Back To Basics Podcast

Back to Basics Episode 19: Building What Works in Oregon

In this episode of Back to Basics, Oregon State Representative Jeff Helfrich talks with Dee Burch, President and CEO of Advanced American Construction and Gunderson Marine, about leadership, infrastructure, workforce development, and the realities facing Oregon’s construction and manufacturing industries. Dee shares lessons from four decades in heavy construction, saving hundreds of skilled jobs, navigating regulation, and building training pipelines that give people real careers without debt. The conversation tackles ODOT, public safety, homelessness, infrastructure costs, and why common sense leadership still matters. A candid, experience-driven discussion about what it will take to get Oregon back to work.

Back to Basics Ep 17: Larry Campbell Discusses How Republicans Took Back the Oregon House

On this episode of Back to Basics, Rep. Jeff Helfrich sits down with Larry Campbell, former Speaker of the Oregon House and one of the architects behind Republicans winning the majority after nearly two decades in the minority. Larry shares how relationships, groundwork outside the Capitol, and showing up door-to-door made the difference in districts most people had already written off. They talk about what it really takes to build a governing majority, why credibility and trust still matter in politics, and the long game behind meaningful policy change. From running competitive races against union money to balancing leadership with family, this is a candid conversation about what works, what lasts, and why getting Back to Basics is more important than ever.

Back to Basics Ep 16: Law, Order & Trust: Former FBI Special Agent Loren “Renn” Cannon on Policing That Works

Jeff sits down with Loren “Renn” Cannon, former FBI Special Agent in Charge of Portland, for a grounded look at what it really takes to balance constitutional rights, rising criminal behavior, and community trust. With decades investigating violent crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism, Renn brings a clear, no-nonsense perspective on how to keep communities safe while keeping accountability intact.

Back to Basics Ep 15: Unions, Overreach & Oregon’s Broken Systems: Jason Dudash on Restoring Balance in Oregon

Jeff is joined by Jason Dudash of the Freedom Foundation to break down how public-union overreach has shaped policy, slowed accountability, and made life harder for too many people across Oregon. It’s a grounded, honest look at how these systems got so tangled — and the common-sense steps needed to restore balance.

Back to Basics Ep 14: Politics and Public Safety: Sheriff Matt English on Keeping Oregon Safe

In this episode of the Back to Basics Podcast, Jeff Helfrich sits down with Hood River County Sheriff Matt English for a wide-ranging look at what it truly takes to protect Oregon communities today. They talk through the politics of working across state lines with Washington, how the defund-the-police movement reshaped expectations, and the constant fight to stretch limited budgets without sacrificing public safety. Sheriff English also pulls back the curtain on the demanding world of search-and-rescue and the day-to-day challenges most people never see — from partnership building to navigating shifting priorities in Salem. It’s an honest, grounded conversation with one of Oregon’s most experienced law enforcement leaders.