It didn't take long for the first candidate to file for the 2012 election cycle. According to the Secretary of State's online database, Republican state representative Greg Smith filed papers to run for office at 8:02 this morning, just two minutes after the filing period began. Smith, who hails from the eastern Oregon town of Heppner, is seeking a seventh term in office. During the previous election cycle, he was one of two eastern Oregon Republicans (Bob Jenson was the other) who faced primary challenges after Republican party officials expressed dismay about their votes on a pair of tax increases in the legislature. Smith handily won re-election, and he's wasting no time in showing that he's up for another term. (Jenson's margin of victory in the primary was closer. It's not clear whether he will return for another term.)
As of this writing, Smith is the only legislative candidate to file so far. (A judicial candidate from Tigard also filed this morning.) But there's no particular rush. Candidates for all open offices in the May 2012 primary have until next March to get their names on the ballot.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
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Chris -
ReplyDeleteBob Jenson did not "handily" win his re-election bid against Mike Mathisen. Despite being outspent almost 4-1, with most of Jenson's money coming from unions, Mathisen came within 118 votes of upsetting the "Dean of the House" and winning that Primary.
Jenson said afterward he would not seek another term which is why he is angling for the energy position. Jenson knows if Mathisen were to run again and have any sort of funding, he would lose. He's just not up to the fight again this time.
Hi Anonymous -- Jenson's margin of victory in the 2010 GOP primary was actually 198 votes, but point taken. I've updated the post.
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