For Immediate Release
Contact: Eddie Kurtz
[email protected]
The Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) has begun the process of filling the legislative vacancy in Oregon House District 21 after the Oregon Secretary of State informed the DPO that Representative Brian Clem intends to resign from the Oregon State House of Representatives effective December 1st.
“We wish Representative Brian Clem the best as he leaves the Legislature to focus on supporting his mother as she lives with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Carla “K.C.” Hanson. “In his 15 years of service, Rep. Clem has been a strong supporter of students and small businesses, and he successfully led the House’s Wildfire Recovery Committee earlier this year, passing a dozen bills to provide relief to communities still recovering from last year’s historic wildfires.
“The Democratic Party of Oregon looks forward to promptly fulfilling its obligation to ensure that the people of House District 21 will have new representation in the State Legislature as soon as possible.”
The DPO will host a nominating convention for House District 21 Democratic Precinct Committee Persons (PCPs) on December 1st to determine the 3, 4 or 5 candidates to send forward to the Marion County Commissioners. With precautions in place for COVID-19, the DPO will conduct the convention in-person at Pringle Hall in Salem, Oregon. This will be preceded by a candidate forum hosted by the Marion County Democrats. The forum will begin at 5pm and the nominating convention at 6pm. Doors will open at 4:45pm.
Due to public safety and health precautions, this event will only be open to HD 21 Precinct Committee People and members of the press who request a press pass at least 24 hours in advance. All attendees will be required to wear a mask throughout the event.
Following the convention, the DPO will submit the list of nominees to the Marion County Commissioners, who will then choose an appointee from the list to fill the legislative vacancy until the next general election.
People who wish to be considered for State Representative must file form SEL 145 (available online at the Secretary of State’s Website) with the Democratic Party of Oregon. To be considered for appointment, prospective candidates must meet the minimum requirements as of Dec. 1, 2021, the date of Rep. Clem’s resignation:
- they must have been a registered Democrat for at least 180 days,
- they must have lived in House District 21 for at least one year, and
- they must not currently be under the control of the Oregon Department of Corrections.
The deadline to file as a candidate is noon on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021. SEL 145 forms may be sent by email ([email protected]), or by fax (503-224-5335). If a candidate’s form does not reach the Democratic Party of Oregon in time, that person’s candidacy cannot be considered. Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, filing forms submitted after noon on November 24th will not be processed until November 29th.
It is highly recommended that the form be submitted by email as staff are working remotely due to the pandemic.
COVID-19 precautions for the in-person candidate forum and nominating convention will include:
- requiring that all attendees remain fully masked throughout the convention,
- asking attendees not to attend if they are feeling under the weather in any way, and
- asking that all attendees get vaccinated for COVID-19 if they have not already done so.
The space the DPO has booked is large and will allow for social distancing while in the convention hall. If you are a member of the press that would like to attend, please contact ([email protected]) to make arrangements no later than 24 hours in advance.
To learn more, visit dpo.org/HD21.
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