Resolution concerning CD6 Chair Don Powers

Dear XXXXXXX The following letter is being distributed to the full State Central Committee in accordance with a vote of Congressional District 6 on May 29, 2025, for your consideration.

TO: Oregon Republican Party State Central Committee (SCC) FROM: Helen Heller TITLE: Vice Chair, ORP Congressional District 6 DATE: Saturday, May 31 2025 RE: Request for Formal Investigation – CD 6 Presidential Inaugural Ball (January 20, 2025)

Statement and Request for Action

I am writing to inform you about serious concerns regarding the organization and financial handling of the Oregon Republican Party (ORP) Congressional District 6 (CD 6) Presidential Inaugural Ball, held on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. so that you may make an informed decision I would like to provide a brief outline from my point of view.

Shortly after President Trump’s 2024 victory, I proposed an inaugural event in Washington, D.C. to the Oregon Republican Party, which declined to pursue it. I then brought the idea to CD 6 Chair Don Powers, who enthusiastically accepted. In November 2024, the ORP Executive Committee voted 16–1 to approve the event as the Oregon Republican Party CD 6 Inaugural Ball. Don told me he had secured support from all five CD 6 county chairs—Washington, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, and Clackamas. I secured a $20,000 sponsorship commitment and informed Don. We agreed to reserve The Hamilton Live, a venue he recommended, which required a $25,000 deposit. Sponsors asked for CD 6’s ORSTAR ID to transfer funds, but Don instructed them to send the money to his personal account instead, citing simplified reporting. When the Oregon transfer failed, he provided a Wyoming account, and the funds were sent there.

Don selected the ticketing platform AFTON, which he initially described as patriotic and fee-free, later claiming he owned it. He promised me access to monitor ticket sales but never granted it. I sent him the names of sponsor guests, assuming they were entered, but many were missing the night before the event. I spent that night in the hotel lobby manually resolving the issue. Don gave only verbal sales estimates and occasional spreadsheets, but no receipts, vendor records, or reports from AFTON were ever shared. In a January 22 email, Don stated event proceeds were $31,497. On February

4, he texted a revised net estimate of $20,823—without documentation—contradicting his earlier figure.

On February 25, CD 6 Treasurer Nannette Cramer expressed concern that she had received no financial documentation from Don and could not complete the required ORESTAR reporting. She forwarded me an email from Don claiming the ticketing company had released the funds the week before, but he had not yet visited the bank for a cashier’s check. That same day, however, he told ORP Treasurer Glenn Miller that the funds were still being held—a direct contradiction. Despite repeated requests for transparency and a CD 6 meeting, none werescheduled. When the sponsors requested a receipt on March 1, Don refused and said he was offended. Over the course of nearly six months, I repeatedly asked Don to address these concerns. Ultimately, CD 6 members had to petition a meeting to move toward resolution. As of today, CD 6 has received none of the funds, and no disbursements or full financial records have been provided.

Escalation

Recently, several donors and sponsors reached out with concerns after learning that CD 6 never received any funds from the Inaugural Ball. They were alarmed to hear the event described as a private function, as all communications and advertisements promoted it as the “Oregon Republican Party CD 6 Inaugural Ball.” Donors made contributions under that understanding and made clear they would not have participated had it been presented as a personal effort by Don Powers. Because of the misrepresentation in official communications, some donors have stated they are prepared to file a formal complaint with the FEC—potentially naming Don Powers, CD 6, and the ORP—if the matter is not resolved. I requested assistance from the ORP to address the situation but was turned away. Therefore, I now intend to bring the issue before the State Central Committee.

Request for SCC Action

We respectfully bring this matter to the attention of the State Central Committee and formally request:

1. Support during the Saturday SCC meeting for a full and transparent investigation conducted by the Oregon Republican Party.

2. Attendance at a training hosted by Washington County, details will be announced as soon as possible, to help prevent future financial misconduct and reinforce internal compliance procedures.

Closing

This situation raises serious concerns about donor trust, financial accountability, and organizational integrity. I urge the State Central Committee to act swiftly to protect the Party’s credibility and ensure that all political contributions are handled with the highest level of transparency and responsibility.

Respectfully submitted,

Sincerely, Helen Heller Vice Chair, ORP Congressional District 6 Helen.Heller@Washco.gop | 503-317-8372Add text to your email.