As this surprising political season gallops toward the May primaries, there is one more eyebrow raise in the books for Corvallisites as the youth-based environmental group Sunrise Corvallis steps up in support of Eugene’s Doyle Canning for the District 4 Congressional Seat being vacated by Peter DeFazio. The surprise in this endorsement lands at the door of Corvallis’s Sami Al-Abdrabbuh who is Canning’s competition.
Sunrise Corvallis is a group of young people from the Corvallis and surrounding areas who work “to create meaningful change through direct action, policy, and standing with other movements for change.” Their ultimate goal being to build a better community through radical hope, empowered youth, and systemic climate and environmental justice. This group is part of the larger Sunrise Movement going across the U.S. as the youth of today take on the climate revolution.
Al-Abdrabbuh has a record of being pro-environment, saying on his campaign website that he would continue his policies and economic changes that he sees as a steps toward reversing climate change.
Canning also has a focus on the environment, calling for specific clean energy changes in her campaign website, aligning her ecological priorities with job creation.
Perhaps the big question here is: When so many others in Corvallis are standing behind Al-Abdrabbuh, why did this organization choose to endorse the Eugene-based candidate? According to the Sunrise Instagram, it seems that, in part, Canning impressed the group with her grassroots organizational efforts.
By Sally K Lehman
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