Senator Richard Devlin News Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you have all kept warm and safe during these frigid winter months. As the busy 2013 Legislative Session begins, I wanted to take a moment to share what has been happening in Senate District 19 and in Salem. 

Below I have included details on my Town Hall with Representative Garrett, the Legislative Organizational Session, and recent staff developments. It’s been a great few months preparing for the Session, but I’m eager to begin the Legislative process in earnest and represent my constituents in Senate District 19. 

I wish you and your family health and prosperity in the New Year!
 

Sincerely, 

 
Senator Richard Devlin 

Senate District 19

Town Hall

Thank you to everyone who attended the town hall I co-hosted on January 8th with Representative Chris Garrett in Lake Oswego. I appreciated having the opportunity to discuss a variety of important issues with you in advance of the 2013 Legislative Session. I look forward to revisiting these and additional topics in the upcoming months. Please stay tuned for information on future town halls, and as always, I welcome your input via email, mail, or phone.

Legislative Organizational Session

The Legislature convened in Salem this month for an Organizational Session. Each January, the Legislature meets for three days before the Legislative Session starts to swear in newly elected officials, elect legislative leaders and begin introducing bills. The 2013 Legislative Session will officially commence on February 4th. The legislative leadership this year includes Senator Peter Courtney (D-Salem), who will serve as Senate President for a record sixth term, and Representative Tina Kotek (D-North Portland), who will serve as Speaker of the House. Each addressed the Legislature in a joint assembly of the House and Senate.  Governor Kitzhaber followed with his State of the State address, in which he outlined his priorities for Oregon and commended the Legislature for its ability to compromise in partisan times. 

Committee assignments were also announced recently! I look forward to co-chairing the Joint Ways and Means Committee with Representative Peter Buckley, and serving on the Public Safety and Capitol Construction Sub-Committees of Ways and Means. 

Finally, I had the pleasure of meeting with many constituents and advocates from across the state during the Organizational Session. I hope to meet with many more constituents throughout this Legislative Session. I encourage you to follow the legislative process via your local news sources and the Oregon State Legislature’s website. I also invite you to follow me on my Facebook page.

Staff Announcements

I would like to welcome two new staff members to my office. Rebecca Davies and Elizabeth Kennedy will serve as my Legislative Assistants for the 2013 Legislative Session. Rebecca Davies, a Hillsboro native, recently returned to Oregon after working in technology education in New York City. She graduated in 2010 from Columbia University with a degree in Urban Studies. Her many areas of policy interest include healthcare, agriculture, and public finance. Elizabeth Kennedy, who originally hails from Newberg, graduated from Occidental College last May. Elizabeth studied Diplomacy and World Affairs and specialized in U.S.-China relations. She is especially interested in addressing education and natural resource issues during the upcoming session. 

Congratulations are also in order for my Chief of Staff, Amy Zubko. Amy is on maternity leave following the birth of her first child! I am excited for Amy and her family to begin a new chapter in their lives, but look forward to her return to the Capitol in the spring. 

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Do you have questions or concerns? As always, my staff and I are happy to assist you. Please contact my office by phone at (503) 986-1719 or via email at sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us. For those of you who would like to meet with me but cannot come down to Salem, I will be holding meetings for constituents in District 19 every other Saturday beginning February 15th.