Former Republican gubernatorial nominee and House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, a Canby-area resident, this week announced the launch of a new nonprofit social welfare organization which she says will work to build support for policies that will improve Oregonians’ lives and lead the state in a new direction.
“Oregon remains a state of unsurpassed promise, but without checks and balances, our state continues to cater to powerful elites and political extremes, ignoring the needs of thousands of Oregonians, hurting our quality of life and limiting our potential,” Drazan said in a press release Tuesday.
“Our state’s future has been neglected for too long. It is time for the common good to be our highest priority. A New Direction is dedicated to holding power to account and providing Oregonians with a more balanced approach to the challenges we face. Oregon can be saved, but it will take a new direction.”
Drazan’s group, A New Direction, is a 501(c)4 nonprofit “dedicated to connecting Oregonians with each other to advance policies and ideas that make Oregon a safer, more affordable place to live and raise a family, strengthen checks and balances, improve transparency, empower Oregonians and support the next generation.”
A basic website, which as of Tuesday consisted of only the initial press release, social media links and a form to sign up for a mailing list, is available at www.and-or.org.
Drazan represented Canby and the surrounding area in the Oregon House of Representatives for three years, including two years as House minority leader, before stepping down in early 2022 to pursue a gubernatorial bid.
She won a crowded GOP primary for the Republican nomination and led in several polls throughout a hotly contested race to replace outgoing Governor Kate Brown before ultimately falling to Democrat Tina Kotek in November.
Tuesday’s announcement marked her first communication about possible future plans since conceding her defeat to Governor Kotek last year. She also participated in the Canby Independence Day Celebration parade earlier this month in support of Republican Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, 501(c)(4) nonprofits are classified as social welfare organizations, which must operate primarily to further the common good and general welfare of the people of the community, such as by bringing about civic betterment and social improvements.
Tax-exempt social welfare organizations are not prohibited from political activity, as long as it is not its primary work. A 501(c)(4) can lobby for legislation germane to its organizational goals, but may not directly or indirectly participate in political campaigns for or against a particular candidate.
