Eddie Melendrez - On Ontario
“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.”
— Dolores Huerta
Where is Ontario, Oregon?
Intro by Blake:
Many in Western Oregon have little knowledge of the Oregon that exists beyond Bend. Ontario sits farthest east one can go in Oregon, separated from Idaho by the Snake River. How do I know about this place? I grew up here. And my mom still lives there. Soon after high school, I began to swim at the (now closed) aquatic center as I prepped for the US Coast Guard at 19 years old.
Today, that aquatic center can’t stay open because the city can’t afford it. Ontario has a long-standing tradition of old guard politics and, while the majority of the population is now Hispanic, they are severely underrepresented in local politics. Here, we interviewed city-council member and mayoral candidate, Eddie Melendrez. Eddie is an artist, activist, husband, and father who cares deeply about the community and about leading a legacy of helping and inspiring others to be their best selves.
During our time together we talked politics while he taught a boxing lesson to a young man. We later visited a mural that he was finishing up at Four Rivers Cultural School. Though our time together was brief, he left me inspired and has me hopeful about Ontario’s future.
If you find yourself in Ontario, don’t miss a chance to visit Tacos Mi Ranchito, Leslie Gulch, Jordan Craters, or the Alvord Desert. The area is gorgeous and offers a vast array of landscapes unlike anything you’ll see in the western part of our state.
Interview with Eddie:
In Oregon, so much of the population is concentrated on the western side of the Cascades and Ontario is often unknown. What would you want people to know about Ontario?
That we exist and love being a part of Oregon. I hope to build relationships on the other side so we can receive more support and resources.
Ontario is in one of the poorest counties in the state of Oregon (Malheur County) but brings in huge revenue for the state through marijuana taxes. We receive a portion of that revenue on a per capita contract with the state of Oregon. We end up supporting other like-sized cities around the state that are much better off than we are financially.
You have opened the door for the Hispanic population here to start considering local politics. For example, my friend is inspired by you and wants to run soon. While Hispanic folks are the majority in Ontario, you are their only representative in politics. What would you say to the next person wanting to join the city council?
We have had a few before me, like Councilman Palomo and Councilman Rodriguez, but currently I am the only Mexican-American and person of color in the council. I would hear from other Ontario residents how we needed change for the better and many of them encouraged me to be part of that change so I decided to run for council. I’m honored more people like your friend are thinking about running. What we need is more people with lived experience running for leadership roles in their communities. We can no longer sit on the sidelines and hope that someone else will help us or our communities.
We are the ones we have been waiting for; we are the change we want to see. It is scary, exhausting, and overwhelming at times, but who else is going to do it? We are becoming the majority in Ontario but hold little representation. Most think we as a people are not stepping up, which is half the story. When a group of people have been historically excluded from the benefits of society and now things are better, they have no trust in a system that wasn’t created for them. I just hope to inspire people like your friend and create relationships along the way.
If you could spend 30 minutes sitting in Oregon’s nature, where would you be? What draws you there?
I love visiting waterfalls around Oregon. Just in general, I love seeing all parts of Oregon’s wilderness from the high desert to the beautiful wooded areas. Oregon’s lands have changed the way I live and experience the outdoors as growing up I didn’t have a connection to the outdoors. Now I always plan my travel around seeing Oregon’s beautiful wilderness.
What would you like to see for the future of Ontario?
I would love to create an Ontario where our kids want to stay and raise their families. Beautiful parks, aquatic center, business, housing, downtown gathering place, riverwalk, and more. I want it to be a welcoming place for all. I want more people to think about how they can give back to Ontario and look to be part of the solution by getting involved through volunteering, donating, and running for leadership roles in the community. I always think if I want more I have to be willing to give back.
Learn more about Eddie Melendrez and his campaign. Please share this story where you can. Word of mouth can really help this town and this campaign flourish.
Facebook Chicano Art-Eddie Melendrez
