Douglas County Central Committee Board Members
Dean Byers, Chair
Chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party since 2006, Dean is also a Delegate to the State Democratic Central Committee and its Platform and Resolutions Committee. He is also a Delegate to and on the Executive Committee for the 4th Congressional District. With his wife, Sara, Dean was an elected Obama delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He's an Oregon native, born and raised in Medford and a graduate of Southern Oregon University. Dean is a pilot, having flown many missions for Angel Flight of Florida and Oregon Air Lifeline. He's an avid hunter and fisherman. He and his wife Sara have two daughters, both graduates of U. of O. (go Ducks!)
Lorna Hayden, Vice-Chair
Lorna was raised in the Redwood forests of Mendocino County in Northern California. She attended Fort Bragg CA High School and graduated from Point Arena High. Lorna has a BA in International Relations and attended the UC Davis School of Ed. Internship Program. She first taught sixth grade in Sacramento CA and moved to Oregon in 1972. Lorna taught for over 20 years in the Glendale Oregon School District. Her political activities involve the Glendale Ed. Association (GEA) and Oregon Ed. Association (OEA). Lorna moved to the Green District of Roseburg in 2006 and worked the phone bank with her friend and mentor, Karen Famous. In 2008 Lorna was elected as the Vice Chair and ran the canvass and data entry arms of the Obama campaign. She also served as delegate to the State Central Committee. She was reelected to both positions in 2010.
Deb Gray, Recording Secretary
Sharon Rice, Democratic Women and Corresponding Secretary
Retired Assoc. Prof of Nursing and taught nursing for 24 years at Umpqua community College. Chair of Douglas county Democrats for 6 years beginning 1998 and am now communications director for the local party. Previous delegate to the State Democratic Party from Douglas County. Have two daughters, four grand children and two gray kittens. A progressive Democrat; believe in a woman's right to choose; an environmentalist; do watercolors and volunteer in the schools doing art.
Sara Byers, Treasurer
A lifelong Democrat, Sara has been Treasurer of the Douglas County Democratic Party since 2004. She's also a delegate to the State Democratic Party's Platform & Resolutions Committee and an Alternate to both the State Central Committee and the 4th Congressional District. Sara and her husband, Dean, were elected as Obama delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. She describes her experiences there as "intense, unique, exhilarating, once in a lifetime". Sara ran for the Oregon State Legislature in 2010 and, although she lost the race, she definitely recommends doing it! She says, "I met some great people, learned a lot and got out a progressive message in a conservative area."
State Central Committee Delegates
- Dean Byers, State Party Delegate
- Lorna Hayden, Vice-Chair
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Charles Lee
Charles is a state central committee delegate. He was born in Wisconsin, raised in Wisconsin, New York, Maine and Minnesota and came to Oregon in 1966 for college. He has the distinction of being the only member of the Reed College Students for Humphrey in 1968. He is a cynic, economic determinist, capitalist, landlord, prosecutor 1970 - 1987 and a lawyer 1987 to date; a current member of the following boards: Roseburg School Board, Fish Food Pantry Board, Umpqua Homes for the Handicapped Board and Faith Lutheran Church, Charles is husband of one and a father of three.
State Central Committee Alternates
Fourth Congressional District Delegates
- Dean Byers
- Shirley Cairns
- Ellie Blanton
Fourth Congrestional District Alternates
- Sara Byers
- Joe Blanton
- Chris Rusch