Lurelle Robbins

I currently live in Portland but was raised on a farm in Nyssa, Malheur County, Oregon. I was the 2nd baby born in Malheur Memorial Hospital, a hospital established through the efforts of the citizens of a small rural town, and a tax district. The hospital is now gone as are most of the doctors who served the area. Having two communities such as Portland and Nyssa, I believe I represent a broad perspective of urban-rural concerns.

I have worked in Emergency Medical Services since 1975 as an EMT and a Paramedic for 27 1/2 years. I have worked in rural areas where an emergency response might be a 60 mile drive and take an hour to arrive. I have worked the California/Mexico border, and I have worked the inner cities of Portland and San Diego. I have a broad perspective on how the disenfranchised resort to the use of 911 as their heath care provider of choice, as well as at times for shelter and a meal. We should provide a system of health for all that does not call for such needs to be met in this manner.

I am a long time advocate of Health and Prevention as opposed to “disease management” health care. I have a strong passion for engaging the community throughout the state, from Multnomah to Malheur counties, to change the focus from providing disease management to providing the opportunity for all to gain health. I am co-chair of the Community Action Committee of the Multnomah Democratic Party and Interim District Leader for House District 33 (Mitch Greenlick’s house district).

I believe We Can Do Better. We can no longer sit back and wait for our elected representatives to do the right thing. They are encumbered by a system which allows finances and wealth to amass in larger and larger corporate entities. We Can Do Better, because “good government requires the participation of all good citizens.” We must empower the residents of Oregon and the nation to become involved, to think and to act. If one desires to accomplish change in an effective manner, they must take the first steps in reaching this goal.