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SATURDAY March 27 , 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 10, 2004 Uherbelau jumps into House race By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings State legislative veteran Judy Uherbelau has made a late entry into the House District 5 race and will face off against fellow Democrat Peter Buckley in the May primary. The winner of that contest will run against businesswoman Joanna Lofaso, the only Republican running for the representative post, in the November general election. All three candidates live in Ashland. Potential candidates had until 5 p.m. on Tuesday to file for the seat, according to the Secretary of State Elections Division. "This was kind of a late decision," Uherbelau said Tuesday, the day she announced her intention to run for the seat. "I think there was a lot of concern expressed out there and people called me. With (Senator) Lenn Hannon leaving after 30 years and (District 6 Representative) Rob Patridge deciding not to run, there was real concern about the lack of familiarity with the Legislature and how it works. I got convinced." Uherbelau served three terms as state representative until January of 2001, when a new term-limit law blocked a reelection bid. The law was overturned that year, opening the door for her to seek the post again. Buckley, 47, the executive director of Democracy's Edge, a state organization dedicated to encouraging citizen participation in government - ran an unsuccessful campaign against national Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., in 2002. He has not served in Congress or the state legislature, according to Amy Amrhein, his campaign manager. "I believe he would come up to speed very quickly and learn how to be a good legislator," Amrhein said. Buckley, who announced his intention to run last month was surprised that Uherbelau is running. Nevertheless, he is prepared for the challenge, he said. "I look forward to a positive and spirited campaign," he said. "It's a great vehicle for both of us to get important issues out... I feel I have the skills to bring that voice to Salem." These issues include tax reform, the best ways to fund education in Oregon, health care, and ways to bring better paying jobs to the state and region. Buckley said he has nothing but admiration for Uherbelau. "I respect her and the work she has done for the district," he said. Amrhein said the Uherbelau candidacy creates challenges. "It certainly complicates the campaign," Amrhein said. "They are both very good candidates. I will work very hard for Peter Buckley, but the Democrats will come out well either way, whoever wins." Lofaso, 55, a business relationship manager/ commercial loan officer for Wells Fargo Bank, said she doesn't have any specific cuts in mind to alleviate budget problems, nor does she know of any particular areas where there is waste in education. But she said she wants to make sure money isn't being wasted on bureaucracy. "I think it's important to put the money into the classroom," she said. "I don't want to short-change the students." With a background in banking and finance, Lofaso said she will put her skills to use in the Legislature to resolve the fiscal problems that have plagued the state. She said she has a group of volunteers who will help campaign for her and are ready to take on either Democratic challenger, despite her limited political background. The three Ashlanders are running for the seat being vacated by Alan Bates, a Democrat and also an Ashland resident. Bates is seeking the Senate position once held by Hannon, a Republican and Ashlander who was appointed to the State Board of Parole and Post Prison Supervision. Cathy Shaw, Bates' legislative aide and campaign manager and author of a book on campaign management, said District 5 has more registered Democrats than Republicans. With that advantage, coupled with Lofaso's relative lack of name recognition, a Democrat will most likely win the representative seat, Shaw predicted. "The race is primarily in the primary," she said. Uherbelau, 65, said she is concerned about the lack of bipartisanship in the legislature. "In the past few legislative sessions, it seems like it was getting harder to work across the aisle," she said. "When I was in the Legislature, we were very conscious we were in there for the state of Oregon and not for the Republican or Democratic party. I hope others still feel the same way and will run or run again." An attorney with an Ashland law practice and formerly a registered nurse, Uherbelau said she worked for health care reform during her previous terms in office, sponsoring bills to increase patients' rights and their access to health plan information. She co-sponsored the "Best Interest of the Child" bill, which limits the amount of time an abused child spends in foster care before a permanent placement decision is made. Working with an Ashland resident who had been injured by a drunk driver, Uherbelau authored legislation for tougher prosecution of DUII cases. She helped establish a Rogue Community College chapter in Jackson County and pursued stable funding for schools, colleges and universities. Uherbelau moved to Southern Oregon in 1981 and has two daughters who graduated from Ashland High School. "My priorities for Southern Oregon haven't changed," she said. "I've been a long-time advocate for quality education, economic growth and accessible health care and will continue to fight hard on those issues." Among her committee assignments, Uherbelau served as vice-chair for the House Committee on Children and Families and was a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. She served locally on the Jackson County Budget Committee, the Ashland Community Hospital Board and the Jackson County AIDS Taskforce, and currently sits on the advisory boards for Jefferson Public Radio and Foster Grandparents. Reporters Bill Choy and Damian Mann contributed to this report. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: The new search is here! Click here for more information. .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams