Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack, 90 days into his position, speaks to SCC about his principles and goals for the Salem Police Department.

Representative Rachel Moore-Green and Senator Deb Patterson are newly-elected members of the Oregon legislature.  They will share their perspectives on how this session feels different and on learning the ropes.

BJ Andersen, Executive Director of the Willamette Humane Society, believes that Walking with Peety: The Dog Who Saved My Life and the Willamette Humane Society value something in common: the power of the people-animal bond.  Join us to hear Andersen speak about the Willamette Humane Society, the challenges and rewards of working in animal welfare, successfully matching companion animals with people, and the positive impacts of pets on people in our community.

We are all well aware of what extreme wildfires are doing to our homes, forests and air quality. What’s less clear is how wildfires pollute and alter the water coming out of our watersheds.  Listen to what water engineer Jude Grounds, Salem Water Quality Supervisor Lacey Goeres-Priest and Salem City Councilor Chris Hoy have to tell us about Salem's water source and the city's responses to keep our drinking water safe. 

Three justices from the Oregon Supreme Court – Chief Justice Martha Walters, Justice Lynn Nakamoto, and Justice Adrienne Nelson – all path-breakers in their own right, discuss the challenges of operating courts and providing access to justice during a pandemic, progress on the Judicial Branch Strategic Campaign, and the Oregon courts’ efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in their work.

We'll hear works from seven published poets, many of whom call the Willamette Valley home.  The poets are Marc Janssen, Marilyn Johnston, Ada Molinoff, Jean Kendrick, Mike Strelow, Clem Starck and Mike Shuler.

Dr.  Ed Dover, recently retired Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at Western Oregon University provides his analysis of national, state and local 2020 election results.  The talk covers the outcome and long-term significance of the presidential election, the congressional elections and their relationship to the presidential outcome and the independence of the Oregon elections from national patterns. 

Debating the pros and cons of Measure 107 are Portland public interest attorney Dan Meek, who represents Honest Elections Oregon, speaking in support of the measure and Kyle Markley, a member of the Oregon Libertarian Party, speaking in opposition of the measure.

Given the two emergency declarations for Covid and wildfires, Marion County government is a major player in disaster preparedness and relief.  In November, voters will have an opportunity to elect one of the three county commissioners who oversee our county government.  The candidates are Danielle Bethell (R) and Ashley Carson Cottingham (D).

This program is a debate amongst the 3 candidates running to represent Oregon’s Senate District 10.  There was a hard fought and close race for this position in 2016 between Incumbent Jackie Winters and Reverend Deb Patterson (D). Deb is now coming back for another run at the seat. Incumbent Senator Denyc Boles (R) was initially appointed to this position which she now now has to defend for the first time.   Finally Taylor Rickey (L) is a political newcomer who hopes that he has what the district voters are looking for.