Dear Friends:

As we head into the final weekend of voting, allow me to make FOUR final arguments for my re-election as State Representative for Bend.

1) EXPERIENCE: I offer experience, perspective and moderate politics that Oregon needs right now. The Oregon legislature already has enough liberal, male attorneys. What the legislature lacks, are people with practical, small business experience – like I have starting and running two restaurants with my husband. It lacks people who have worked on the front-lines of local schools directly accountable to students, parents, teachers, and administrators – like I have serving for eight years on the school board. The legislature is filled with hard-left and hard-right voices – but very few moderates, willing to reach across the aisle as I have. Over the next two years, as we emerge from the pandemic, Oregon and Bend we will need to a) rebuild our small business economy and b) restore the lost year of learning our kids have experienced through virtual education. More than ever, I believe my voice, my experience, my perspective and my leadership is needed to address these challenges. 

2) RESULTS: I have a proven track-record of delivering results for Bend and Oregon families – on education, health care and housing. Running for re-election is sort of like an annual review with your boss. In my case, while I believe there is always room for improvement, I feel confident that I have delivered for the people and community that hired me two years ago. On education, delivering the strongest K-12 budget in state history – a 10% boost. And when the pandemic hit, delivering $12 in emergency funding to help Bend La-Pine Schools and families adapt to on-line learning. On health care, I delivered the strongest paid family medical leave law in the nation – 12 weeks. Against the odds, I also passed through the Oregon House a bill to ensure vaccinations of school kids to prevent dangerous diseases. The bill was killed in a backroom deal among Democrats and Republicans. On housing, I’ve passed laws that will allow more affordable housing construction in Bend and worked with our Bend Mayor Sally Russel to secure state lands inside the city for future affordable housing development. When the pandemic hit, I voted to prevent evictions and foreclosures of people struggling to make ends meet. I have many more accomplishments, but my record shows that I work hard and can get results for the people I serve. 

3) INDEPENDENCE: I’ve shown political courage and independence that is rare and needed right now. I’ve never been one to just get along – to go along. You can ask my husband Steve. But right now in our national and state politics, most people just follow the party line. Predictable partisans are afraid to take one the powerful, loud or extreme. Silent spectators are unwilling or intimidated to speak-up and speak-out when it's politically inconvenient or could cost you votes. For better or worse, that’s not me. For eight years on the school board and the past two years as State Representative, I’ve been willing to speak my mind and break with my party – and it wasn’t always easy. For four years, I’ve been opposed to President Trump and said so repeatedly. Enough said. I’ve voted for gun safety laws when many in my party will not. I am pro-choice and I’ve always stood with my friends in the LGBTQ+ community. And I’ve never backed down in the face of loud voices who oppose my effort to require vaccinations of our kids in schools. With a few exceptions, I have great respect for people in my Party and my Democrat friends who see things differently than I do – but I will always speak my mind. 

4) PRO–BUSINESS MATTERS: Oregon is making it harder and harder to create jobs and grow family incomes. I am very concerned about the trend in Oregon of taking job creators, businesses and entrepreneurs for granted. Too often, governments and elected officials see businesses – large and small – not as means of good and social and economic progress, but simply as a target for higher taxes and more regulations. An ATM for government spending. Regardless of Party registration, Oregon and Bend need more pro-business voices in our government – running for office. I know what it’s like to risk life savings to start something as risky as a restaurant. I know what it's like to struggle to keep health benefits for your employees. I know what it’s like to live under the rules and regulations created by a well-intended government. I know what it’s like to manage a narrow cash flow – deciding which bills to pay. I know the burden of each tax passed by the legislature. To enjoy the quality of life we all love about Bend and Oregon – we must first have a job to support ourselves and our families. 

 

Serving you is the greatest privilege of my life. I am grateful to every voter, volunteer and donor to my campaign. I am grateful to my husband and family for sharing me with our community and state. I am grateful to live in a state and nation where we can choose our leaders in free and fair elections. I plan to campaign hard until election day, see you on the trail.

Warm regards

Cheri

 

 

 
 

 

Paid for by Cheri Helt for State Representative