FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           October 2007             

 Contact: Lupita Maurer, Chair              Washington County Democrats

               503-848-2953

U.S. Senate Candidate-Speaker of the OR House 

To Speak to Washington County Democrats

A candidate for U.S. Senate and speaker of the Oregon House, Jeff Merkley (D-Portland, District 47), will speak at the Washington County Democratic Party Central Committee meeting Oct. 24 at the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue facility, 20665 SW Blanton, Aloha.  Social time is at 6:30 p.m.  The meeting starts at 7 p.m.  All county Democrats are invited.

Merkley faces Portland attorney Steve Novick in the primary election.  The winner of that race will square off against Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) in the general election. 

Merkley is in his fifth term in the House.  A native of Myrtle Creek, his family moved to Portland when he was in grade school.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and pursued a master’s degree in public policy on a full scholarship at Princeton University.  He is the previous executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Portland and continued after that in several positions helping others with housing needs.  Most recently, he was president of the World Affairs Council of Oregon for seven years.  Merkley was elected by his peers to be House Democratic leader in 2003 and was re-elected to the post in 2005.  Following the 2006 election, he was elected to serve as speaker by the full House.

Additionally at the meeting, Washington County legislators will speak, and committee chairs will make reports.  ###