Oregon Rep. Courtney Neron seeks Senate appointment
Rep. Courtney Neron , D-Wilsonville, at the Oregon Legislature on Feb. 12, 2024. (Jordan Gale/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
State Rep. Courtney Neron, D-Wilsonville, hopes to jump to the Senate after her seatmate's death from cancer earlier this month.
Neron, who is in her fourth term in the House and chairs the House Education Committee, announced her interest in an appointment to finish Sen. Aaron Woods' term on Monday.
'Over the past week, I've had many conversations reflecting on Senator Woods' life of service and the values he carried into every space he entered,' Neron said in a statement. 'I had the privilege of working alongside him in the Legislature, where I witnessed his steady leadership, thoughtful approach, and commitment to equity and good governance. Senator Woods led with heart and humility, and I am committed to carrying forward his legacy of care and service to our constituents in Senate District 13.'
Her Wilsonville-based House district makes up half of the 13th Senate District Woods represented. House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, represents the other half of the district and has endorsed Neron, calling her a fierce advocate for the community.
'She will hit the ground running in the Senate,' Bowman said. 'We have worked together on housing, transportation, and education policies that matter to our communities, and I look forward to her partnership as a senator.'
Neron's roots in the district run deep. She grew up in Metzger and Tigard, attended and later taught at Tigard High School and is raising her family in Wilsonville.
'It would be my great honor to serve the very neighborhoods in the state Senate where I rode my bike as a child,' Neron said.
Local Democratic party officials will meet Sunday to choose nominees to finish Woods' Senate term, which expires in January 2027. The final choice will be made by county commissioners from Clackamas, Washington and Yamhill counties. The appointee must be a Democrat who lives within the Senate district.
Along with Neron, energy consultant Dave Backen and event planner Andrew Stiffler are seeking the nomination, according to the state Democratic party.
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