Rep. Cliff Bentz serves billionaires; we need a congressman who cares about working people

By KG Stiles

Something is shifting in Southern Oregon.

Recently, I contacted my congressman, Rep. Cliff Bentz, to express concerns about the state of our country and the actions taken by President Trump since beginning his second term. The reply I received was deeply disappointing — a boilerplate letter filled with outdated Reagan-era talking points, dismissals of government services and thinly veiled contempt for constituents like me who dare to speak up.

What I saw in that letter was not leadership — it was propaganda. Instead of listening to those of us who are concerned about rural healthcare, public education, environmental protection, and economic justice, Rep. Bentz chose to defend deep cuts to the very programs that help everyday Oregonians survive and thrive.

This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about representation. For more than 40 years, Southern Oregon has been under Republican control, yet time and again, our needs have been sidelined in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy and deregulation that hurts working families. Meanwhile, we’re told that programs serving the public good are a burden, not a benefit. That kind of thinking is not only out of touch — it’s dangerous.

In Ashland and beyond, people are waking up. We’re tired of elected officials who serve billionaires and corporate donors while dismissing the concerns of the communities they were elected to represent. We deserve a representative who shows up, listens and responds with care — not contempt.

As we look ahead to the next election, I hope we come together across differences to elect someone who understands that rural Oregonians deserve real leadership — someone who stands with the people, not the powerful.

Let’s make 2026 the year we turn the page.

KG Stiles is a longtime Ashland resident, author and small-business owner who advocates for wellness, environmental justice and economic equity in Southern Oregon.