The Council of State Governments West (CSG West) has appointed Oregon Senator David Brock Smith as Co-Chair of the Public Safety Committee for 2024. Senator Brock Smith represents District 1 in the Oregon Senate, which encompasses all of Curry and most Coos and Douglas Counties. He will serve alongside Co-Chair Senator Matt Claman of District H in the Alaska Senate.
The CSG West Public Safety Committee provides a forum for Western state legislators to exchange information and ideas on public safety issues. Recent issues addressed by this Committee included topics such as:
– Tackling the soaring drug crisis
– Addressing mental and behavioral health issues
– Reducing juvenile incarceration rates
– Increasing diversion from the juvenile justice system
– Reducing recidivism
– Increasing data sharing
Senator Brock Smith has extensive public service experience, including public safety. He has served as the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners and with the Association of Oregon Counties. He is a member of the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety and during his 7 years in the Oregon State Legislature served on the Governor’s Opioid Epidemic Task Force. He also serves on the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), Oregon Legislative Coastal Caucus, Co-Chair of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Co-Convenor of the Sudden Oak Death Task Force, Co-Convener of the Maritime Workforce Development Task Force and the Western Legislative Forestry Task Force.