PEACE HOUSE

Since our establishment in 2012, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now has organized at least one candidate forum on climate and environment topics during each election cycle. 2026 is no different. This cycle, our forum is scheduled for Tuesday October 13th at Medford Public Library from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The format will incorporate questions from the SOCAN Forum Team and from the audience. The 90-minute forum will be followed by an informal 30-minute ‘meet and greet’ where constituents can ask further questions of the candidates.
During the forum, Oregon Legislature candidates will be queried on their attitude to: stimulating GHG emissions reductions in Oregon, data centers, maintaining an adequate water supply, and meeting the needs of the transportation budget. Meanwhile, Jackson County Board of Commissioner candidates will be queried on their attitudes to promoting adaptation in the county to the threats from climate trends, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in the county, the efficacy of maintaining and seeking advice from citizen advisory committees, addressing the forthcoming water shortage in the county. To provide time for them to develop responses, SOCAN questions will be circulated to candidates two weeks ahead of the event. Audience questions will be submitted in writing before the program opens.
All candidates for Oregon House District 5 and 6, Senate District 3 and Board of Commissioner Positions 1 and 3 were invited via contact to the email addresses and snail-mail addresses they submitted when filing their candidacy. Candidates who have accepted our invitation are, HD5 Representative Pam Marsh, House District 6 candidate Johnn Holm, Senate district 3 candidates Clay Bearnson and Denise Krause, Board of Commission Position 1 candidate Lyndi Reichenbach, Position 3 candidate Isabella Lee Tibbetts. No other candidate responded to the invitation.
SOCAN is delighted to announce that former Jefferson Public Radio host Geoffrey Riley will moderate the forum.