September 9, 2026 3:40 a.m. 

Republican candidate for Congress, Monique DeSpain will host a Healthy Forests Roundtable on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Association building on Willamette Street in Eugene.

A campaign release said the event will bring together a number of experts for a nonpartisan discussion on identifying and addressing the factors leading to the wildfire crisis in Oregon.

The panel will include forestry expert Dr. Bob Zybach, Rick Dice of PatRick Fire Fighting, Matt Cyrus of Oregon Family Farms, Jim Buell – a retired biologist and wildlife expert, State Representative Court Boice, Ed Shepard – retired Oregon State Bureau of Land Management Director, Sam Wheeler of Murphy Company, Bob Ragon and a number of others.

DeSpain will participate throughout the discussion to explore what she believes are practical solutions to unhealthy forests in Oregon.