Dear Neighbor,

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your State Representative. In my first legislative session, I kept the promises I made to expand opportunities for all Oregon families.

• I helped deliver the best budget for public schools— preschool through graduate school—this state has seen in over 16 years.
• I cut red tape for businesses by introducing and passing one of the largest regulatory streamlining initiatives in the nation.
• I introduced and passed laws to improve child passenger safety, and to reform the child abuse investigation procedures in Oregon.
• I stood up for families by passing a bill that requires insurance companies treat children with disabilities fairly. I also introduced and passed a bill that will help more medically involved children be able to grow up at home with their families, rather than being forced into foster care or nursing homes.
• I championed the effort to expand health coverage to over 117,000 Oregon children, worked to make sure women have access to birth control and emergency contraceptives, and proudly voted in favor of legislation to create domestic partnerships and anti-discrimination laws to protect all families.
• My votes to expand the bottle bill and pass the best renewable energy standards in the nation helped me earn a 100% rating from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters.
• Finally, I was pleased to help create the state’s first Rainy Day Fund, which will protect our state’s finances in times of economic recession.

With the first Democratic majority in 16 years, we made real progress for Oregon this session. However, there is still more work to do and I would like to return to the Legislature in 2009 to continue my efforts. We must make sure we have stiff penalties for those who would abuse or neglect children, the elderly or those with disabilities. We need to be sure no family faces bankruptcy because of the medical needs of their chronically ill or disabled child. We need to invest in innovative workforce development initiatives that move Oregonians out of poverty, and meet the demand for skilled workers by business and industry. We need to take bold steps forward to reduce domestic violence and child abuse, and hold domestic abusers accountable for their actions.

I need your help to return to Salem in 2009, and to help build the Democratic majority. This will take time, money, and many grassroots volunteers. Please use this website to learn more about my record in the Legislature, and to see what we accomplished in our first term in the majority. Please contact me by phone (541-760-2115) or email (sgelser@yahoo.com) with any questions you have.

You can continue count on me to be there when you need me, to advocate the interests of our communities, and to work to foster collaboration, trust and optimism in our legislature.

Sincerely,
Sara

Quick Facts:
Hometown: Corvallis
District: 16, Corvallis and Philomath
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Other Positions: Assistant Majority Leader (2007 session), Co-Chair House Democratic Policy Committee (2007-2008 Interim)
Appointments: Oregon Progress Board, State Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education, Child Welfare Advisory Committee
2007 Awards/Recognitions: "Rising Star" (Oregon Nurse's Association), "Legislative Champion" (Oregon Community Providers Association), "Developmental Disabilities Champion" (Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities), "Sylvia Mann Capper Memorial Award" (The Arc of Oregon), "100% Rating" (Oregon League of Conservation Voters)
2007 Committee Assignments: Revenue, Health Care, Human Services and Women's Wellness (Vice Chair), House Guidelines (Chair)
2006 Committee Assignments: House Select Committee on Education, Oregon Health Plan Task Force, Child Welfare Task Force