Democratic Senator Ron Wyden is returning to Oregon this weekend for a five-county town hall tour that kicks off at Gladstone High School Friday.

Press material and speeches at the events often remark on the fact that Wyden makes a point of visiting all of Oregon's 36 counties at least once per year. This weekend will mark the second time he's visited Clackamas, Benton, Marion and Douglas counties in 2017 and the third go-round for Lane County.

Wyden's meetings aren't marked with the same outbursts reserved for his Republican colleagues on the Hill who, like Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon's 2nd Congressional District, are often bombarded with crowds voicing opposition to the American Health Care Act.

Instead, the Oregon senator's constituents take a number, listen to a brief speech and then ask whatever's on their minds when they're called. Here's what to expect from Wyden's 2 p.m. town hall meeting at the Gladstone High School gym and the four that follow:

Want a good seat? Get there early

Because Wyden's Clackamas County meeting is scheduled for mid-afternoon on a weekday, arriving between 30 and 45 minutes early should guarantee a spot in one of the chairs in front of the podium and on the bleachers closest to the senator.

Russia will come up.

The FBI probe into whether anyone in President Trump's campaign colluded with the Kremlin in 2016 often comes up as the first topic when Wyden asks for questions from the audience. The senator usually repeats what he's told the press on the record — namely, that he wants a special prosecutor assigned to the case.

Last week, the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel for the investigation.

As will the budget

The Trump administration recently unveiled a budget proposal that would slash $9.2 billion in federal education spending while adding $250 million in private school funding and $167 million for charter schools.

Back in February, Wyden told constituents at another town hall he'd fight such efforts in the Senate.

Health care is another big topic

Once the House passed its Obamacare replacement, it went to the Senate, where Wyden has pledged to scrutinize the document and offer alterations in his role as a ranking member on the Senate Committee on Finance.

The senator told a group in Hillsboro earlier this month that he would work "night and day" to improve the bill.

Ditto net neutrality and vote-by-mail

The Federal Communications Commission this month opened public commentary for its revision of net neutrality rules. Wyden's Senate page links to the form.

The senator has been a vocal opponent of rules that would allow internet service providers to offer tiered speeds for websites, a move many claim would allow companies like Comcast and Verizon to give preferred treatment to their proprietary streaming services while throttling others like Netflix and Hulu.

Wyden also recently introduced legislation to make vote-by-mail a national standard — the senator often brings up the fact that Oregon typically enjoys a high voter turnout.

Have a question? Keep your ticket ready

When the Q&A begins, a moderator will call out the numbers on tickets handed out at the event's outset. Oftentimes, attendees will either fumble or lose their tickets, causing the moderator to move on to the next number.

If you're intent on asking Wyden a question, keep those slips of paper on hand — maybe memorize the last four digits and make yourself visible immediately after they're called.

Didn't get called on? Hang around for a bit

Wyden typically spends one or two minutes answering questions for local media after the town hall meetings end. But he'll also shake hands and spend time with constituents immediately afterward.

If you have a question for the senator and don't get called, waiting around afterward is a good way to get it answered. (This is also where an early arrival and a seat near the podium come in handy.)

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344

@edercampuzano

ecampuzano@oregonian.com