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A4 THE BULLETIN • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 REP. RON WRIGHT " 1953-2021 Cop Representative is first member of Congress to die of COVID-19 GROMER JEFFERS JR. AND TOM BENNING The Dallas Morning News DALLAS — Rep. Ron Wright of Texas died Sunday night less than three weeks after contract- ing COVID-19. He was 67. His family and a spokesper- son confirmed Wright’s death due to the coronavirus Monday morning. The Republican con- gressman from Arlington, who was reelected in November, also had been battling lung cancer. Wright is the first member of Congress to die of COVID-19. “Congressman Wright will be remembered as a constitutional conservative. He was a states- man, not an ideologue,” accord- ing to a statement released by Wright’s office. “Ron and Susan dedicated their lives to fighting for individual freedom, Texas values, and above all, the lives of the unborn. As friends, family, and many of his constituents will know, Ron maintained his quick wit and optimism until the very end. Despite years of painful, sometimes debilitating treatment for cancer, Ron never lacked the desire to get up and go to work, to motivate those around him, or to offer fatherly advice.” According to the statement, Wright had been keeping a vigorous work schedule be- Salem Continued from A1 The impeachment, the equivalent of an indictment, passed 232-197. The trial of Trump, now out of office, be- gins Tuesday. Angry Trump loyalists wanted Cheney removed from the No. 3 post in House GOP leadership. But she won the conference vote 145-61. Cheney, the eldest daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, did not back down from her vote. Asked about the conference challenge, Cheney said on Fox News Sunday that she had no apologies. “The oath that I took to the Constitution compelled me to vote for impeachment and it doesn’t bend to partisan- ship, it doesn’t bend to politi- cal pressure,” she said. “It’s the most important oath that we take.” During a break in the de- bate, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., had signaled that he backed Cheney. “Liz has the right to vote her conscience,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, we’ll get united.” Bentz said late Friday that though he opposed impeach- ment, he backed retaining Cheney after she told the con- ference her vote was an indi- vidual choice, not as a party leader reflecting the GOP consensus on the issue. The tally was secret, but members were free to make public how they voted. Shaban Athuman/Dallas Morning News/TNS U.S. Rep. Ron Wright speaks in Midlothian, Texas, in 2019. fore contracting the virus. Two weeks ago Wright and his wife, Susan, were admitted to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas because of COVID-19 side-effects. Wright announced Jan. 21 that he had tested positive “af- ter coming in contact with an individual with the virus last week.” He had been in quaran- tine since Jan. 15 and said he would remain in isolation until doctors cleared him to return to work. “I am experiencing minor symptoms, but overall, I feel okay and will continue working for the people of the 6th District from home this week,” he said at the time in a statement issued by his office. “I encourage ev- eryone to keep following CDC guidelines and want to thank all Hernandez expulsion vote possible Feb. 16 Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said Monday that Rep. Diego Her- nandez, D-Portland, would likely face a Feb. 16 vote to ex- pel him from the House. Five women have accused Hernandez of using his po- sition as a state lawmaker to sexually harass them. The House Conduct Committee voted 4-0 Friday to sustain 18 findings of violation of House rules. As of Monday, Gov. Kate Brown, Treasurer Tobias Read, Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, Kotek and 26 of 37 House Demo- crats have called on Hernan- dez to resign, which he has refused to do. The Feb. 16 vote would require votes of two-thirds of the House — 40 members — to expel him. Hernandez was seen as a po- tential political star when he was elected to the House in 2016 at age 29. Salem security under discussion The plywood boards that covered the lower level win- dows of the Oregon Capitol in case of violent demonstra- tions around the Jan. 20 in- auguration of President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., are being removed. The boards were put up af- ter a Department of Home- land Security alert to states that right-wing groups that back Trump might attack state capitols. The Oregon Capitol was assaulted by www.bendbulletin.com 541.382.1811 Continued from A1 The 22-page lawsuit names as defendants several Red- mond Police supervisors, in- cluding Chief Dave Tarbet, Lt. Eric Beckwith, former presi- dent of the Redmond officers union Garland Hicks and ad- ministrative Lt. Jesse Petersen, who serves as department spokesman. Petersen deferred a request for comment on Monday to the city’s communication director, who cited a policy against commenting on pend- ing litigation. Fraker contends the alleged campaign against him began in late 2018 after he reported a Bend Police officer to super- visors for aggressive behav- ior observed at a local firing range. Petersen and the officer are members of the region’s interagency SWAT team, the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, and, accord- ing to the suit, are friends. After Fraker went to the Bend officer’s bosses, Petersen asked Fraker to not interfere with his friends on SWAT again, Fraker says in the suit. Several months later, Pe- tersen called Fraker into his office and told him “you’re either with me or against me, and if Fraker was against him, it would “make his ‘D’ come out,’ Petersen allegedly told him. “Plaintiff took this to mean Lt. Petersen intended to be- come more aggressive to- wards him if he continued to the medical professionals on the front lines who fight this virus head-on every single day.” The quarantine began two days after the House voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump. Wright voted against the impeachment, as did all but 10 Republicans. That was his final House vote, congressional records show. Wright, given his age and health complications, stayed away from Washington for stretches at a time over the last 11 months, House voting re- cords show. While congressio- nal leaders have taken steps to stop COVID-19’s spread, sev- eral lawmakers have still con- tracted the virus. Wright had not received a vaccination, unlike many House members. But Wright had just received the OK from his doctors to get the two-shot program before he contracted COVID-19, his office had said, and was planning to do so in the near future. Although the pandemic had not claimed the life of any other sitting member of Congress, Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, a Lou- isiana Republican, died from coronavirus complications just five days before he would have been sworn in. groups on Dec. 21 during a special session of the Legis- lature. They used lower level side doors and windows in an attempt to enter the rotunda area. After fighting with state po- lice, they were ejected. Hardware is being installed to make it easier and faster to put up the boards if necessary in the future. Nearman investigation continues The Marion County Dis- trict Attorney’s office has been sent the Oregon State Police investigative report on the alleged role of Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, in aiding the Dec. 21 rioters to enter the Capitol, Kotek said Monday. Security video shows Ne- arman exiting a locked side door of the Capitol during the demonstration outside, which remained open and was soon used by rioters to get into the building. Kotek said any action against Nearman by the House would most likely await the decision of the district attorney’s office on whether to prosecute. Unemployment, right-wing threats top Fagan agenda Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, elected in No- vember, released her 2021-22 Audit Plan last week. One of the office’s jobs is to internally investigate the performance of state agencies. “This year’s audit plan is di- rected at many of those most pressing issues with an eye toward building a better Ore- gon for everyone,” Fagan said in a statement. Planned audits include: • An analysis of the Oregon Unemployment Insurance Program’s chaotic perfor- mance during a historic rise in unemployment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The audit would identify ways that the monthslong wait for benefits would not happen during a future crisis. • Emergency response is- sues during the 2020 wild- fires. • Oregon’s COVID-19 vac- cine distribution program, which has been criticized for its pace and priorities. • Contamination risks of rural water supplies. • Oregon law enforcement’s handling of violent domestic terrorist groups that have in- cluded violent attacks at the Oregon State Capitol. • Fairness of licensing and regulation of legal cannabis business. • The performance of state and local 911 emergency call- ing systems. • Cybersecurity at state agencies and local govern- ments, some of which use an- tiquated systems. • Mortgage interest deduc- tion and its relationship to impacts on homeless services. To view the full 2021-22 audit plan, click here https:// olis.oregonlegislature.gov/ liz/2021R1/Downloads/ CommitteeMeetingDocu- ment/230571 e e Donald “Ryan” Fraker contends the alleged campaign against him began in late 2018 after he reported a Bend Police officer to supervisors for aggressive behavior observed at a local firing range. push back against the conduct described above,” Fraker’s lawyer wrote in the suit. In another incident in the summer of 2019, Fraker hosted a 911 dispatcher as a ride-along. He told the woman she could park in the department parking lot, but Redmond Lt. Curtis Cham- bers allegedly issued her a parking citation during the ride-along. Fraker explained the situation to Chambers, but Fraker claims he was laughed at and told Chambers didn’t care if the woman had permission. Following this incident, the lawsuit states every lieu- tenant in the department be- gan treating Fraker poorly and the mistreatment of plaintiff became increasingly more “formal,” the lawsuit states. The suit describes a party involving SWAT team members where officers pre- sented Beckwith with a cus- tom screen-printed pillow adorned with a large picture of Fraker’s face. “Beckwith began berating the pillow and yelling profan- ity at it,” the lawsuit states. Fraker was ultimately fired in February 2020 after an in- ternal investigation into his handling of a Nov. 19, 2019, e e Internet In Deschutes County, pri- mary care providers will be contacting their patients who are 80 and older who qual- ify for the vaccine. Accord- ing to 2018 U.S. Census data, there are an estimated 7,500 residents 80 and older living in Deschutes County, said Morgan Emerson, Deschutes County Health Services spokeswoman. “These appointments most likely will be done over the phone,” Emerson said. “Be- cause of limited availability of the vaccine, people will get a call.” Last week, the governor outlined a plan to vaccinate Oregon’s senior citizens, those 65 and older, who would be eligible by March 1 and re- ceive the first dose by April. Deschutes County re- ceived its first round of doses for seniors, 1,200 first-doses late last week. Meanwhile, residents can still receive their second doses at the De- schutes County Fair & Expo Center. There’s a lot of interest and confusion in this age group, said Elaine Knobbs-Seasholtz, Mosaic Medical director of strategy and development. “We have lists pulled for each age group,” Knobbs-Sea- sholtz said. “People are defi- nitely interested. Many peo- Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com Don’t have internet? Continued from A1 Call 541-699-5109 to get help filling out the COVID-19 vaccine interest form 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon- day through Friday. People can also call 211 or 866- 698-6155 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily including hol- idays. Wait times may be long, but there is an option to leave a message. ple are very grateful and have already gotten their vaccine at the fairgrounds.” The state recognizes that not everyone can sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine online, said Jonathan Modie, Oregon Health Authority spokesman. Anyone calling the state’s 211 system can get help accessing a county’s website to obtain information about a pub- lic vaccination clinic. In five counties, Clackamas, Colum- bia, Marion, Multnomah and Washington, residents who call 211 can book an appoint- ment for a vaccine, Modie said. “We know there are people who may not have access to the internet or are not com- fortable with it, and we want to make sure that they have the same level of service as everyone else,” Modie said. “We have options.” e e Reporter: 541-633-2117, sroig@bendbulletin.com gwarner@eomediagroup.com Robert “Bob” “Silver Eagle Bob” William Monson of Bend,OR We have had great results with Whiteboard Media’s digital marketing program. I have a quarterly meeting with Makenna Frickey and Levi Durighello, where they cover everything in detail and help me make any adjustments. They are very thorough and helpful. Can’t wait to see our results for this quarter! Amy Remick Offi ce Manager Gilmore Dental www.gilmoredental.com vehicle-and-foot pursuit that he supervised as a sergeant. He claims Beckwith and oth- ers “blindsided” him with an extensive three-hour inter- view and more than 100 ques- tions in an effort to catch him making inconsistent state- ments. The 2019 pursuit incident led to a so-called Brady hear- ing with Deschutes County District Attorney John Hum- mel. In Oregon, district attor- neys keep lists of police offi- cers determined to have been untrustworthy in the past, also called Brady lists for the landmark U.S. Supreme court case, Brady v. Maryland. Hummel opted to add Fraker’s name to his Tier II Brady list, rather than Tier I, meaning that although Frak- er’s department considered him untruthful, Hummel did not. In 2019, former officer Craig McClure sued Red- mond for enabling a culture of bullying encouraged by Tarbet, Beckwith and oth- ers. His suit, which cited age discrimination against the 42-year-old rookie, settled out of court last year. June 24, 1940 - Jan 31, 2021 Arrangements: Niswonger-Reynolds 541- 382-2471 www.bendfuner- alhomes.com Services: 2/10/2021 10:00 am Rec- itation of Rosary 10:30 am Funeral Mass St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 2450 Ne 27th St. Bend OR Contributions may be made to: Knights of Columbus Fr. Luke Sheehan Council 2450 Ne 27th St. Bend, OR 97701 Philip John Swee of Redmond, OR December 30, 1961 - February 1, 2021 Arrangements: Autumn Funerals of Redmond is honored to serve the family. 541-504-9485 Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family on our website at www.autumnfunerals.net Services: A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Carol Joan Laite of Redmond, OR Jan 01, 1940 - Jan 29, 2021 Arrangements: Arrangements Entrusted To: Redmond Memorial Chapel; 541.548.3219. Please visit www.redmond- memorial.com to sign the on-line guest book, or to leave a thought, memo- ry or condolence for the family Services: A Funeral Service is Scheduled to be held at Redmond Memorial Chapel; 717 SW 6th St., Redmond; on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021 at 2pm Contributions may be made to: VFW, American Legion, Band of Brothers, or Dis- abled Veterans Charity of Your Choice OBITUARY DEADLINE Call to ask about our deadlines 541-385-5809 Monday - Friday, 10am - 3pm No death notices or obituaries are published Mondays. Email: obits@bendbulletin.com