A3
THE ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022
Witt to campaign for
Salem-area state House seat
March
10th, 11th & 12th
3 Day Sale
Clatskanie Democrat’s
district was redrawn
Witt was at the center of a controversy
during the 2021 session when Rep. Vikki
Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, fi led a com-
plaint that Witt had sent her sexually harass-
By GARY WARNER
ing text messages.
Oregon Capital Bureau
Witt said Breese-Iverson misconstrued
his banter. But the Oregon House Commit-
State Rep. Brad Witt has fi led to run in tee on Conduct found Witt in violation of
the Democratic primary for a Salem-area Rule 27, which bars harassment or discrimi-
district with no incumbent.
natory behavior. The House stripped Witt of
The Clatskanie Democrat has rep-
three committee assignments.
resented House District 31 since his
Witt joins Salem city councilors
appointment in 2005. The district
Tom Andersen and Jackie Leung as
includes parts of Columbia, Mult-
candidates in the Democratic pri-
nomah and Washington counties.
mary for House District 19. Salem
In 2020, Witt was re elected with
insurance broker T.J. Sullivan has
50.5% of the vote over Republi-
fi led for the Republican primary.
can Brian Stout in one of the closest
Prior to redistricting , much of
Brad Witt
House races on the ballot.
the area in and around the new dis-
Witt announced in September that
trict was represented by Rep. Raquel
he would not seek re election, citing redis- Moore-Green, R-Salem, and Rep. Brian
tricting after the census that added more Clem, D-Salem. Moore-Green is running
Republicans to his district.
for the state Senate, while Clem did not seek
The surprise bid to run for the open House re election.
District 19 seat came a day before Tuesday’s
The Oregon Capital Bureau is a collabo-
fi ling deadline . Witt listed a Salem address ration between EO Media Group and Pam-
as his current home.
plin Media Group.
Market
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
%
20
OFF!
Election: New Gearhart fi rehouse on ballot
Continued from Page A1
Wev, in an email, said, “I am pleased that
the voters of District 3 will have a choice in
who is representing them on our c ounty c om-
mission. The strength of our democracy is the
ability for citizens to choose who speaks for
them and vote accordingly.”
Wev and Pinkstaff spoke shortly after he
fi led. She said she expects “both of us will
focus on the challenges we face and not waste
our time on personal attacks.”
“I was born and raised here. I love this
town. I have chosen to stay here and not move
away,” Pinkstaff , a deck mechanic for Tide-
water Barge Lines, said.
Pinkstaff said he wants to serve as a con-
duit between the c ounty and Astoria, particu-
larly in fi nding a solution to homelessness and
“cleaning up our downtown.”
“I look forward to giving this a run and
having a good election,” Pinkstaff said.
Thompson, who is running for a third, four-
year term, said in a text, “I’m looking forward
to constructive conversations about building a
better community in Clatsop County.”
District 5 covers Cannon Beach, Arch
Cape, Hamlet, Elsie, Jewell and a slice of
Seaside .
Dillard, an innkeeper with Sandy Cove
Inn and Red Door Vacation Rentals, said he
had been attending government meetings and
looking for a way to get involved. He hopes
to address the region’s workforce housing
scarcity and help the tourism and hospital-
ity industry fl ourish in the wake of pandemic
shutdowns.
“There are going to be solutions that are
developed on a countywide basis, and I think I
could assist at that level,” Dillard said.
County commission races are nonpartisan.
Voters in Gearhart will weigh Measure
4-213, a $14.5 million bond for a new fi re-
house off Highlands Lane.
The May ballot also features primaries to
choose candidates for state House and Senate
in the November election.
State Rep. Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook,
is giving up her House District 32 seat on the
North Coast to campaign for the Senate Dis-
trict 16 vacancy created by Betsy Johnson’s
independent campaign for governor. Weber is
unopposed in the Republican primary.
Melissa Busch, a home health nurse from
Warren, is unopposed in the Democratic pri-
mary and will face Weber in November.
State Sen. Rachel Armitage, a Warren
Democrat appointed by county commission-
ers to temporarily fi ll Johnson’s vacancy, said
at the time of her appointment that she would
not run for the seat.
In the Republican primary to replace
Weber in House District 32, Glenn Gaither,
a retired corrections offi cer from Seaside, is
up against Cyrus Javadi, a dentist from Tilla-
mook. Logan Laity, a small-business owner
from Tillamook, is unopposed in the Demo-
cratic primary.
Jewell: Parents frustrated with turnover
Continued from Page A1
that by focusing on the kids and focusing on
the staff . The rest of it is noise.
“So I see it as – my job is to try to get that
focus back to where it needs to be … Hope-
fully, I can help with that. I am looking for-
ward to it.”
With only a few months remaining in the
school year, Gardner said he plans to meet
individually with school board members and
administrators to get himself up to speed.
The acting superintendent’s duties will fea-
ture a combination of remote and in-person
work. Gardner, who is based in Nevada, plans
to make weekly commutes to the school dis-
trict, spending a few days at a time in Jewell.
In his contract , Gardner will be paid based
on days worked, with his weekly earnings
prorated at $800 per day. With the exception
of spring break, his contract requires a weekly
in-person presence .
After the conclusion of the school board
meeting on Monday, Gardner held a discus-
sion with parents and attendees, addressing
concerns and answering questions. Topics
touched on his availability, communication
and the lack of stability in the superintendent
role.
Parents expressed frustration with the
inability to fi nd a long-term solution at super-
intendent. Phillips was appointed superinten-
dent in 2019.
“Right now, we are on this every three,
four-year cycle of superintendents getting
turned around,” a parent, who also works at
Jewell S chool, said. “ ... It’s like a hamster in
a wheel, you keep on running, you keep on
working hard, but you are going nowhere.”
Gardner said he could potentially discuss
the issue with the school board. He indicated
that he would not pursue a permanent role .
Phillips was put on paid administrative
leave during a Feb. 15 special session, which
followed an executive session. An indepen-
dent investigation was initiated shortly after.
The school board has not disclosed the rea-
son for the investigation .
CONCEALED CARRY
PERMIT CLASS
MARCH 27 TH
AT 1 PM
All the meat you
can fit in a bag!
3-DAY SALE
March 10th, 11th & 12th
y
a
D
3
!
e
l
a
S
t
a
e
M
Where the
Meat Lovers Shop!
BEAT THE HIGH
COST OF INFLATION
WITH OUR SALE!
WE PRIDE OURSELVES
ON SELLING QUALITY
CUTS!
Best Western
555 Hamburg Ave, Astoria
Multi-State $80 Oregon Only $45
Oregon included no-fee
Shaun Curtain 360-921-2071
or email: ShaunCurtain@gmail.com | www.ShaunCurtain.com
191 S. Main Ave., Warrenton
503-861-2271
ww.MainStSelect.com