I am a nonpartisan political advocate living in Clackamas County.

The residents of both Deschutes and Clackamas County are represented by Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.

While I am not a Republican, I am honored to be represented by Rep. Chavez. She loves veterans and we love her.

While I am the one usually advocating for veterans with the Portland VA Medical Center, I recently needed an advocate. The VA had been engaging in troubling behavior with both myself, an Iraq veteran, and my father, a Vietnam veteran. They had been neglecting my father and harassing his son. We had enough. We turned to Rep. Chavez-DeRemer. She has become our champion.

Although I traveled around in the Army, the 5th Congressional District has always been my home. Our last two Democratic representatives, Hooley and Schrader, couldn’t have cares less about constituent services. As someone who used to work congressionals for soldiers in the Army, I can tell you that Hooley and Schrader were lazy.

They were more concerned with fundraising than helping veterans who had problems with the Portland VA. Rep. Chavez-DeRemer is the only member of Congress who I, as an advocate, will send veterans to. She is the only western Oregon member of Congress who hasn’t been bought off by the VA’s public employee unions. Senators Merkley and Wyden are shills for the VA. I’m supporting and voting for Rep Chavez-DeRemer.

Brian Fitzgerald

Happy Valley

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