On the final stretch of their political campaigns, The Chronicle asked candidates to reflect on what they have learned from the community and what their closing promise to voters is ahead of the May 19 election. 

This official acts as the local voice in the United States Congress, balancing national policy with the specific needs of Southwest Oregon.

US Representative (4th District): Elected for a two-year term, this representative serves the entire region in the U.S. House of Representatives, voting on federal laws, national defense, and the economy while helping residents navigate federal agencies like the VA or Social Security.

Val Hoyle, Incumbent

It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to represent the 4th Congressional district in Congress. 

I am proud that I have been able to bring my experiences as a first generation college student, as a parent, as a union member, as an employee and a business owner to represent the needs of working families in this community. Like so many others, we moved to Oregon based on the fact that it would be the best place to raise our family. I will continue to work every day to ensure that people on the Central and South Coast have the opportunity to have access to a path to the middle class and to preserve the Oregon values that we have fought so hard to gain including protecting our coastlines, forests, watersheds and investments in renewable energy without leaving working people behind. 

Melissa Bird

As I have traveled throughout CD4, the running theme in every community I have visited is an authentic desire for leaders who will create a better life for all of us. I live in Corvallis. I am a working mom, the wife of a disabled veteran, and a social worker. I am an Episcopal Lay Preacher and a Native American woman. I have spent my career on the political front lines as a policy advocate and community organizer. 

I am running for Congress because I believe we need folks in the federal government who are directly impacted by the decisions being made at the federal level. Working class folks like me who understand what it is like to raise children in this economy, who want to help rural communities using frameworks like the Rural New Deal, and who are ready to step up and fight to change the healthcare system and improve our housing options, while working to care for our lands and waters. 

I have spoken with tens of thousands of voters since I launched this campaign last summer, and one thing is abundantly clear, voters want representatives who will fight corruption at every turn (I will). I have had voters ask me if I am willing to fight against the rise of fascism (absolutely), if I will call what is happening in the Middle East a genocide (without question), and if I am willing to introduce legislation that will actually help the folks in CD4 survive this brutal economic attack on our day-to-day living (one thousand percent). 

My closing promise to voters is to be responsive, to listen and do everything I can to use the power of this Congressional office to advocate for each and every one of us. I would be honored to have your vote. 

Monique De Spain

I launched this campaign because Oregonians are asking to be heard and protected. After retiring from the Oregon Air National Guard and Air Force, I believed my service was complete. But after listening to families, workers, and small business owners throughout Oregon, the call for me to serve is loud and clear.

Across the Fourth District — from the coast to the Cascades, in timber communities, on family farms, and in downtown Eugene — I have seen resilience and pride. I’ve also seen frustration and despair. People feel ignored and embarrassed by current representation. The problems in our communities grow and the solution presented is increased taxes. Oregonians are ready for leadership that listens and delivers results. Oregon’s comeback starts now — and I’m ready to lead it.

The burdens Oregon families carry are real. I’ve heard from mothers who lost their only son to fentanyl and from parents who lost adult children with untreated schizophrenia to the streets. I’ve heard from police officers who’ve been cursed and spat on while working to keep our communities safe. I’ve met with business owners overwhelmed by government restrictions and taxes and property crimes committed by repeat offenders.  I’ve learned that loggers question whether timber access will keep mills open or whether the timber will be left to burn. I’ve learned from farmers who survived drought and debt but cannot survive taxation and water restrictions. I’ve heard the frustrations of young people who have given up on the dream of home ownership.

I will serve this district’s people before any party, donor, or interest group. I will listen, tell the truth, and fight for policies that restore safety, accountability, and opportunity.

Oregon’s Fourth deserves representation that works as hard as its people. I am ready to serve, and I would be honored to earn your vote.

Stefan Strek

I’ve learned people are ready to recognize the negative impact of Corporate Healthcare on America. It’s often said U.S. Defense spending is excessive, but healthcare costs far more. In 2024, military reached $5,279,000,000, compared with $997,000,000 for the healthcare. Simply put, healthcare has cost taxpayers 3 to 5 times as much as the military has, each year over the past 10 years.

Beyond the price, it’s a gridlocked system where it’s hard to see doctors. Patients battle complicated insurance plans only to be treated poorly by a broken system. The Boomer Generation of doctors is nearing retirement. Many share long relationships with patients they’ve known for decades. Direct Primary Care (DPC) offers these doctors a better path: continue serving their best patients, make more money, and escape corporate harassment.  

The 4th District faces a true healthcare emergency. With PeaceHealth closing and other practices shutting down, care in Eugene is already difficult, and rural Oregonians often drive 2 or 3 hours for appointments. Most people simply want to feel better about their future. This is absolutely a model to promote Federally. Direct Primary Care is a platform I believe every American could benefit from. I included more information in the State Voter’s Pamphlet. For full details, visit www.vote4strek.com under the “Fixing American Healthcare” subsection.

Oregon leads the way by requiring insurers to apply DPC subscriptions toward your annual deductible. This model should be adopted nationwide to streamline healthcare. It would let older doctors downsize their workload in retirement while preserving decades-long patient relationships and restoring direct access to physicians. Corporate Healthcare is an incredibly inefficient model that has degraded American health for decades. Staff are overscheduled, so patients must repeatedly re-explain their full health history at almost every visit. vote4strek.com.