INCLUDES FULL MEETING VIDEO | Learn more about candidate Laura Maurer Rowan’s 15–year career in public service and her approach to community safety in outer East Portland …
Inside their cozy new location at Jenni’s Sacred Grounds, the Lents Neighborhood Livability Association holds their October meeting.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
An engaging crowd of 18 neighbors gathered on Thursday, October 8, 2026, for the monthly Lents Neighborhood Livability Association (LNLA) meeting at Jenni’s Sacred Grounds, located on SE Powell Boulevard in the Lents neighborhood.
LNLA’s David Potts called the meeting to order, offering a warm welcome to guests and thanking venue owner Jenni for stepping up to provide free use of her establishment when the association’s previous arrangement at New Hope Church came to an end.
Inside their new Powell Boulevard venue, local neighbors gather at this monthly LNLA community meeting.
Candidate Rowan shares 15–year career highlights
Guest speaker Laura Maurer Rowan, candidate for Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Position 2, detailed her 15–year public service career. Starting as a prosecutor in Multnomah County, Rowan pioneered the county’s first Mental Health Deputy District Attorney position.
“I was selected to pilot create the position and go back to the county a year later and they decided to fund it,” Rowan shared.
Beginning her talk, guest speaker Laura Maurer Rowan shares why she, as a potential judge, is meeting directly with East Portland community members.
Her experience spanned domestic violence, human trafficking, and violent crimes. She later advised the Portland Police Bureau at the City Attorney’s Office and currently serves as a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Oregon Department of Justice.
Missing courtroom work and public service
Explaining her decision to run for judge, Rowan expressed a desire to return to direct public service.
“The work I do now is much more research and writing … I miss feeling like I could help problem solve, fix things, and give back, even if it was just one case at a time,” guest speaker Laura Maurer Rowan tells Lents neighbors.
“I am running for judge because I miss being in the courtroom,” Rowan explained. “I miss being in an environment where I get to interact and interface with the public… feeling like I could help problem solve and fix things.”
Addressing criminal dockets and backlogs
Rowan emphasized that her criminal trial background aligns with the county’s court needs.
“Multnomah County last year, 87% of all jury trials were criminal jury trials,” Rowan noted. “That’s my bread and butter… why I was encouraged to run by current judges who are like, ‘We need to keep the dockets moving. We have backlogs. We need somebody who can come in right away.’”
She added that active judicial leadership during settlement negotiations can ease public defender shortages and prevent trial delays.
“I can’t comment on questions that would forecast how I might rule… or political ideology, because that is all irrelevant to the job of a judge,” guest speaker Laura Maurer Rowan explains to Lents neighbors. “The judge needs to apply the law evenly and as intended”.
Nonpartisan vision backed by local leaders
Rowan stressed the essential nonpartisan nature of the bench. “We don’t want judges to be activist judges,” Rowan stated. “We want judges to apply the law that the policy makers, lawmakers have written and not be weighed by influence.”
Her candidacy is supported by 30 Multnomah County judges, DA Nathan Vasquez, former Governors Barbara Roberts and Ted Kulongoski, firefighters, and law enforcement unions. Campaign details are available on her website: CLICK HERE to see it.
Key questions you’ll have answered by watching this video, recorded and produced by the LNLA:
How did candidate Laura Rowan work alongside police officers and survivors to combat human trafficking in Multnomah County?
How does Mental Health Court balance high-accountability wrap-around support with traditional consequences for repeat offenders?
How do repeated court delays and trial set-overs directly impact crime victims, and why does proactive case settlement matter?
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Next upcoming LNLA meeting
Mark your calendar for the next LNLA meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Jenni’s Sacred Grounds (10903 SE Powell Boulevard). Come and hear retired Portland Fire & Rescue Captain Chris Starling and Portland’s current Fire Chief Lauren Johnson speak on neighborhood fire safety. A light dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. RSVP via email at lnla2018@gmail.com.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
