This was a great post I saw written by Derek LeBlanc. Give it a read... ❤️🇺🇸👇🏻 FUN FACT! . For the past 15 years or so I have been registered as an independent or non-affiliated voter, just like nearly 1.5 million of my fellow Oregonians. It used to be because of that libertarian streak in me that was unhappy in the 2 party system. One that puts red vs blue. . This year I registered as a Republican for the first time in a very long time. The work that I do inside of the Oregon Legislature has helped me understand the the process better but to also understand how best I could help shape the future for our children. That meant, picking a side, so that I could help vote in the primary. . What I have learned throughout this process is that we as Oregonians put too much emphasis on the R or D in front of a candidates name. Instead we should be focusing on the policies that that candidate brings to the table. I can honestly say that this is the most important election of my lifetime. That is because we are all at a crossroad, and if we continue on this downward trajectory. I do not know how we recover. . What I hate about election season is how those in power try to distract from their failures by using the typical political dog whistles like Trump this, reproductive rights that. While those issues are important they take away from the true issues that we face as a state. Raising prices, failing schools, and violent crime. We can do so much better as a state if we could think logically about our candidates. . Take the emotion out. Think about your children, is who you’re going to vote for going make their schools better or safer? If not, vote logically, there are candidates who are focused on improving their lives. Next, think about the needy or the elderly, is your candidate going to help lower the costs on people struggling to survive on a fixed income. Raising taxes affects them at higher rates because ALL costs go up exponentially and their cost of living increases do not. If your candidate talks about this yet every step of the way tries to raise our taxes due to mismanagement, there are candidates that won’t do that. Once again vote logically. . Be brave! It is OK to cross that party to vote for someone who you wouldn’t normally. It is OK to not vote the way your family or friends vote. It’s OK to vote for somebody different and I highly encourage you to do so. Courage is contagious and you can be that leader that we all need by voting with your heart. Help lead others to see what truly is at stake. . I know Tina Kotek for Oregon would have you believe that she will start in January doing all of these things to improve our state. The problem is she is not interviewing for the job as the highest elected official in our state. She already has that title, it is a title that she has abused and taken advantage for many years now. There is only one candidate that has fresh ideas on how best to chart a new direction, it’s Christine Drazan! I am excited to cast this vote because it’s a vote for the change that we all need. One party rule has been demonstratively bad for Oregon. . I have worked with her since 2021 inside the Oregon legislature. I know her heart, I know what she is trying to do, and I know how she can help our beautiful state. So in closing, get out and vote. Vote with your heart, vote logically, but most importantly do NOT forget who has been at the helm as our state is careening off of that cliff into the oblivion. Vote like your children’s future depends on it because it truly does! God bless our state! ❤️🇺🇸 . #orpol #orleg #WeLoveOregon365