Merkley Attends Service, Campaigns in Newberg

"Merkley makes stop in Newberg"
Lauren Bonczijk, Newberg Graphic
8/7/08

The congregation at Joyful Servant Lutheran Church didn't know they had a special visitor Sunday until the end of service. Campaigning through rural Oregon, Democratic senatorial candidate Jeff Merkley, a longtime Lutheran, attended services at Joyful Servant last weekend.

Pastor Tom Struck said he had been approached by the campaign to ensure it would be all right for Merkley to stop by. The candidate made several stops in Yamhill County during the course of the weekend. Struck didn't tell the congregation until after service when he had shared birthdays and other announcements. "We're non partisan here," Struck reminded his congregation, adding "but we want to elect good leaders that represent us."

He said that Merkley would be available for questioning during the coffee social following service. Merkley never had a chance to reach the coffee station as several parishioners approached him as the pews slowly emptied.

A tall, soft spoken man, Merkley was treated to a tour of the church's new sanctuary (still under construction) and coffee after the barrage of questions ended.

Campaigning in what is arguably friendly territory to incumbent Republican Gordon Smith, Merkley said he was bringing forth "kitchen table" issues that matter to all Oregonians, such as affordable health care. In the current economic cycle "ordinary people are getting squeezed," he said and "Gordon Smith certainly ignores issues of ordinary people."

"Smith, in his career, has always looked for ways to make more money for those who are already powerful and wealthy," Merkley said. Merkley also pointed out that as Speaker of the House in the Legislature, he balanced the budget while Smith had repeatedly voted with President George W. Bush, including on fiscal matters.

"We are being driven into debt by Gordon Smith and our debt is owed by Saudi Arabia and China," Merkley said of the current federal fiscal policy. "I think these issues reverberate for everyone who cares about a strong America."

Meanwhile Struck had a message for the incumbent: "If Gordon (Smith) wants to call and come to church, we'll say yes."

Posted August 7, 2008
In the News