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After hosting a boisterous and often contentious meeting in Prineville last summer, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is returning to Crook County next week.
Merkley will host a town hall forum at the Crook County High School auditorium, a larger venue than the Crook County Library Broughton Room used last year. The library location drew vocal criticism during the meeting as many people in the crowd resorted to standing outside the room. Following the forum, Merkley expressed similar disappointment.
“My team had looked into what normal-size venues have been and they got a room that was three or four times larger,” he said days after the meeting. “Unfortunately, the turnout exceeded those expectations.”
This time, organizers made sure there will be a lot more room. The capacity of the Broughton Room is 120, whereas the high school auditorium holds 600.
“We sort of made a policy to find the largest venue possible in every county,” said Merkley spokesperson Courtney Warner Crowell.
Unlike the prior town hall, it is less likely that the meeting will focus on one primary topic, as it did last year with universal healthcare.
“People can feel free to come and ask any questions that they like,” Crowell explained. “It’s really based on whatever questions the crowd asks. You never know if it is going dominated by one issue or another.”
This is not to say that Merkley won’t bring up a few topics that could spark audience responses.
“He’ll talk at the beginning — do an introduction about what he has been doing in (Washington) D.C.,” Crowell said. “He will also be talking about issues that affect all Oregonians.”
The second town hall is part of an ongoing pledge by Merkley to make a stop in all 36 counties every year. He will hold two other regional forums as well.
“Advocating for Oregonians is my number one responsibility,” Merkley said. “I invite all residents of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties to meet me and discuss what we need to do to get Oregon working again and strengthen America.”
The U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley town hall meeting will take place at the Crook County High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Monday Aug. 30.
