|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Below is an update on my work as your State Representative.
On May 31st, I attended a breakfast meeting of the Westside Economic Alliance featuring several westside mayors. I was particularly impressed by Mayor Ken Gibson's vision for growth in King City, Mayor Steve Callaway's reaction to Hillsboro's population reaching 100,000--with a bright view of the future, and Mayor Tim Knapp's pride in Wilsonville's community spirit. We are so lucky to live in a place where our leaders address challenges with optimism and commitment.
 Later that morning, I attended the Oregon Transportation Forum in Wilsonville, where we heard from representatives of the Oregon Transportation Commission and the Oregon Department of Transportation, as well as the Governor's new transportation policy advisor, Brendan Finn. As the only state legislator at the meeting, I asked members of the panel about the implementation of the $5.3 billion transportation package we passed in 2017.
|
 That evening, Paula and I attended the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce's annual awards dinner. The tribute to Andy Duyck was particularly touching, as he's been one of the most humble and selfless public servants I've ever known, serving as Washington County Chair for the past 8 years. Under Andy's leadership, Washington County has successfully handled the pressures of unprecedented population growth while maintaining a quality of life that continues to attract more and more businesses and residents every day. I especially appreciated Andy's acknowledging his spouse, Patty, during his acceptance speech. As public servants, we don't often get the chance to recognize the sacrifices that our families make when we chose to serve our communities.
|
 One of Oregon Tech's greatest events every year is their Student Showcase, where students have an opportunity to display the amazing projects they've worked on all year. This year, one of my favorite projects dealt with gravitational effects, and has actually secured a place on the next SpaceX flight! It was also great to see my immediate predecessor as your State Representative, John Davis, who now serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Tech Foundation. John was on the search committee that led to the hiring of OIT's President, Dr. Nagi Naganathan. Dr. Naganathan encourages all of OIT's students to aspire to greatness, set their goals high, and try to make a real difference in the world. Being able to witness the results of his hard work is just one of the many perks of serving as your State Representative.
In case you missed it, SafeWise has ranked Sherwood as the safest city in the state, according to FBI data. I was also pleased to see Beaverton listed in the top 20. You can read more here. Statistics like these remind me of just how fortunate we are to live in communities with outstanding law enforcement. Special thanks to Sherwood Police Chief Jeff Groth, and all the other public safety officials who work so hard every day to keep us safe.
|
 On June 5th, Paula and I had the unique opportunity to tour the Hood River Bridge and discuss long-overdue efforts to replace this iconic transportation link between Oregon and Washington. Originally built by a private company in 1906, the bridge has been a toll bridge for its entire life, and my primary objective was to learn how the use of tolling has factored into a replacement budget. I was pleased to learn that the Port of Hood River has contacts and information that the can be utilized at the state level as we continue searching for better ways to fund our infrastructure through user fees. Special thanks to Fred Kowell, CFO for the Port of Hood River, for his work at the national level to streamline the implementation of hassle-free tolling.
|
 On June 19, Paula and I joined a bipartisan group of legislators on a tour of agricultural and timber operations in the Mid-Willamette Valley. It's important to remember where our food and our wood and fiber products come from. Across Oregon, farmers, ranchers, loggers, and mill operators are constantly working to be more efficient, which has made these products increasingly more affordable for residents and businesses. I believe one of our jobs as lawmakers is to balance protecting our environment with supporting our natural resource based industries. Many thanks to those Oregonians who work so hard to help us achieve this goal.
|
 On August 16th, the Oregon District Attorney Association presented me with the 2018 Victim Champion Award for my recent work to recognize the leadership, vision, and innovation that has led to significant contributions in victims’ services, public safety, and the administration of justice in the State of Oregon. In my role as a member of the House Committee on Judiciary, I am committed to advocating for policies that will make our criminal justice system more fair, and I try my best to bring a thoughtful, common sense approach to the discussion. I appreciate the work that Oregon's district attorneys do to facilitate our efforts as legislators, and I was honored to receive their recognition.
|
About 25 years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the war museum in Hanoi, Vietnam, which the North Vietnamese had built around the wreckage of an American bomber that had been brought down in the heart of the city--not far from the infamous Hanoi Hilton. The museum was a dark and foreboding place for me, made all the more so by depictions of the horrors experienced by Vietnamese civilians caught in the throes of war. As the adoptive father of a number of South Vietnamese refugees, I'd heard many stories of the trials faced by them, but had never really thought about the estimated two million who died in their own country. Their stories left me sobered and pensive, but it was the picture of a young American pilot, prodded down a dirt path by the bayonet of a Viet teenager, that left me with a profound and lasting desire to promote the cause of Peace. The picture, of course, was of John McCain, whom I was too naive at the time to realize was a sitting U.S. Senator.
A few years later, it all became clear while I was watching a Senate hearing and a feisty Senator was criticizing both parties for their failure to support the young men and women who had recently served and who were once again being largely ignored. I was struck then by his honesty and willingness to forego political expediency, but didn't fully appreciate his genuine goodness until more recently. John McCain was a statesman truly worthy of emulation.
As he frequently reminded us, he was far from perfect. He said and did things he was later sorry for, just like all of us. I remember how disappointed I felt in 2008 by how he surrounded himself with the “good old boys” of the Republican Party. Later, he expressed regret that he had not listened less to his “handlers” and more to his heart in that ultimately unsuccessful bid for the Presidency. At one point during that campaign, however, he corrected a supporter of his who was demonizing his political opponent, then-Senator Barack Obama, whom he defended as a family man with good intentions despite their disagreements. In that moment, he reminded us all of the need to see one another as brothers and sisters, and to stand up for what is right regardless of political expediency.
I didn't know John McCain, but I'm grateful to have been inspired by him. His frequent expressions of gratitude for the opportunities he had to serve reminds me of how lucky I am to be able to play even a small role in our State and Country's history.
As I celebrated Labor Day this year, surrounded by friends and loved ones, l couldn't help but feel similarly grateful for the chance to live, work, and serve in a society that strives to ensure everyone has a voice and is represented in their community. I hope you and your loved ones were also able to engage in this kind of reflection.
As always, it is an honor to serve as your State Representative.
Sincerely,
Rich
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1426
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-484, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RichVial@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/vial
|
