Merkley challenges Smith to commit to yearly public forums

U.S. Sen. candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) wrote a letter to U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Pendleton) Wednesday urging that both candidates promise that if they win the election in November they will hold a public forum in every Oregon county every year while they are in office.

“Meeting with Oregonians, discussing issues important to them, seeing the problems and opportunities in communities firsthand – these are the tools any elected representative needs to be a successful advocate for his or her state,” Merkley wrote.

According to Merkley’s campaign spokeswoman Julie Edwards, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Portland) has participated in yearly town halls in every county in Oregon since he was elected in 1996.

Merkley wrote that he was also inspired to propose the idea during his road trip around the Beaver State for his 100 Town Tour for Change, which will soon be completed.

“The conversations I’ve had with residents of these towns have been invaluable to me and reinforced my belief that listening is the first, and most important, step in representing Oregon,” Merkley wrote.”Our senators should be accessible and accountable to the voters of the state,I will be in every county, every year - not just in election years."

Calls to Smith’s campaign spokeswoman were not returned.