The Benton County Democratic Commission met last night in Corvallis, Oregon. All commissioners were present and stated that their vote to extend marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples was based on their interpretation of state law- not on their own personal beliefs. Jaramillo and Modrell voted yes - Dixon voted no.
There were about sixty people present, and the following resolution was passed. All people present voted in favor, with just one old guy abstaining. Candidate for state representaive Sara Gelser made a strong statement in favor of it. Current representative Kelly Wirth was absent, but she had people there.
Whereas the Benton County Commission decided on March 16, 2004 to order the county clerk to begin on March 24, 2004 to issue marriage licenses to all otherwise eligible opposite sex or same sex couples who apply, and
Whereas this is an affirmative, community driven repudiation of the Republican/Bush election year strategy of using same sex marriage to deepen the so called "cultural wars" in our nation, and
Whereas the difference in votes among the commissioners reflect differing reponses to complex legal issues rather than any fundamental difference in support for Benton County's lesbian and gay residents or disagreement on the appropriateness of extending to lesbian and gay people the more than one thousand protections provided for committed relationships by civil marriage. Therefore, be it
Resolved that the Benton County Democratic Committee commends Annabele Jaramillo, Linda Modrell, and Jay Dixon for their individual support of marriage equality, for their courage amidst the clamor of public and legal controversy, for their open process, and for the commission's decision to begin issuing marriage licenses in a constitutional and non-discriminatory manner. And be it further
Resolved that the Benton County Democratic Central Committee extends its full political support all three commissioners.
It now looks like the state is putting a hold on these marriage licenses until ruling. link