S ERVING THE S ILVERTON A REA S INCE 1880
50 C ENTS
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A U NIQUE E DITION OF THE S TATESMAN J OURNAL
V OL . 136, N O . 11
W EDNESDAY , M ARCH 1, 2017
SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM
Lewis takes House oath
New state lawmaker resigns as Silverton mayor
JUSTIN MUCH
STAYTON MAIL
Rick Lewis was sworn in as the State
Representative for House District 18
Thursday after being appointed to fill
the vacant seat on Wednesday.
Prior to taking oath of office, Lewis
resigned his post as mayor of Silverton,
a position to which he was first elected
in 2014 and reelected to in 2016. Lewis
was not required by law to resign his
city post.
“The decision to step away from my
role with the city was far and away the
most difficult part of this process,”
Lewis said. “I was hopeful that I might
be able to continue serving as mayor
while also serving as a member of the
legislative assembly, but it became
clear that there were some outstanding
constitutional questions that could ex-
pose both the city and the legislature to
some risks.”
Silverton municipal code provides
procedures for replacing vacant city
council or mayoral positions:
“Vacant elective city offices shall be
filled by appointment by a majority
vote of the remaining members of the
council. The appointee’s term of office
begins immediately on appointment
and continues throughout the unex-
pired term of the appointee’s predeces-
sor.”
Lewis’ term runs through 2018. The
former mayor said he would aid the city
in the transition process.
“I have pledged to be as helpful as
possible to my colleagues in Silverton as
they navigate this unexpected transi-
tion,” Lewis said on Thursday. “Today is
very bittersweet for me, but I am com-
forted by the fact that I will still have an
opportunity to work closely with my
friends at the city as I assume my new
role in the legislature.”
Lewis was appointed to the position
vacated earlier this year by Rep. Vic
Gilliam of Silverton, who had served
HD 18 since 2007. Gilliam was diag-
nosed with amyotrophic lateral sclero-
sis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s
disease and had been battling health is-
sues during the 2016 session.
Lewis was one of three potential ap-
pointment candidates delivered to the
Marion and Clackamas board of com-
missioners by the Oregon Republican
Party. The other candidates were Je-
rome Rosa, of Gervais and Glenn Ho-
lum of Hubbard.
Oregon law requires that a legisla-
tive vacancy be filled by county com-
missioners representing the district in
which the vacancy exists. House Dis-
trict 18 includes voters in Clackamas
and Marion counties. Finalists were se-
lected by the Republican Party, as
deemed by state law. The commissions
met jointly in Mt. Angel on Wednesday.
“The commissioners had three good
nominees to choose from and we appre-
ciate the willingness of each of the can-
didates to serve,” said Marion County
ANNA REED/STATESMAN JOURNAL
Silverton Mayor Rick Lewis, facing, is escorted by Rep. Mike McLane and Rep. Jennifer Williamson before he is sworn in as House District 18
Representative during a House of Representatives floor session at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Thursday, Feb. 23. Vic Gilliam resigned
from the seat before the start of the legislative session this year due to his diagnosis of ALS.
Commissioner Sam Brentano, who
chaired the appointment meeting. “This
is one of times that it hits home that
we’re making decisions on behalf of oth-
er people, and I take the responsibility
seriously.
“Rick Lewis is thoughtful and prag-
matic and will represent House District
18 very well, as Vic Gilliam did,” he add-
ed.
“House Republicans are looking for-
ward to formally welcoming Rick Lewis
as a member of the legislative assembly
when he is sworn in tomorrow,” House
Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-
Powell Butte), said following Wednes-
day’s appointment. “Rick’s decades-
long career as a public servant will be a
tremendous asset to the Legislature,
and I believe the residents of House Dis-
trict 18 will be well served by his leader-
ship in Salem.”
In addition to serving as Silverton’s
mayor, Lewis is a military veteran, re-
tired police chief, and past president of
the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Po-
lice.
“It is an incredible honor to have the
opportunity to serve the residents of
House District 18 as a member of the
Oregon Legislature,” Lewis said.
“Throughout my public service career I
have always strived to maintain a
healthy respect for all viewpoints, col-
laborate and compromise when possi-
ble and put the interests of the public
above all else. I pledge to continue to
abide by these principles as I begin my
legislative career today.”
jmuch@StatesmanJournal.com
or
503-769-6338, cell 503-508-8157 or follow
at twitter.com/justinmuch
Student behavior, mental health needs rising
CHRISTENA BROOKS
SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE
SILVERTON – The number of stu-
dents who have behavior problems and
are dealing with trauma has increased
noticeably this year in the Silver Falls
School District. It’s a trend seen through-
out the state, the school district’s special
services director told board members
last month.
“It’s everywhere. Every district is fac-
ing this. It’s the new epidemic,” Director
of Special Services Dana Pedersen said.
Some students’ behavior problems in-
clude low “self management” and “emo-
tional regulation” skills, while they and
others may also deal with traumatic situ-
ations at home. More students are com-
ing to school with problems stemming
from their out-of-school time and situa-
tions beyond teachers’ control, she said.
The district’s 28 licensed special edu-
cation teachers and 50 assistants are be-
ing required to provide more mental and
behavioral help to more students.
“We’re trying to make sure we have
enough support out at our K-8 buildings,”
Pedersen said.
Because so many school districts in
Oregon are seeing similar increases, in
October the Oregon Department of Edu-
cation created work groups between
school districts and the Oregon Health
Authority throughout the state. The
move came in response to urging from
special education directors.
“The hope of many directors it that
these work groups will provide an oppor-
tunity for schools to collaborate with
mental health and county caseworkers in
supporting students and families with
emotional and mental health needs,” Pe-
dersen said.
In the Silver Falls district, the total
number of students receiving special
education is 471 students, or 12 percent of
the student population.
Pedersen noted that the district is col-
laborating with FACT Oregon, an advoca-
cy group for families whose kids have
disabilities.
Scotts Mills vandalism investigated
JUSTIN MUCH
STAYTON MAIL
Marion County Sheriff’s depu-
ties responded to reports of early
Friday morning vandalism involv-
ing a small-caliber weapon in
Scotts Mills.
Lt. Chris Baldridge reported
that two separate residents in the
small town east of Mt. Angel re-
ported having windows shot out at
around 2 a.m.
Deputies responded to discover
one resident in the 6900 block of
Crooked Finger Road NE reported
a sliding glass door shattered by
gunshot. Roughly 20 minutes later
a resident in the 18000 block of Mt.
Angel-Scotts Mills Road NE re-
ported a window that had also been
damaged in the same manner.
Both reports described a car
speeding away from the area of the
shots.
At around 10 a.m., Silverton Po-
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lice reported four windows had
been shot out at Scotts Mills Ele-
mentary School with damages esti-
mated at $2,000.
Baldridge said investigators
think a small caliber gun, possibly
a pellet gun, was used in all three
cases.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
asks anyone with information re-
garding these events to call 503-
588-5032 or text anonymous infor-
mation to TipMCSO at 847411.
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