WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and sadness that we note the passing of four-term state representative and four-term Democratic Party of Oregon Chair Jim Edmunson of Eugene, and
WHEREAS, Jim Edmunson was a 6th generation Oregonian whose family arrived in Oregon before it became a state, but who nonetheless welcomed all to his native state and party, and
WHEREAS, Jim grew up on a farm south of Springfield, OR and in Junction City, OR and later lived in both Benton and Lane Counties, and
WHEREAS, Jim Edmunson not only bridged the rural and urban divide in Oregon, but also bridged the even deeper divide between the Beavers and the Ducks as a proud graduate of both Oregon State University and the University of Oregon’s School of Law, and called himself a “platypus,” and
WHEREAS, Jim began his career of public service as the editor of his high school newspaper, a journalist at The Barometer at OSU, and as Chairman of the Daily Emerald at the University of Oregon, and subsequently wrote for both the East Oregonian in Pendleton and the Daily Astorian where he exposed money laundering by organized crime, and
WHEREAS, after graduating from law school Jim Edmunson began a long and successful career in the law specializing in workers’ compensation and representing people with disabilities, and
WHEREAS, Jim served with distinction on the Lane County Planning Commission, and represented north and west Eugene in the State House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995, and
WHEREAS, Jim Edmunson both literally and figuratively led the Democratic Party of Oregon into the 21st century by serving as Chair of the party from 1999 to 2007, and
WHEREAS, as Chair, Jim Edmunson fought bravely to promote and defend Oregon’s first in the nation all Vote-by-Mail elections from baseless attacks from Republicans, and unenlightened opponents of small “d” democracy, and
WHEREAS, Jim Edmunson, helped ensure that every vote was counted in the historic 2000 presidential election where Vice President Al Gore narrowly carried Oregon by just 6,675 votes and fought to ensure all the state’s electoral votes were rightly cast in favor of the winner despite Republican efforts to undermine the integrity of the election here and elsewhere, and
WHEREAS, during Jim Edmunson’s chairmanship the DPO made unprecedented investments to establish a party headquarters, expand staff, implement the first in the nation online voter file, and enhance reach across all 36 of Oregon’s counties, and helped the party regain control of the Oregon House and Senate, winning four of five congressional seats and ultimately, all of Oregon’s statewide offices, and
WHEREAS, Jim recruited and mentored an entire generation of Oregon’s leaders, including State Representative Phil Barnhart and Congresswoman Val Hoyle, and always made time to develop young leaders, and was a committed and pragmatic liberal who worked behind the scenes to get things done without concern for who received credit for the victory, and
WHEREAS, recognizing the need to better align organizing and messaging between grassroots activists and candidate campaigns, Jim Edmunson provided the vision to establish the DPO’s biennial Oregon Summit which quickly became one of the premier party events in the nation, and
WHEREAS, during decades of service as a journalist, lawyer, legislator, and party official, Jim Edmunson always fought for working men and women and children, and for those who have historically been left behind, and
WHEREAS, Jim Edmunson was a tireless advocate for equal rights for all Oregonians, regardless of their gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation, and
WHEREAS, Jim’s talents and interests extended far and wide including cooking, gardening – especially his amazing orchids, and reading. He loved Oregon history and he re-energized the Lane Literary Guild. An amateur ancestry buff, he traced his own roots back to Sir William Wallace, a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence and was the inspiration for the movie Braveheart. He also loved sports and became an avid and talented golfer, was the founding Vice Chairman of the Men’s Club at RiverRidge, and he hit a hole-in-one at Trysting Tree, obligingly followed by buying a round of beer at the clubhouse.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. We give thanks to Jim Edmunson for his lifetime of public service and extend our profound sympathy to his wife of nearly 50 years, Ellen Edmunson, his daughters, Kristina Edmunson and Tiah Edmunson-Morton, and his grandchildren Ella Morton and Kennedy Bryant, and his extended family.
Section 2. A copy of this resolution shall be presented to the family of James Edmunson as an expression of our condolences and gratitude, that word of Jim’s passing be conveyed by our Democratic National Committee members to the national party, and that we urge all Oregonians to embrace the values, spirit, and joy Jim Edmunson brought to his fellow Oregonians every day of his life.
Resolution submitted by Michael Radway, Multnomah County; City Councilor Matt Keating, Lane County;
