20 Days until the end of session!
The Legislative Session is officially in the home stretch. I am excited to continue pressing forward on legislation. Below is an update on what I have been working on recently.
HB 2662-4: Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force
HB 2662-4 also passed out of the Joint Committee on Transportation on May 11 with a unanimous vote. This bill creates a multi-jurisdictional task force composed of state legislators, local governments, transit agencies, and railroad interests. The task force will study extending the current rush-hour-only Westside Express Service (WES) commuter train from the current southern terminus in Wilsonville for 31 miles to Salem, with stops in Donald, Woodburn, and Keizer.
The bill calls for the task force to report back to the Legislature in 2024 with study findings and recommendations. The increasing population of the Portland metro and North Willamette Valley region needs mobility options, especially for commuters and seniors, many of who require transportation for jobs and medical appointments. In addition, I-5 traffic congestion continues to worsen and prospective ODOT tolling of I-205 and I-5 in the Portland metro area requires a reliable public-transit alternative unaffected by highway traffic congestion. The bill now heads to the Ways and Means Committee to consider the funding for the task force.
NATIONAL POLICE WEEK
I carried the fight for public safety to the floor of the House on May 17th by recommending four bills be pulled out of committee for consideration by all Representatives. Each of these bill would strengthen our justice system. HJR 29 is sponsored by my friend, Representative Diehl. The other three bills are sponsored by me. If we had gotten 31 votes on any one of these, the bill would have been debated on the House floor. We came very close, with 30 votes on each of my House bills – in the House controlled by the Democrats! Below is a copy of the letter we provided to members on the floor which gives a short description of what each bill would accomplish.
Opening Ceremonies
One of the highlights of being located in a district so close to the Capitol is that I get the opportunity to easily connect the community to my legislative work. Sometimes more than other legislators, simply because my constituents are located so close to the building. One opportunity that all legislators are provided with is to invite their constituents to perform in an opening ceremony at the start of each floor session. The ceremony can be a 4-minute-long performance, prayer, speech, etc. which represents a part of the arts in a Representative’s district.
 From left to right of the first photo is Madison Lietz, Representative Mannix, and the other two ladies on the ends are Fatima Falcon, Distinguished Young Women of Keizer Program Chairman and her sister Fabiola.
I have had the chance to highlight many talented individuals from my district throughout session. Most recently were two talented ladies from McNary High School Kiele Jarnagin and Madison Lietz.
Kiele Jarnagin won the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Keizer for the Class of 2023 and competed at the state level last year. There, Kiele became the Distinguished Young Woman of Oregon and is now preparing to compete at the national level in Mobile, Alabama, on June 24th, 2023. This is a remarkable feat as it has been 21 years since a representative from Keizer went on to represent the state at nationals
Madison Lietz won the title of Distinguished Young Woman of Keizer for the class of 2024. She will represent Keizer at the state-level competition this summer in Salem on August 5th for a chance to emulate Kiele Jarnagin and become next years Distinguished Young Woman of Oregon.
Distinguished Young Women of Keizer is part of a national scholarship program which provides opportunities for high school girls to learn about college admissions, volunteerism, public-speaking and professional interviewing.
Each student is evaluated on 5 different categories: Scholastics, Interview, Talent, Self-Expression, and Fitness. Madison received the top score for three out of the five categories: Interview, Self-Expression, and Talent.
I wish them both luck at their upcoming competitions and am proud to have them as our city’s representatives.
 Representative Mannix with Kiele Jarnagin after her opening ceremony performance.
 I would like to extend my congratulations to the McKay High School Scots-Appella Varsity Vocal Choir! The group won first place in the quarterfinals and second place in the semi-finals in California, earning a wildcard slot for the national finals in New York.
The singing group started at McKay about 10 years ago. Under the leadership of choir director Peter Sepulveda, the group decided to start competing just last year.
It is also only the second year Scots-Appella has competed in the international championship. Last year, they made it to the semi-finals. Very impressive for such a young group! To read more click here.
Salem Spirit Award: Jonathan Castro Monroy
Congratulations to Jonathan Castro on winning the Salem Spirit Award! Jonathan is a committed and engaged community member. Currently involved with a wide range of community groups, Jonathan has volunteered on several boards and commissions, including several city boards, since he was 19 years old.
Always leading from the heart, Jonathan currently heads up the Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality. As a leader who is a DACA recipient, he is setting a great example for future Hispanic leaders in our community, and lending an important voice to our community conversations. Thank you, Jonathan, for all that you do in Salem!
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CONGRATULATIONS TO SHERIFF JOE KAST ON HIS RETIREMENT
Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast will retire at the end of June, a year and a half before his elected term is set to expire.
Kast announced his plans to retire at Wednesday's Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting. His last day will be June 30.
"I have been honored to work alongside every person I have had the opportunity to work with, regardless of what rank or position I have been in," Kast said in a statement announcing his retirement. To read this article, click here.
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Backers of a bridge over the Willamette between Marion, Polk counties seek Legislature help
Backers of a decades-long effort to build a third bridge across the Willamette River between Marion and Polk counties are trying again. This time they’re not seeking approval from the city of Salem. Instead, they’re asking the Oregon Legislature to jumpstart a new plan to build the crossing somewhere north of Keizer.
Mannix is sponsoring House Bill 2137, which would create a state task force, costing as much as $500,000, to study where a new bridge could be constructed and how it would be financed. To read more, click here.
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Richardson, Hudson leading for Salem-Keizer School Board
Though board members represent distinct zones, the elections are districtwide, meaning voters select a representative for every open seat. Zone 2 covers northeast Salem; Zone 4 covers South Salem; and Zone 6 covers Keizer.
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Most Oregon voters think drug addiction, homelessness, crime are worse because of Measure 110, poll says
A majority of Oregon voters support repealing portions of Measure 110, according to a poll conducted by the Portland firm DHM Research.
The measure, which voters approved in November 2020, decriminalized small amounts of street drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. It also reduced most felony drug possession cases to misdemeanors and aimed to funnel millions of dollars of marijuana tax revenue to drug treatment services via grants, although a January audit showed state officials couldn’t say for sure how grant recipients spent $33 million — or how the money improved people’s lives. To read more, click here.
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Chief of Staff: Michelle Mhoon
Michelle is assisting Representative Mannix move bills he has sponsored or co-sponsored through the legislative process.
If you have questions about legislation that Representative Mannix is working on for Keizer, Salem, and Oregon or other policy related questions,
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Legislative Assistant: Hayley Guptill
Hayley is a great resource for all your general questions as she manages the Representative’s schedule and is involved in all aspects of the day-to day-operations of HD 21!
If you have general questions, or want to schedule a meeting with Representative Mannix,
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Community Outreach Coordinator: Kimberly Castro
Kimberly is spending much of her time out in the field listening to the needs and concerns of the citizens in Keizer and Salem. She loves helping constituents! Kimberly is fluent in Spanish to help reach our Spanish speaking friends.
If you have questions or concerns that Representative Mannix and the HD 21 team can help with,
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Would you like to make me aware of your position on an issue? Do you have an idea to improve our state?
I want to hear from you. Contact my team as noted above. You can reach me via email, below.
I look forward to connecting with you.
Thank you,
Representative Kevin L. Mannix
House District 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1421
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.KevinMannix@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mannix
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