expressed his approval of his colleagues’ aspirations for higher office and commended their commitment to leading Republican Senate campaigns.
With a mischievous smile, Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers playfully hinted at the onlookers, ready to bring her gavel down at 5 p.m. This iconic moment would signify the closure of the filing period, officially heralding the start of the primary election.
“I’ve come across a few surprises,” Myers commented.
A surprising development has emerged in the political landscape as a former employee of the Bureau of Labor and Industries, who recently secured a $425,000 settlement in a race discrimination lawsuit against the agency, has decided to challenge outgoing House Speaker Dan Rayfield, a Democrat from Corvallis, in the Democratic primary for attorney general.
A total of 326 candidates had submitted their applications for office by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, although the Secretary of State’s Office may still be handling some paper filings. Candidates who are having doubts still have until Friday to withdraw from their respective races. The Capital Chronicle will be providing a comprehensive analysis of legislative races in the coming week. However, here’s an overview of the current status of statewide and congressional races for the upcoming May 21 primary election.
Secretary of state
LaVonne Griffin-Valade, the appointee of Gov. Tina Kotek to complete the term of the former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, has decided not to run for election. As a result, the position of secretary of state, responsible for overseeing elections, state audits, business registrations, and serving as the interim governor in case of vacancy, is now up for grabs.
Outgoing Treasurer Tobias Read and Senator James Manning, D-Eugene, are the leading Democratic contenders for the upcoming primary. Joining them in the Democratic primary are Paul Damian Wells, a retired machinist who previously ran for the office in 2012 and 2016; Jim Crary, a retired attorney from Ashland who previously ran for the 2nd Congressional District in 2016 and 2018; and Dave Stauffer, a retired attorney and self-proclaimed inventor from Portland who has made unsuccessful bids for governor or secretary of state in every election since 2016.
Linthicum, the Republican candidate for the Oregon state senator position in southern Oregon, has been vocal in promoting unfounded allegations of election fraud. In 2021, he joined a letter demanding an audit similar to the one conducted in Arizona to examine the 2020 election. Additionally, he was a plaintiff in a lawsuit dismissed by a federal judge in the previous year, which relied on baseless claims of election fraud derived from a discredited documentary produced by a right-wing commentator.
In addition to the aforementioned candidates, the Republican field also includes two individuals who ran unsuccessful campaigns in 2022. Brent Barker, a real estate broker from Aloha, finished fourth in the race for the Bureau of Labor and Industries, while Tim McCloud, a market analyst, placed 10th in the highly competitive Republican primary for governor.
Treasurer
Renewable energy executive Nate Sandvig made the surprising decision to withdraw from the race, leaving Boquist as the sole candidate in the Republican primary.
Sen. Elizabeth Steiner, a Democrat from Portland, is aiming to make history by becoming the first female treasurer in the state. With a background as a physician, she brings a unique perspective to the role, having spent the last six years actively involved in shaping the state’s budget as the co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
Former Lake Oswego City Councilor, Jeff Gudman, is relying on a party switch to give him the edge. Gudman, who was the Republican nominee for treasurer in 2016 and 2020, losing to Read on both occasions, made the decision to register as a Democrat last year.
Attorney general
Rayfield, a Democrat from Corvallis, seemed to have secured the Democratic nomination for attorney general until late Tuesday. As an attorney himself and the current speaker, Rayfield is expected to highlight the Legislature’s achievements in reaching a bipartisan agreement to recriminalize drug possession and allocate additional funds for treatment as part of his campaign.
But Shaina Pomerantz, a former civil rights investigator for the Bureau of Labor and Industries, managed to file her claim just minutes before the deadline. It is worth noting that Pomerantz had previously settled a lawsuit with the labor bureau, which involved allegations of racial hostility and the extension of her probation period.
Attorney Will Lathrop from Newberg and Michael Cross, who identifies himself as a CEO, are competing for the Republican nomination.
Congressional races
All but one of Oregon’s U.S. representatives are seeking re-election, and they will all face various challenges in either the primary or general election, or even both.
The race that stands out as the most competitive is the 5th Congressional District, which spans from Bend to Portland. Among the candidates, we have Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is running unopposed. On the Democratic side, voters will have to choose between state Representative Janelle Bynum and the 2022 nominee Jamie McLeod-Skinner. Unfortunately, Matt Davie, a Bend-based tech executive who expressed interest in running, did not file for office in time. In the previous election, Chavez-DeRemer secured a victory over McLeod-Skinner by a narrow margin of 2.1 percentage points. It’s worth noting that this district is a top priority for Democrats at the national level.
In the 6th Congressional District located in the Willamette Valley, Democratic Representative Andrea Salinas, who is currently serving her first term, will be challenged in the primary by Cody Reynolds, an entrepreneur who has previously run for federal office multiple times since 2012. On the Republican side, businessman Mike Erickson, who was Salinas’ opponent in the 2022 election and lost by a margin of 2.4 percentage points, will be facing competition from Dundee Mayor David Russ and David Burch, an unemployed resident from Salem who received 406 votes in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary.
Val Hoyle, a first-term Democrat, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 4th Congressional District, which encompasses Eugene and southwest Oregon. In the Republican primary, Monique DeSpain, an attorney from Eugene, Jeff Kubler, a former Senate staffer from Adair Village, and Amy Ryan Courser, a former Keizer City Councilor, will compete against each other. It is worth noting that congressional candidates are not required to reside in the specific district but must be residents of the state.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer’s retirement from the U.S. House after 28 years has sparked a highly competitive primary race in the solidly Democratic Portland-based 3rd Congressional District. The frontrunners in the race include former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales, and state Rep. Maxine Dexter. However, there are also other candidates running in the Democratic primary, including health care worker Ricardo Barajas, college student Nolan Bylenga, attorney Michael Jonas, and software engineer Rachel Rand. On the Republican side, nurse Teresa Orwig, attorney Joanna Harbour, and engineer Gary Dye are competing in the primary.
In the 1st District, Democrat Suzanne Bonamici is expected to win both the primary and general elections. She faces minimal opposition from Intel engineer Jamil Ahmad and beauty company CEO Courtney Casgraux in the Democratic primary. In the general election, she will be challenged by Republican candidate Bob Todd, who works as a maintenance worker.
In the 2nd District, Republican candidate Cliff Bentz is also a strong contender in both the primary and general elections. Technical instructor Jason Beebe will challenge Bentz in the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, children’s author Steve Laible and nonprofit director Dan Ruby are running in the conservative eastern Oregon district.
