If a tree falls in the forest, will District 11 hear it?

Timber Unity launched in 2019 as a spontaneous rural protest movement. Truck drivers, loggers, farmers, and others in Oregon’s natural-resource economy organized convoys and rallies to oppose cap-and-trade legislation and what they viewed as urban-led policies harming their livelihoods. The group quickly gained statewide attention for its grassroots energy. By 2021–2022, the organization had grown into multiple formal entities: a 501(c)6 nonprofit membership association and a separate political action committee (PAC). This period also saw documented leadership changes and internal disagreements over direction.

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Public reporting at the time described differing visions among participants:

• Some original organizers wanted to keep the focus on issue awareness, community events, lobbying, and direct action.

• Others saw greater impact in building a more structured political arm — endorsing candidates, raising funds through a PAC, and supporting aligned officeholders who could influence policy in Salem.

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Tensions culminated in resignations, board disputes, and even a trademark disagreement between the association and the PAC that required attorneys. Several early leaders, including Jeff Leavy, stepped away and formed a new group (Oregon Natural Resource Industries & Associated Families) to continue what they saw as the original mission.

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During this transition, Angelita Sanchez (then a Sweet Home City Councilor and former association board member) and Mike Pihl became co-directors of the Timber Unity PAC.

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Financial Context (April 2022 – August 2024) This timeframe overlaps with the post-split period when the PAC operated under its new leadership structure and Sanchez was serving on (and later seeking re-election to) the Sweet Home City Council. Public campaign-finance records and additional documentation show that resources from the Timber Unity PAC were directed toward political activities and candidate support during these years. One example involves several transfers totally $4,758 in PAC funds tied to activities in this window. On the scale of a small-town city council race (typical budgets often $1,000–$10,000 total), this amount represents a substantial portion of resources — potentially enough to fund major elements such as yard signs, mailers, or voter outreach across Sweet Home. In the larger context of Oregon House District 11 races (typically $30,000–$150,000), it would be a helpful but more modest contribution. Supporters of the PAC’s direction have argued that electing “friendly” politicians is the most practical way to deliver long-term results for rural communities. Critics from the original grassroots side viewed the shift as moving away from pure issue advocacy toward professionalized electoral politics, sometimes describing it as a departure from the group’s founding “by the people, for the people” spirit.

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Why This Matters for Voters

Timber Unity played a visible role in rural advocacy and influenced several statewide issues. Understanding how its structure, leadership, and funding priorities evolved provides important context for evaluating candidates who were deeply involved in the organization — including current officeholders and those seeking higher office. Local voters deserve a clear picture of how activist groups and their resources intersect with elected leadership, especially when the same individuals move between organizational roles and public positions.