Dear friends,

I write today to give an update on a pledge I made over a year ago to communicate closely with the people in District 46, and to ask for your thoughts on my communication going forward.

Additionally, I invite you to a coffee-shop conversation this Saturday April 14, from 8:30 to 9:30 am at Coffee Lovers, 4144 SE 60th Ave., just north of Foster St.

1. When I decided to run for the Legislature
I decided to run because I wanted to help make Oregon work better for the people in our district and around the state. And I needed my neighbors' help to get here. I talked to a lot of people around the district and, importantly, listened to what their priorities and concerns were. Then I asked them to help. I'm serving in Salem now because of the engagement of volunteers around the district. And the conversations we've had over the last year or so have shaped my priorities; my work at the capitol grows out of my own principles and what I've heard from constituents - in the community, in the capitol, on doorsteps, and over the phone.

And I can be most effective in the Legislature when constituents are involved - demonstrating support for bills with phone calls and emails, testifying in public hearings, and talking to your neighbors - all to help bring good legislation through the capitol. That's why it's so important that I hear from you. As issues and legislation come up, I need to know what you think. And your participation at the capitol has a significant effect on creating good policy.

2. How I've been in touch
I'll be holding my fifth coffee-shop event of the 2007 session this Saturday (see the notice above). These are informal, free-ranging conversations - a chance to meet me and other interested neighbors.

I've held four town hall and issue forums: one on the Healthy Kids Program, one on the Oregon Health Fund Program, one on the Environment, and one on State Revenue Reform.

I have visited three neighborhood corners around the district (including in the cold and rain!) to make myself available in a few of the places where we haven't held public forums, to talk to constituents.

I've met in person with dozens of constituents at the capitol and several more in the district, outside of office hours.

I've also traveled outside the district for legislative work, for a field hearing in Bend on renewable energy and an informative visit of the Johnson Creek Watershed network.

I created an online dialogue for constituent input on revenue reform, and plan to build on it. Over eighty have participated so far, informing me on priorities for our revenue system.

This is my tenth newsletter of the session. More than 2200 people now receive my occasional updates, and I'm happy to always get responses back. (If you know of any constituents who might appreciate the newsletter, please get them signed up.)

At the capitol, my staff and I have responded to multiple thousands of phone calls and emails on business before the legislature.

My legislative website, www.repbencannon.com, has received over 7000 page visits since its launch in mid-February. It includes my stances on several issues, news articles about my work in the legislature, my vote record, and info on upcoming visits in the district.

3. How to improve my communication
As you can see, we've done some experimenting. The purpose of all this communication is to (1) hear the priorities and concerns of my constituents, (2) share my experiences in Salem to improve legislative awareness in the community and responsiveness in the legislature, and through these efforts, (3) build understanding, links, and progress around our common challenges. While these are hefty, long-term goals, I believe we're on the right track. The contact has been extraordinarily helpful to me at least, and I hope you have felt well-served too.

Even as I'm working from Salem, I've tried to make myself as available to you as possible by spending time in the district and communicating through email and the website. But it occurred to me that I should ask you how I can be most helpful with the time I can commit to this work. So, a few questions follow. If you have responses to any or all of them, please reply to this email.