The data center debate that has consumed Washington County politics turned physical Saturday when a man allegedly grabbed state Sen. Janeen Sollman's glasses off her face and threw them into the bushes at a public forum in Forest Grove.
The incident drew a joint condemnation from Oregon's top legislative leaders and adds urgency to the moratorium push led in part by Beaverton Rep. Farrah Chaichi.
Pedro Garcia-Balderrama, 28, faces charges of second-degree disorderly conduct and harassment, according to Washington County jail logs cited by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Both are Class B misdemeanors carrying up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Sollman, D-Hillsboro, was holding a constituent forum at Fernhill Wetlands on Saturday, Aug. 8, when Garcia-Balderrama allegedly launched a 10-minute diatribe focused on data centers and immigration, then got into the senator's face and snatched her glasses. A staff member called Forest Grove police, who arrested Garcia-Balderrama as he was leaving the event.
"It just elevated it to a different step that was concerning," Sollman told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Saturday, describing the episode as an act of political violence.
Garcia-Balderrama was released after about three hours in custody with an order not to contact Sollman, according to a report from Hoodline citing jail records. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, Aug. 13.
Legislative leaders respond
On Sunday, Aug. 9, Oregon's four top legislative leaders issued a joint statement condemning "intimidation and violence" during government proceedings. Senate President Rob Wagner, House Speaker Julie Fahey, Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama and House Majority Leader Ben Bowman wrote that public officials should be able to meet with constituents "without fear that a disagreement will turn into a physical confrontation."
The statement came as data centers have become the defining political issue in Washington County, where between a dozen and three dozen facilities are operating or planned. Data centers in Oregon receive nearly $500 million in property tax breaks this year alone, and a DHM Research poll found two-thirds of Oregon voters support a pause on new AI-related facilities.
Beaverton's role in the moratorium push
On Aug. 4, Chaichi joined state Sens. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, and Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, and state Rep. Lesly Muñoz, D-Woodburn, in announcing a plan to propose a three-year moratorium on new large data centers during the 2027 legislative session, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Hillsboro's City Council already enacted a 120-day moratorium on new data center applications on July 27.
Sollman herself lost her Senate seat in the May 2026 Democratic primary to Myrna Muñoz, who campaigned against data center subsidies and won 51.7% to 46.1%. Sollman is serving out her term through January.
Gov. Tina Kotek's data center advisory committee is scheduled to hold its final public meeting Sept. 23, with a report to the Legislature due in October.
