Democrats Step Up: February 2026
Goodbye to an old friend and long time Lincoln County Commissioner and public servant, Claire Hall (1957-2026). We will miss her compassion, intelligence and her fight to serve for the good of others. PHOTOS February Events Every Saturday, 12 – 1pm Newport Resistance Rally Hwy 101 & US 20 in Newport. Signs are provided or bring your own personal sign Daily Rally, 12-1pm Hwy 101 & 22nd St, Lincoln City (Indivisible Lincoln City) Wednesday, February 4 and 18, 10am Lincoln County Commissioners Meetings 225 W Olive Street, Room 108, Newport OR To participate and provide comment via Zoom, sign up here. This form must be submitted 24 hours in advance. Or submit a written public comment here by noon on Tuesday before the Wednesday meeting. February 25, Wed. 5:30 p.m. (Social time – 5pm) Lincoln County Democrats monthly meeting Special guest – Commissioner Walter Chuck OCCC North Campus, Room 108, 3788 SE High School Drive, Lincoln City. February 28, 2026 2 pm to 4 pm Neighborhood Leader Program in-person training session Newport Public Library, 34 Nye Street, Newport OR ICE OUT After the shooting of Renee Good, “ICE Out! demonstrations and rallies occurred in Oregon and across the USA on January 10, 2025. The protests were also in response to intensified federal immigration enforcement policies that run contrary to the Constitution. People who are in the country legally have been taken to detention centers or deported to prisons outside the US without warrants and without reason. Citizen protestors have been pepper sprayed, pushed to the ground, and even taken into custody. Now, with the murder of Alex Pretti, two Americans have been shot to death for peaceful protesting. This does not include the many who have died while while being detained by ICE. Some Good News! A poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena Research Institute on Jan. 23 showed that 63% of all Americans disapprove of how ICE is handling its job. Note: This was before the murder of Alex Pretti. States like TX, MO, NC, SC, FL, and UT are redrawing their maps to eliminate Democratic seats in Congress, but Democrats are fighting back. Virginia, Maryland and Colorado are pushing for redistricting and California already has done it. Under Prop 50, California will halt the work of its independent redistricting commission until after 2030 and allow the legislature to redraw congressional districts to carve out five additional Democratic seats. A federal judge tentatively ruled that Oregon does not have to hand over personally identifiable data of more than 3 million Oregon voters to the federal government. Oregon Secretary of State, Tobias Read, welcomed the ruling, calling it a big win for Oregonians’ privacy and the rule of law. 2026 Started on a High Note for LCDCC! The first meeting of the year for Lincoln County Democrats featured 5 speakers and a crowd of 52, plus more on Zoom. The meeting started with a slideshow tribute to long-time County Commissioner, Claire Hall, along with remarks by Chair, Mary Infante. Nathan Stolz, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon, shared his background in political activism. He advised those who want to run for office to first volunteer locally and then the new candidate support system would kick in. He explained that our role as a political party is to help elect Democrats in the general election and that there are limitations on endorsing candidates when two or more Democrats run for the same seat in the primary election. The Democratic Liaison for Lincoln County, Kien Trong, also spoke. As Chair of the Young Democrats’ Caucus, Kien stressed his commitment to progressive values, emphasizing the need for community involvement to address current challenges. Chair, Mary Infante, discussed the need to engage with diverse communities, including Asian and Latino organizations, in order to encourage participation in the political process. She then introduced the co-chairs for the newly formed Young Democrats Action Group, Katie Saaty and Angel Aparicio-Reyes. The YDAG mission statement follows: To bring progressive young members of the community into the political process, with a focus on members of under-represented communities. We aim to effect change on a local level by creating community supported workshops and hosting social media gatherings in an effort to build solidarity, resilience and connection in a safe and inclusive environment. Michael Gaskill and Mary Cooke are working as co-chairs for the Neighborhood Leader Program. Mary Cooke explained more about the NLP program and the importance of community outreach in improving voter turnout. If you want to be a Neighborhood Leader, you may contact Mary Cooke at (509)998-1754. Neighborhood Leader Program in-person training session February 28, 2026, 2 pm to 4 pm Newport Public Library, 34 Nye Street, Newport OR LCDCC Vice Chair, Kelly Greer, invited attendees to run for a Precinct Committee Person position and provided handouts and information about how to register before March 10. Please see the announcement below about becoming a PCP. Speakers Nathan Stolz, Kien Truong, Mary Infante with Katie Saaty and Angel Aparicio-Reyes, Mary Cooke and Kelly Greer. Become a Precinct Committee Person! The May 19 Primary Election will have candidates running for US Representative for the 4th District (Val Hoyle), State Representative for District 10 (David Gomberg), Lincoln County Commissioners (all 3 positions), and Governor (Tina Kotek). In addition, we always need more Democrats running for Precinct Committee Persons, as many positions go unfilled each year. Please consider running for PCP in your district. County Precinct Committee Persons are elected every two years (in the primary elections in even years) to play crucial roles representing their parties at the grassroots level. They are responsible for such things as: * Staying informed on political issues at the city, county, state, and national levels. * Participating in County Central Committee meetings to stay updated on party matters. * Electing county party leadership and delegates to the State Conventions and State Central Committee meetings. * Voting on official party business and resolutions of local concern. Go to this website for the filing forms and information (It’s not hard!) Online filing form: https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/candidate-filing-precinct-committeeperson-sel-105.aspx Please don’t delay. The last day to file is March
Remembering County Commissioner Claire Hall, 1959-2026
Lincoln County Commissioner Claire Hall passed away late Sunday evening, January 4, 2026, at Providence Hospital in Portland following a brief illness. She lived a life defined by service to her community and the causes she was passionate about. A longtime Newport resident, Claire Hall was first elected as County Commissioner in 2004, and was re-elected five times, most recently in November, 2024. She served as Commission Chair and was recently appointed as acting County Administrator. During her long tenure as Commissioner, she expanded healthcare services with the creation of federally qualified health clinics (FQHC), increased access and services for veterans, and was a tireless advocate for affordable housing. She took special pride in her role in helping to establish warming shelters for the county’s unhoused population and, most recently, was deeply involved in resisting plans for an ICE detention center and in helping to restore the presence of the U.S. Coast Guard’s rescue helicopter. As Commissioner, Claire Hall represented the county on several local, regional and state organizations. She was president of the Association of Oregon Counties in 2016-17. She was a member of that association’s Human Services Steering Committee for over a decade and chaired that committee for four years. She also served on the National Association of Counties’ Military and Veterans Committee, and NACO’s Health Policy Committee. Claire was appointed to the Oregon Housing Stability Council in 2018 and became its chair in 2020. She previously served on the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Programs and was its final chair. She was co-chair of the Oregon Ending Homelessness Advisory Council. She was a member of the executive committee of the Community Services Consortium, the regional Community Action Agency and she was the county’s representative on the board of the Cascades West Council of Governments. In 2008, Claire Hall’s local, state and national leadership on homeless issues was honored with the “Home for Every American Award” presented by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness at a conference in Washington. D.C. She was one of two county officials to receive the award. In 2009, she received the “Award for Excellence” from the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs for her advocacy for mental health, addictions and developmental disabilities programs in the state. Also in 2009, she received the annual Certificate of Appreciation from the Coastal Progressives, a member group of the Rural Organizing Project. Born in 1959 in Portland, Oregon, Claire attended public schools there, graduating from John Adams High School in 1977. She completed her undergraduate work at Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon, earning a B.A. in Communications in 1981 and received her M.S. from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 1986. Her professional experience prior to her election as a commissioner includes staff positions at KBPS public radio in Portland; the Newport News-Times; KZUS radio, Toledo; and Yaquina Bay Communications, Newport. In spring of 2019, Claire announced her gender transition with a statement that included an affirmation of her continuing service to the people of Lincoln County. “My name, dress, and other forms of gender expression are changing, but my core self is not changing and has not changed,” Hall said. “I will remain focused on social justice issues like the needs of children, families, seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. But now, the act of living my life itself becomes an act of social justice.” In the years that followed, she battled transphobia and attempts to mute the progressive voice she brought to the County Commission. Claire prioritized others before herself, led with kindness, and created countless services to improve the lives of community members. Her strength, grace, and compassion left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered for the kindness she gave so freely, and the legacy she leaves in Lincoln County. She is survived by her niece, Kelly Meininger, of Hillsboro. Plans for a memorial service are pending.
Sekuler: Reject the right-wing sore loser recall and let the county get back to work
Does anyone really believe the phony justifications that have been advanced by the MAGA-aligned “recall Hall” advocates? Does anyone believe their sore loser campaign is a matter of “transparency?” In the interest of “transparency,” and “learning the facts,” it must be noted that some of the substantial sums of money coming into the sore loser campaign have been donated by owners of multiple vacation rentals, hoping to get a pass on county zoning that might impede their business. Other funds are coming from a PAC co-led by a noted transphobe and the executive director of the extreme right-wing “Western Liberty Network,” an organization on a mission to establish MAGA control of local governments. And, no surprise, some of the recall’s supporters were also supporters of Rick Beasley’s failed campaign for the office that Claire Hall holds. It’s all part of a right-wing playbook we’re seeing in action throughout the country: if they can’t win during a regular election cycle, they gather some signatures, force a special election and hope the low turnout will favor a reversal of the voters’ choice. This is not wild speculation. That scheme has unfolded elsewhere and it’s unfolding here in Lincoln County. It’s happening now. In Northern California’s Shasta County, a recent MAGA-led recall assault paralyzed the county Board of Supervisors, forced several expensive special elections and resulted in a hardening of the divide between local political factions. Back east, from New Hampshire to Georgia, school boards and county governments have been beleaguered by the very same tactics employed by right-wing activists here in Lincoln County. It’s happening now. And it’s happening here. Certainly, some of the sore losers behind the recall campaign have an economic interest in countering Claire Hall’s efforts to address the housing crisis. And some, like the recall’s earliest sponsor, have taken offense at her efforts at maintaining order at Board of Commissioners meetings. But the MAGA people know that the County Commissioners are our last line of defense against such right-wing agenda items as ICE round-ups, the construction of an ICE detention center, the dismantling of diversity initiatives, and the general administrative upheaval we’ve seen play out at the Board of Commissioners since their campaign began. It’s no coincidence that while they were seeking signers for their recall petition, the sore losers were also distributing petitions seeking the abolition of mail-in voting and a recall of Governor Kotek. MAGA’s Project 2025 playbook calls for seizure of ALL levels of government, from the county clerk to the Oval Office. It’s happening all over the country. And it’s happening here. It’s happening now. There’s important work to be done in Lincoln County, and the distraction of the right-wing recall effort is not helping. Claire Hall has provided leadership in such crucial fields as public transportation, affordable housing and health services. The right-wing sore loser tactics are designed to disrupt those efforts and weaken county governance. Yes, it’s happening now, but we can stop it from happening here. Your ballots will be mailed on December 22 for the January 9 election date. Vote NO! on the MAGA-inspired sore loser recall. And tell your friends and neighbors. Don’t let it happen here. Don’t let it happen now. Eliot Sekuler Gleneden Beach
Video: Community Demands ICE Stay out of Waldport, Lincoln County
Waldport City Council meeting on Wednesday, December 10, and resident Stacey Hall had to wait to enter the building due to the number of enthusiastic attendees eager to speak out. The meeting was called in response to rumors that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had inquired about renting hotel rooms to possibly house workers at a potential facility in Lincoln County. During the meeting, Waldport City Manager Dann Cutter confirmed that ICE had indeed contacted the Alsi Resort to inquire about renting space at the hotel. After Representative Gomberg addressed the crowd, Stacey was able to enter and record most of the people who spoke. There were no microphones, so the sound quality is not perfect. Stacey reports she was pleased to see that people voted unanimously to protect their community from ICE despite a statement by City Manager Dann Cutter that the city and Council would remain neutral. After the meeting, Mr. Cutter told KLCC that it would be challenging to prevent a lawful business from operating. He went on to say, “We are going to have to be very careful, though (we’re) very doggedly determined to do this.”
A Time for Solidarity
Last Wednesday, hundreds of people packed a City Council meeting in Newport to express their opposition to a detention facility that ICE is planning to construct at the current site of the Newport Airport. The crowd could not be contained in City Hall but spilled out into the adjacent rec center, filling three meeting rooms to overflowing. Local residents addressed the Council, making statements that were both practical and passionate. Some described the negative impact the ICE facility would have on Newport’s economy, driving away workers that local businesses depend on. Others said that the millions of dollars to be spent on the detention center could be better invested in healthcare, housing, education, infrastructure and other pressing needs in Lincoln County. Parents pleaded that the fear the ICE facility would instill in their children would keep them away from school. One young lady tearfully described the detention of her father by ICE and the family’s inability to learn about his status or future. Moreover, members of the fishing industry and public safety professionals were adamant that the transfer of a rescue helicopter based at Newport Airport to Coos Bay (a consequence of building a new ICE facility in Newport) would cost lives on the Central coast that need not be lost. What united many of the speakers, and what people at all points on the political spectrum can agree with, is that the tactics ICE is employing both nationally and in Oregon are unacceptable. The indiscriminate seizing of people off the street by masked, uniformed agents without warrants or probable cause and their subsequent detention and/or deportation without due process are clear violations of the Constitution. The focus, not on known criminals, but on people with jobs and families, is misguided, destructive and divisive. This is stark government overreach. It is not liberal, it is not conservative, and it is not American. In the coming weeks, leadership of the Lincoln County Democratic Party will reach out across our communities in an effort to establish a broad coalition in opposition to the proposed ICE detention center. We want to work across partisan lines. We want to stand shoulder to shoulder in every sphere of public activity, from schools to churches, business and industry, libraries, food pantries, legal aid providers and communicators in every medium, at every level. We will work with anyone, regardless of their political affiliation. Our community is facing a threat to its economy, its social structure and its values that must be met. It’s a time for all of us to come together to defend what makes us who and what we are. In the coming weeks, leadership of the Lincoln County Democratic Party will reach out across our communities in an effort to establish a broad coalition in opposition to the proposed ICE detention center. We want to work across partisan lines. We want to stand shoulder to shoulder in every sphere of public activity, from schools to churches, business and industry, libraries, food pantries, legal aid providers and communicators in every medium, at every level. We will work with anyone, regardless of their political affiliation. Our community is facing a threat to its economy, its social structure and its values that must be met. It’s a time for all of us to come together to defend what makes us who and what we are. We have both the moral imperative and the opportunity to band together in solidarity on this issue. We hope you will join us. Mary Infante, Chair, Lincoln County Democratic Party Published in the Lincoln County Leader, Nov 22, 2025
List of Resources for Latino and MesoAmerican Communities
Five Organizations that Provide Information and Assistance to Immigrants. Contact them for information, to donate, or to volunteer iAmerica know-your-rights. Carry a card to remind you or memorize them. It may be increasingly important to know how to respond if confronted by ICE. Here is a site where you can download them to your phone. PIRC information hotline: 1-888-622-1510 Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition (PIRC) provides legal support, advocacy, education and direct assistance to immigrants. ILRC Immigrant Legal Resources Center (Red Cards): The ILRC trains attorneys, paralegals, and community-based advocates who work with immigrants around the country. We inform the media, elected officials, and public to shape effective and just immigration policy and law. Our staff works with grassroots immigrant organizations to promote civic engagement and social change. The local organization Conexion Fenix provided much needed help to the community after the Echo Mountain fire. Since then, it has provided many different services to the Latino community in Lincoln City including education, counseling, wellness services, and opportunities to gather in safety. There is increased pressure on families now, pressure that will only grow in coming months. This is especially true for accessing food. Donations to Conexion Fenix will help them buy in bulk those foods that are most needed Arcoiris Cultural They celebrate the arts, cultures, histories, and languages of Latino and Mesoamerican communities, while promoting cultural identity, health, and long-term equity. “We strive to promote the communities’ overall well-being through a hybrid program of community resource navigation and community building.”
Citizens Soundly Reject ICE in Newport at Wednesday’s Town Hall
The turnout at the Newport Town Hall Wednesday evening was amazing. An estimated 1700 people crowded through the halls and 5 rooms of the building while the overflow surrounded the outside during a meeting that went overtime. The expression of outrage was heard again and again as speakers took their 3 minutes at the microphone. Mayor Kaplan stated repeatedly, “We are going to do everything we can do to fight this.” Shar Walbaun of Indivisible Lincoln City sent out a statement asking all of us to sign and send the attached letter to our representatives with the clear message that we reject the strategic move by ICE into the Oregon Coast. Go to the email address of each of the 3 representatives and go to “Contact us” where you can send a message Copy and paste this sample letter into an email you intend to send. Personalize it as you wish. House Transportation Leadership: Email transportation@mail.house.gov Nick Christianson, Republican (Missouri) | 202-225-9446 House Transportation Committee Mike Ezell, Republication (Mississippi) | 202-226-3552 Chair, Transportation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation John C. Rayfield, Republican (Virginia) | 202-226-3552 Staff director, Transportation Subcommittee on Coastguard and Maritime Transportation Oregon representatives: Sen. Jeff Merkley Sen. Ron Wyden Rep. Val Hoyle § [date] Dear ____________, I live in ___________, Oregon and am writing to urge you to strongly and immediately oppose the location of any ICE detention facility in Newport or anywhere along the Oregon coast. Time is of the essence. There is a complete lack of transparency from DHS on this matter. However, there are news reports indicating DHS appears to be evaluating the Newport Airport, among other places, to serve as a location for people taken into their custody under the guise of immigration enforcement. Newport Airport houses a U.S. Coast Guard air facility. Using that land would divert resources that are supposed to be used for national security and maritime safety. Such a plan would surely jeopardize search and rescue capabilities and defense of our coast. Because of the lack of transparency at DHS, we don’t know, and can’t evaluate, the impact of locating a camp here. The prospect of ICE lurking in our communities is deeply disturbing. Elsewhere, anonymous masked “agents” have taken moms, dads, and even children from their homes, places of work, and off the streets. The individual’s right to due process has been ignored. Such actions contradict our American values and are a grave threat to our way of life. It is unthinkable that a detention camp filled with our community members, friends, and family would be located here. News about such camps include reports of overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of food, water, or medical care. People have been unable to communicate with family or have access to legal counsel. There seems to be virtually no accountability for what goes on in these camps or for the way people are treated. There is no indication such a camp on the Oregon coast would operate any differently. It is disturbing that there is no transparency about the plan for a detention center and no opportunity for our local leaders, let alone the public, to be informed or have input. It only underscores that the location and operation of an ICE detention camp in the Newport area or along the Oregon coast will further jeopardize the safety and well-being of people who live here, their families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Sincerely, [name]
Editorial: Support Veterans and Vote YES on Measure 21-235
Our Lincoln County November special election ballot contains just one item — Measure 21-235 that asks all of us to examine our commitment to the veterans among our neighbors whose service has helped our country to remain safe. There are over 5,200 veterans in Lincoln County, many of whom rely on the Veterans Service Office for access to the benefits they’ve earned. In the past the office has been funded by the county’s general fund, but this vital resource faces funding challenges due to a decrease in support from the federal government. With passage of Measure 21-235, the Lincoln County Veterans Service Office would receive no general fund dollars during the five-year period the measure covers. Measure 21-235 would levy 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, funds which would all support Veterans Service Office operating expenses. According to the county, it’s estimated that the average cost to property owners would be approximately $8.60 per year, less than the cost of a single fast-food meal. A small amount, and yet, it could mean a life-saving difference in the lives of our veteran neighbors. Supporting Measure 21-235 isn’t just about taxes. It’s about honoring promises. It’s about ensuring that those who served our country have a place to turn when they need help. Please vote yes on Measure 21-235. — Eliot Sekuler, Gleneden Beach
Thank you to our supporters!
The annual fundraiser was a huge success. Thank you to the many businesses and individuals who made the event possible.
Statement Regarding the Murder of Charlie Kirk
The Lincoln County Democratic Party vehemently opposes all acts of violence and messages that approve or promote violence in any form. We condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk and call for renewed unity around the values of peace and democracy that Americans have always shared.