Dorchester Special: Oregon Voices on the Future of the State

Dorchester Special: Oregon Voices on the Future of the State

Recorded live at the Dorchester Conference in Welches, Oregon, this special long-form episode of Oregon Discussion features conversations with leaders, candidates, grassroots advocates, staff, authors, business voices, and young conservatives from across the state. This is not a normal episode. It is a full Dorchester special — a 6+ hour collection of conversations about Oregon’s future, the policy fights ahead, and the people stepping forward in an election year. Use the chapter markers to jump directly to the guest you want to watch. Guests featured in this episode: Amanda Staehely — Candidate for Oregon House District 18  Mark Fitz — Dorchester Conference Board Director | President, Star Oilco  Darcey Edwards — Oregon State Representative, House District 31  Andrew Morrison — Candidate for Oregon House District 48  Stephanie Carkin — Candidate for Oregon House District 26  Taren Feist — Oregon State Director, Women for Gun Rights  Angela Todd — Founder and Host, PDX Real  Cliff Bentz — U.S. Representative, Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District  Christine Drazan — Oregon State Senator | Candidate for Governor  Ben West — Clackamas County Commissioner, Position 5  Brad Hicks — Candidate for Oregon Senate District 3  Jack Pitner — TPUSA Oregon  Olivia Augustus — Intern, Oregon House Republican Caucus  Ty Vizenor — Oregon House Republican Caucus Staff  Lucetta Elmer — House Republican Leader | Oregon State Representative, HD 24  Jacob Vandever — Legislative Director, Oregon House Republicans  Dennis Kneale — Author, Oregoners  David Brock Smith — Oregon State Senator | Candidate for U.S. Senate  Geoff Davis — Vice President, Davis Glass, Inc. Socials https://www.tiktok.com/@oregondiscussion [https://www.tiktok.com/@oregondiscussion] https://www.facebook.com/p/Oregon-DOGE-61574156636517/ [https://www.facebook.com/p/Oregon-DOGE-61574156636517/] https://www.instagram.com/oregondiscussion/ [https://www.instagram.com/oregondiscussion/] https://x.com/ORDiscussion [https://x.com/ORDiscussion] https://www.youtube.com/@OregonDiscussion [https://www.youtube.com/@OregonDiscussion] 00:00 – Dorchester Conference Special Intro 02:12 – Mike McLane & Shelly Boshart-Davis Open the Episode 21:44 – Mark Fitz: Dorchester, Fuel, and Oregon Business 37:34 – Darcey Edwards: HD 31, Housing, and Swatting Laws 56:42 – Amanda Staehely: HD 18, Agriculture, and Rural Oregon 1:13:24 – Andrew Morrison: HD 48, Education and Public Safety 1:33:08 – Stephanie Carkin: Construction, Permitting, and Cost of Living 1:45:03 – Taren Feist: Women for Gun Rights and Grassroots Media 2:05:00 – Angela Todd: PDX Real and Independent Civic Media 2:43:06 – Cliff Bentz: Federal Spending and Congressional Leadership 3:06:42 – Christine Drazan: Governor’s Race and Oregon’s Direction 3:27:27 – Ben West: Clackamas County and Homelessness Policy 3:39:32 – Brad Hicks: Southern Oregon Jobs and Business Climate 3:58:50 – Jack Pitner: TPUSA Oregon and Campus Free Speech 4:11:21 – Ty Vizenor & Olivia Augustus: Gen Z Inside the Legislature 4:28:40 – Lucetta Elmer & Jacob Vandever: House Republican Strategy 4:46:48 – Dennis Kneale: Oregoners and Oregon’s Policy Warning Signs 5:30:34 – David Brock Smith: Government Efficiency and U.S. Senate Race 6:18:36 – Geoff Davis: Business, Family, and Life Behind the Scenes 6:26:29 – Final Reflections from Dorchester

The CAT Tax: Promises vs Reality in Oregon

This episode of Oregon Discussion examines Oregon’s Corporate Activity Tax and the Student Success Act. Lawmakers discuss education funding, business impacts, and whether increased spending has led to better results for students and communities. Website ⁠https://oregondoge.com⁠ [https://oregondoge.com] X ⁠https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE⁠ [https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE] Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/] Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517]

Why Oregon’s Business Climate Is Falling Behind

Mike McLane and Shelly Boshart-Davis are joined by Angela Wilhelms of Oregon Business & Industry to discuss Oregon’s declining business climate, rising regulatory burden, and the policy choices shaping the state’s economy. This episode looks at jobs, taxes, spending, competitiveness, and what it would take to get Oregon back on track. Website https://oregondoge.com [https://oregondoge.com] Follow Oregon D.O.G.E. X https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE [https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/ [https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517]

Public Safety Decline and Policy Failures in Oregon

This episode of Oregon D.O.G.E. focuses on public safety challenges across the state, including declining state police staffing, homelessness policy, and controversial legislation in Salem. Lawmakers discuss how these issues are impacting communities, businesses, and the future direction of Oregon policy. Website https://oregondoge.com [https://oregondoge.com] Follow Oregon D.O.G.E. X https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE [https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/ [https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517]

Top 10 in Spending, Bottom in Results: How Oregon’s Education System Failed Parents and Kids

Oregon ranks top-10 in education spending — but near the bottom in outcomes. In this episode, Senator Mike McLane, Representative Shelly Boshart Davis, and former State Representative Tracy Kramer examine why Oregon’s education system continues to fail students, sideline parents, and grow bureaucracy instead of improving results. From suspended graduation standards to rising absenteeism and administrative bloat, this conversation exposes what’s broken — and why accountability matters. Website → ⁠https://oregondoge.com⁠ [https://oregondoge.com] X → ⁠https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE⁠ [https://x.com/TheOregonDOGE] Facebook → ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574156636517] Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theoregondoge/] YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoregondoge [https://www.youtube.com/@theoregondoge]