Between Us

Jeff Kropf is a conservative who served in the Oregon legislature between 1999 and 2007. While there, he helped pass the Charter Schools Act, a piece of legislation based on language from the free market, limited government advocating American Legislative Exchange Council.... Read more

Dr. Benjamin Chavis is a civil rights pioneer. He led the NAACP in the early 90s and he was the director of the Million Man March. He is involved in a number of self empowerment initiatives including a collaboration with media mogul Russell Simmons to use hip hop as a way... Read more

Julie Wu's parents emmigrated from Taiwan around the time of the 1949 Chinese revolution.  In her latest novel, called "The Third Son", Ms. Wu talks about how her book coincided with the birth of her first child and a determination to truly hear her father's story for the f... Read more

Jason Yates is running for US Congress in the 1st District. He talked with Don Merrill about how he has basic faith in the media despite how media professionals may have their own biases, how the Second Amendment assumes the citizenry will have guns not allow them to have ... Read more

Anita Brown is a Democrat running for Congress in Oregon's 5th Congressional District. She talked with Don Merrill about how she believes that everyone should have the right to own but not necessarily carry guns into public spaces, how gay marriage is a civil rights issue a... Read more

Alissa Keny Guyer is a Democrat running for re-election in Oregon House District 46. She talked with Don Merrill about her eagerness to work on issues related health disparaties for people of color, her concern over the corrupting influence of lobbying groups on her colleag... Read more

Wally Hicks is a legislator currently serving House District 3 but he is leaving the Oregon legislature this year to run for the Josephine County Council. He talked with Don Merrill about why he is leaving the legislature to spend more time with his family, how by any measu... Read more

Kathleen O'Brien is a Democrat running for the seat in House District 42.  She talked with Don Merrill about her passion for the rights of the disabled, her desire to advance the Progressive agenda in the Oregon legislature and her determination to better support teachers a... Read more

Gordon Challstrom is a Republican running for Oregon's Governor.  He talked with Don Merrill about how if Oregonians chose to overturn the 2004 same-sex Constitutional amendment, he would follow their wishes as the chief executive, how a variety of political problems are do... Read more

Kathi Steele is a sitting judge in Clackamas County running for re-election in the 5th District Appeal Court.  She talked with Don Merrill about why she likes the work, how she hopes the county will eventually build another courthouse and why she does not necessarily think ... Read more