Last spring, I attended the Deschutes County League of Women Voters/ City Club Candidate Forums before our primary. This is a way to select those who one might be supporting through contributions and volunteering. I was especially interested in the forum that featured Jamie McLeod-Skinner and an individual unknown to me, Oregon House Representative Janelle Bynum. This forum concerned the possible choices for the redrawn Congressional District 5 to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Janelle Bynum was impressive in many ways. First of all, she has served for four terms in our Oregon legislature. Her legislative history is well documented, though I was not then acquainted with her substantial, bipartisan work. I also noted that an organization I respect, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, endorses her based on her environmental votes.

Her demeanor was inviting. She was respectful of her primary opponent, extremely well-informed, calm, and able to respond “on her feet.” Since Rep. Bynum lives in the other geographical part of CD5, she was new to some of Central Oregon’s issues. However, this fact was part of what highlighted her qualifications. She was open to learning more about our High Desert issues, an inquisitive person who had obviously tuned into such local issues as water, the affordable housing crisis, conditions of our homeless neighbors and related serious fire issues.

Janelle’s credentials feature among other value-oriented life experiences, the reasons why she chose to step into Oregon’s political realm. The basis for her career change was concern for her four children and, consequently, all of our kids’ and grandchildren’s futures and their current realities. It was also interesting to hear a few of her stories about how she and her husband parent their teen and young adult “kids.” This matters to me.

Since that introduction to Janelle, I have had the opportunity to see her during four of her frequent visits to this part of CD5. Each time I become better acquainted and committed to her vision of how she would represent our Congressional District.

Rep. Bynum’s opponent in November’s general election is Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who spoke at my grandson’s COCC graduation last year. I was glad she was invited and planned to meet her after commencement. During the last 50-plus years living here in Bend, I relish talking with my elected officials. However, she stepped away from the podium and left the gathering before any of us could meet her personally. That bothered me. You’d think she’d at least want to greet her supporters, some of the students and other constituents.

Since then, one-term CD5 Representative hasn’t held one house district town hall. It’s easy to attend town halls by our U.S. Senators. We are accustomed to such personal interactions. They visit every Oregon county each year for town halls. Ms. Chavez-DeRemer neglected an important way to meet constituents, learn from them, and vice versa. This is not the path to re-election — by remaining a mystery in the High Desert and skirting effective ways to connect with voters.

Lori advertises that she is a bipartisan legislator. Our immigration system requires significant reform. This is a nonpartisan issue. The 2024 immigration reform measure had enough Republican and Democratic votes to pass. Yet at the command of the former President, the Republican House Majority Leader yanked the measure. As far as I am aware, Rep. Chavez-DeRemer did not insist that the bill come to a vote, nor that it be reinstated, thus aiding in the demise of this bill which had been hammered out by Oklahoma’s Republican Sen. Langford. It had bipartisan support and should have received the support of our representative.

CD5 can be represented by a qualified, open-minded person who has clearly demonstrated a bipartisan record in the Oregon House. Please consider your choice carefully for Congressional District 5 and vote for Janelle Bynum.

Annis Henson lives in Bend.

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