Mary Middleton

Environment / Energy

My name is Mary Middleton and I’m running for Oregon State Representative District 4 because I have a strong commitment to service to the community. I believe in building each other up, investing locally in the community and working together for the common good. In this time of a global pandemic, we need elected representatives who are focused on our community. The top priority should be keeping everyone safe with access to healthcare for everyone. We need leaders who are willing to consider new ideas to help create the new normal as we navigate through the damage from COVID-19 and the current social crises. Our schools and local businesses are hurting. We need creative ideas to find our way together. Systemic racism is being called out, we need leaders who are willing to have those courageous conversations and look for solutions to these complex problems. I support the Black Lives Matter movement and will work to address systemic racism in every way possible. OF COURSE all lives matter, that’s the point. Climate Change Climate change is a top threat facing Oregonians. I am in favor of HB 2020, my opponent voted no on this bill. This complex bill establishes several committees and protocols that will need to be followed and studied to determine if the impact is in fact positively reducing greenhouse gas (GHG). The time is now for creating a Climate Policy Office and having a Cap and Trade program is good for all Oregonians. Additionally, I will look for ways to mitigate the cost of those companies who may see some collateral damage. Whether that comes in the form of tax abatements, subsidies, or some appropriate financial help in order to reach this long-range goal of supporting/creating clean energy. Learn more

Yes, I will support the Forest Waters Protection Act. I will lobby other legislators to support it too. If it does not pass, then I will work with those in opposition to find a way to protect our waters while also considering their objectives. Learn more

Tackling climate change requires urgent and ongoing action. When elected I will be looking for clean energy bills to sponsor, lobby, and vote for. Correcting the impact we have had on our planet makes sense for individuals and the economy. I will also be looking for ways that these bills could benefit District 4 and Southern Oregon. The citizens from this district and all of Oregon deserve representatives who are willing to look for solutions to the crisis that we are in. Failure to work forward to solutions could possibly result in an uninhabitable planet in our children’s future. Learn more

Here in Southern Oregon, we have mostly dry forests with some wet forests in the higher elevation areas. Northern and Eastern Oregon will be different. I am also reaching out to the local firefighter unions who are telling me that the current number of firefighters in the region is dangerously low (.76ff/1000ppl in Medford Central Fire District, the recommendation is 1ff/1000ppl). I am reaching out to the Southwest District Forestry Service Manager to find more statistics and have a conversation about what he feels is an appropriate number of firefighters to manage the dry forests of the region. This is a top concern for Oregonians and a top concern of mine. I will continue to approach this from many aspects, looking at the science, relying on the experts in the field, and looking for solutions that make sense to our community. Learn more