Washington, D.C. – Crook County Commissioner Seth Crawford attended the President’s State of the Union Address at the United States Capitol during a recent visit to the nation’s capital, where he and Commissioner Susan Hermreck also met with members of Oregon’s federal delegation to advocate for Central Oregon priorities.
Crawford said he attended the event after U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) shared his ticket after he and fellow Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) decided not to attend, instead holding a virtual town hall earlier in the day, according to reporting by our partners at KTVZ News.
“It was an honor to attend the State of the Union,” Crawford said in a statement. “A huge thank you to Senator Merkley for sharing his ticket. I am so proud to be an American. We are already seeing how the changes the Trump administration is making are improving the lives of the people in Crook County.”
The Prineville Review spoke with Crawford earlier today, where he again reinforced his efforts seeking federal support for local infrastructure, with particular interest on road improvements for Powell Butte Highway and Juniper Canyon.
“I will be returning to Washington in the coming months to continue seeking support for our roads and highways affecting those in Crook County,” said Crawford. “These are important issues that have involved a lot of public input.”
Crawford and Hermreck traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual conference of the National Association of Counties (NACo), an organization that represents county governments nationwide and advocates on federal policy issues affecting local jurisdictions.
While in Washington, the commissioners met with Congressman Cliff Bentz, Senator Merkley, and Senator Ron Wyden to discuss federal policy matters impacting Crook County and other rural communities.
According to Crawford, key priorities raised during those meetings included:
- Strengthening rural transportation infrastructure, specifically improvements in Juniper Canyon and at the Highway 126/Powell Butte Highway intersection.
- Delisting gray wolves on the west side of Oregon, including areas affecting Crook County.
- Streamlining federal permitting processes.
- Increasing timber production to support rural economies.
Crawford said rural counties face unique economic and regulatory challenges and require “practical, balanced federal policies that support both economic stability and local safety.”
“Rural counties must have a seat at the table,” Crawford said. “Crook County may be small in population, but our community, natural resources, and families deserve strong representation. I will continue working to ensure our voice is heard.”
The trip comes as federal land management, infrastructure funding, and wildlife policy continue to generate debate across Oregon, particularly in rural counties where federal decisions can have direct impacts on transportation safety, natural resource industries, and local budgets.
It was not immediately clear whether any specific funding commitments or legislative actions resulted directly from the meetings.
Note: This story was updated after initial publication to give better context as to the shared ticket for Crawford’s attendance.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
