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Date: January 9, 2024
Contact: Laura Kerns | laura.kerns@sos.oregon.gov
Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade Recognizes the People Who Make Democracy Work with National Awards
Salem, OR — In her capacity as a member of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade is proud to announce the winners of the John Lewis Youth Leadership Awards and the NASS Medallion Awards to an incredible group of dedicated Oregonians.
In light of the ongoing threats, harassment and false information campaigns targeting the people who make our democracy work, this year’s awards focus on Oregon’s county elections officials and members of the Oregon Translation Advisory Council.
- Dana Jenkins, Lincoln County Clerk (38 years of service, 32 as county clerk)
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Robin Church, Union County Clerk (32 years of service, 16 as county clerk)
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Renee’ Kolen, Curry County Clerk (37 years of service, 30 as county clerk)
- Mickie Kawai, Washington County Elections Division Manager (33 years of service)
- Cheryl Betschart, Lane County Clerk (20+ years of service, 12 as county clerk)
Since 2020, almost a third of county clerks in Oregon have retired or left their position. In November 2023, the Elections and Voting Information Center at Reed College released the Oregon County Election Staffing Research Study, which was commissioned by the Oregon Elections Division to better understand the pressures and challenges facing local elections offices. The report highlights the obstacles clerks across the state face, writing: “Far too many of the county clerks are subject to abuse, threats, and harassment. As a consequence, local election offices have experienced a wave of retirements, resignations, and loss of expertise, and it isn’t clear how this expertise will be replaced.”
“County clerks are the backbone of our democracy and elections infrastructure,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “The five former clerks receiving the awards are dedicated, inspiring, and respected public servants. They stood on the front lines of democracy to defend election integrity and transparency.”
The Oregon Secretary of State and the Oregon Election Division will continue to champion the incredible work and public service of the dedicated people on the frontlines of protecting and safeguarding our elections and democracy.
The John Lewis Youth Leadership Awards recognize gifted, civic-minded young people. The award recipients must demonstrate leadership abilities, have a passion for social justice and be motivated to improve the quality of their community, address civil rights issues like voting rights, and bring positive change.
Angelo Arredondo Baca: Angelo is a Political Science major. As Policy Director for the Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU), he advocates for students on the local, state, and federal level and organizes voting outreach activities. While still in high school, he served as the Chair of the Salem Human Rights Commission and volunteered in county commission, city, and Salem-Keizer School Board elections. Angelo was a community outreach volunteer with CAUSA Oregon during the pandemic, encouraging participation in elections and completing Census surveys. He is a valued Spanish-speaking member of the Translation Advisory Council.
Renee Liu: Renee is an honors high school student and already has an extensive resume of volunteer work, activities, and community engagement. Renee serves as the vice chair of the Translation Advisory Council, Coordinator of the Translation Advisory Council Community Outreach Workgroup, and is proficient in Mandarin Chinese. On the Council, she shares a passion for increasing youth engagement in elections through community outreach. She currently serves as a team captain for the Lake Monsters Robotics team and the Lake Oswego Senior High School Speech and Debate team, is a part of the Youth Data Council with Oregon Health Authority, a volunteer teacher at the Oregon Hope Chinese School, and a tennis player. Renee is a three-time president volunteer service awardee and received two AP Scholar of distinction awards. She was also recognized as a Semi-Finalist at the National Merit Scholarship Competition in anticipation of beginning college in 2024. Renee is a vital member of the Translation Advisory Council.
“These two young leaders on the Translation Advisory Council are committed to making an incredible contribution to elections,” said Secretary Griffin-Valade. “The spirit of the late Congressman John Lewis is evident in their inspiring commitment to service and change. We are incredibly lucky to have their service to Oregon elections and their commitment to voting rights.”
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About the Translation Advisory Council: In 2022, Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division implemented a program to make voting more accessible to Oregonians who speak languages other than English through the translation of state and county voters’ pamphlets. This work is guided by a Translation Advisory Council with members who have civic experience, language skills, and experience in impacted communities.
The translation of voters' pamphlets is a result of HB 3021, passed by the State Legislature in 2021. The law aspires to remove barriers to voting for those in our state who aren’t proficient in English. It requires that certain general, primary, and special election information in state and county voter pamphlets be translated by the Secretary of State into the state’s and counties' most common languages.
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