Republican Oregon State Representative Charlie Conrad (HD-12) and Idaho State Representative Chenele Dixon (HD-24) have launched “Common Ground – United We Stand,” a coalition of current and former state legislators, organizations, and citizens united in countering the actions of extremists who they say are weakening our democracy and creating divisions between Americans.
“One of the key reasons I ran in 2022 is because I wanted to moderate the hateful rhetoric and to be a reasoned, pragmatic voice focused on representing people,” Rep. Charlie Conrad said in a news release. “The recent primary results throughout Oregon and the actions extremists are taking in other states energized me to work with Chenele to counter them and do what I can to return government to the people.”
Republican Darin Harbick defeated incumbent Conrad after he scored 82.57% of the 8,113 votes cast for the Republican seat in the May Primary. Eugene Weekly in June reported that Harbick’s eldest son participated in the Jan. 6 protests that led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“People are fed up with extremists and the dysfunction, now is the time to act,” Conrad said. “With support from voters, state legislators can be the buffer between extremists and a functioning government. Together we can focus on the conversations that matter, not personal attacks, lies, and mis/disinformation.”
According to the pair, this grassroots effort fills a void in the public discourse with the pivotal and powerful voice of state legislators who are a key link between people and the public policy process, adding that the political dysfunction caused by the actions of extremists negatively impacts the ability for governing legislators to work to improve people’s lives.
Common Ground is non-partisan and policy agnostic, according to Conrad and Dixon, with the intent to encourage elected officials to engage in compromise, collaboration, and cooperation to the benefit of their constituents.
“In short, people and country come before partisan politics,” Conrad and Dixon said in a joint statement. “Ultimately, it is up to the voters, so our work includes collaborating and supporting organizations focused on voter advocacy and education.”
Dixon added that, “Toxicity in our society is threatening our Republic and unless people re-learn how to have conversations, collaborate, and cooperate with one another, we are not going to make it as a society. I believe people have more that unites us than divides us and we must find that common ground. I am committed to helping us have healthy dialogue, even with those with whom we may not agree, to find common ground and to move us forward as a country.”
— Chronicle News Service
