Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 14, 2020)
ELECTIONS A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2020 GOP incumbents outline plans for next term By ANTONIO SIERRA STAFF WRITER State Rep. Greg Smith and state Sen. Bill Hansell are facing some unusual cir- cumstances in their reelec- tion bids — a Democratic challenge. Hansell, who represents Senate District 29 from his home in Athena, hasn’t faced a Democrat since he was fi rst elected in 2012. This will be Smith’s fi rst general election opponent since the Heppner business owner ran for District 57 in 2010. Irrigon contractor Roland Ruhe is running against Smith, but did not return a call for comment until after the print dead- line for the East Oregonian edition this article was writ- ten for. Joseph retiree Mil- dred O’Callaghan, Hansell’s opponent, did not return a request for comment. During his 10th term in the Oregon Legislature, Smith received an increased level of scrutiny from media across the state. Willamette Week said Smith “may be the best CANDIDATE BIOS compensated lawmaker in Salem,” highlighting con- nections between his day job as an economic devel- opment specialist and the projects he approves as a legislator. The Malheur Enterprise investigated the public con- tracts he holds through his personal company, includ- ing his role as the direc- tor of the Malheur County Economic Development Department Smith said he drew atten- tion to his nonlegislative work because of his will- ingness to declare potential confl icts of interest on the House fl oor. “I don’t know how much more transparent I can be,” he said. Smith said he has a big- ger target on his back because of his seniority and his close relationship to House Speaker Tina Kotek and Senate President Peter HOUSE DISTRICT 57 GREG SMITH Party: Republican Age: 51 Occupation: Small busi- ness owner and econom- ic develop- ment specialist Birthplace: Portland Education: Master’s degree, Eastern Oregon University Family: Married, fi ve chil- dren and one grandchild ROLAND RUHE Party: Democrat Courtney, who are both Democrats. Smith said he’s able to leverage those relationships into projects back in his dis- trict, pointing to funding for a new Head Start facility in Boardman. Smith continues to sit on the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, which will be responsible for tackling a budget with a COVID-19- shaped hole in it. SENATE DISTRICT 29 BILL HANSELL Party: Republican Age: 75 Occu- pation: Retired, former Umatilla County commissioner Birthplace: Colfax, Wash- ington Education: Bachelor’s de- gree, University of Oregon Family: Married, six children and 11 grandchildren MILDRED O’CALLAGHAN Party: Democrat While recent budget pro- jections have appeared ros- ier than expected, Smith said those numbers were infl ated by federal stimulus money. Smith said he antici- pates legislators will have to make cuts, reprioritize fund- ing, and even explore new sources of revenue, which could include new taxes. With the COVID-19 pan- demic showing no signs of abating back home, Smith said everyone needs to make sure they wear masks when out in public and socially distance themselves properly. “Every Oregonian needs to do a little more to stand up for our public health,” he said. Walkouts were the defi n- ing moments of some of the two previous sessions as GOP legislators left Salem to prevent the passage of a cap-and-trade bill favored by Democrats. Neither Smith nor Hansell anticipated another walkout in 2021, although both admitted that they hadn’t anticipated the previ- ous walkouts either. While there may not be another cap-and-trade bill, the environment promises to come up again as a per- tinent topic after wildfi res across the state displaced thousands of residents and caused air quality to drop to dangerous levels. Hansell said the Legisla- ture should review its for- est management policy, but he thought state, tribal and private forests were better maintained compared to fed- eral forests. He added that the state should be focused on working with the federal government to improve for- est management. Hansell compared leg- islating to a football team playing on offense and defense. On the offensive side, Hansell said he plans to work on bills that tackle issues relating to sexual abuse and domestic vio- lence. On defense, Hansell plans to stay vigilant on any bills that may hurt the agri- culture industry and work to reverse the Oregon Depart- ment of Corrections’ deci- sion to end its contract with Blue Mountain Community College and other commu- nity colleges to run its adult education programs. Hansell expressed pride in the bills he passed with bipartisan support and the capital projects he helped bring to his district, but his optimism was tempered by a legislative career spent in the minority. “I’m not at the table where a lot of these deci- sions are made,” he said. Local voters face state and federal choices on the ballot By JADE MCDOWELL NEWS EDITOR When Eastern Oregon residents open their general election ballots they will be faced not only with local races and measures, but can- didates for state and federal offi ce. Voters used to seeing Congressman Greg Walden on the ballot for Congres- sional District 2 will be faced with all newcomers in the race for the fi rst time since Walden was elected in 1998. On the Republican side of that race, Cliff Bentz is an Ontario rancher and for- mer water and business law attorney who served 10 years as a state repre- sentative and two as a state senator. During an interview with the East Oregonian’s edito- rial board in the spring, he touted his experience with water and land issues in Eastern Oregon, and voiced support for President Don- ald Trump. He said he had concerns about how much the United States is spend- ing during the pandemic, with little conversation about how the country will pay that money back. On the Democratic side of the race is Alex Spenser, who describes herself in her voter’s guide entry as a “writer/poet/motivational speaker/performance coach/ copperwright/campaign strategist.” She is from Klamath Falls. During a candidate forum hosted by EO Media Group in the spring, she said her focus was on end- ing the divisiveness in pol- itics and healing the divi- sion between Republicans and Democrats. She said it is important to support busi- nesses as they continue to adjust to circumstances cre- ated by the pandemic. Libertarian Robert Werch is also running for the seat. Sen. Jeff Merkley is also running for reelection, against Republican chal- lenger Jo Rae Perkins. Merkley has been a sen- ator since 2009, and before that had a long career in state-level politics, includ- ing time as a state represen- tative and Oregon House Speaker. Perkins, of Albany, is retired from the fi nan- cial sector, including past experience as an insurance agent, fi nancial planner and banker. She has gained national attention for her vocal support of the QAnon conspiracy theories. Pacifi c Green Progres- sive candidate Ibrahim A. Taher and Libertarian Gary Dye are also running for the seat. For Oregon Secretary of State, state Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, is fac- ing off against state Sen. Shemia Fagan, D-Portland. During a recent candi- date forum hosted by EO Media Group, Thatcher said she would continue the tradition of former secre- tary of state Dennis Rich- ardson in using the offi ce to provide checks and bal- ances, as the only Repub- lican holding a statewide offi ce in Oregon. Fagan said during the same forum that she would be an independent advocate for all Oregonians if elected. Also on the ballot for secretary of state are Pacifi c Green Progressive candi- date Nathalie Paravicini and Libertarian Kyle Markley. For state treasurer, vot- ers have a choice between incumbent Democrat Tobias Read, Republican Jeff Gud- man, Constitution Party candidate Michael P. Marsh and Independent Party/Pro- gressive Pacifi c Green can- didate Chris Henry. Running for Attorney General are Democratic incumbent Ellen Rosenblum and Republican Michael Cross. For more information about these races, see the Nov. 3, 2020, Voter’s Pam- phlet or coverage in the East Oregonian. THANK YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT "Senator Bill Hansell is a strong advocate for law enforcement. He always has our back." - Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan RE-ELECT SENATOR BILL HANSELL ENDORSED BY: Paid for by Friends of Bill Hansell
