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Click Here 41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 26, 2004 County chooses Esquivel to replace Hannon By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County commissioners chose Medford City Councilman Sal Esquivel as interim state senator Wednesday to replace Lenn Hannon, but not exactly because they thought he was the best candidate. Commissioner Dave Gilmour voted for Esquivel in what he described as a "strange, Machiavellian sort of way" that will ultimately be for the benefit of the Democratic Party locally. "I will pick the weakest Republican to help Al Bates win in November," said Gilmour, a Democrat. Esquivel must run in the general election to keep the seat vacated by Hannon, who resigned last month to join the state Parole Board. Bates, a Democratic state representative from Ashland, has announced his bid for the Senate. Esquivel was among three candidates chosen by Jackson County Republicans as nominees for the Senate seat. The other two were Jim Ray, a retired health care executive from Jacksonville, and Jim Wright, a retired Medford businessman. Advertisement Esquivel had received the most votes from his party and was considered the preferred nominee. Commissioner Jack Walker said he had to uphold the wishes of his party and voted for Esquivel. Democratic Commissioner Sue Kupillas voted for Wright because she thought he would best represent Southern Oregon. Kupillas, inundated with calls and e-mails from people lobbying her about this issue, said, "The politics of this thing has been the most interesting part of it." Bryan Platt, head of the local Republican party, had urged the commissioners to rubber-stamp Esquivel’s selection, saying they should leave politics out of the process. But Gilmour said politics was the driving force behind his decision. He said that if Esquivel wasn’t chosen, he could end up running for commissioner against Kupillas in November and would likely win. "Since Sal and Jack Walker have been close friends for years, I would become marginalized for the remainder of my term as county commissioner," he said. Walker said later that he didn’t see any conflict voting for Esquivel, and downplayed the closeness of their friendship.Walker wouldn’t say which of the nominees he would have chosen if he hadn’t promised the Republican Party that he would vote for the preferred candidate. Gilmour also said that he received more complaints from the public about Esquivel than the other candidates. Esquivel said later about Gilmour’s comments, "It doesn’t ruffle my feathers. I’ll just go forward." He said it was never his intention to oppose Kupillas in the election. "I told Sue I wasn’t going to run against her." At the Wednesday commissioner meeting, Esquivel said that any one of the candidates would have done a good job in Salem. "I shall go and do the best job I can," he said. "I shall go and not worry about keeping my job." Still, he looks forward to the campaign against Bates, his Democratic opponent, noting the district has a Republican edge. Senate District 3, which encompasses most of the southern part of Jackson County including parts of Medford and Ashland, has 24,627 Democrats and 26,972 Republicans. Esquivel said he would likely resign his council position at the next meeting, although he isn’t required by law to do so. He won’t become senator until an official swearing-in ceremony in Salem in the near future. Platt said he was happy the commissioners approved the Republican choice, even if they did it in a roundabout way. But if they had chosen otherwise, Platt said, "There wasn’t a weak candidate, in my opinion." Countering Gilmour’s statement, Platt thought Esquivel would be a strong contender in the election. "Alan Bates is in for a tussle," he said. Since the Senate seat is so pivotal, Platt said the full weight of the Republican Party both locally and statewide will come to bear on this election. Republicans are also eyeing Kupillas’ commission seat, although they haven’t selected a candidate yet. Referring to Gilmour, Platt said, "We’ll do our best to marginalize him." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times