Document text
45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds 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 Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 6, 2004 Rep. Dennis Richardson, a Central Point Republican, has been chosen by his peers as speaker pro tem of the Oregon House. The House must confirm his appointment in January. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Dennis Richardson: Central Point Republican ready for challenge of leadership post By SCOTT SMITH Mail Tribune Fresh off a commanding victory for his second term in the Oregon House, Rep. Dennis Richardson is already back at work — though the Legislature doesn’t convene until Jan. 10. The Central Point Republican was chosen Thursday by his GOP peers for the second most powerful position in the House: speaker pro tem. On the other end of a gavel as an attorney for 25 years, next year he’ll be banging it himself. One of his chief duties will be to run most House sessions. He’ll need to be confirmed with a House vote in January, but said he’s already busying himself memorizing the Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure. With a narrower and more conservative House majority following Tuesday’s general election, a strongly Democratic Senate and a Democratic governor, Richardson acknowledged it will take more than a gavel to run the House. "It’s going to require a willingness to compromise and negotiate to get things done," he said. "(House Speaker) Karen Minnis is willing to compromise so long as it’s fair for both sides, but she’s not going to allow the Republicans to be railroaded or to have the Republican agenda be co-opted by an aggressive Democratic leadership." Advertisement "I think (she) will respond to whatever tactics are used. If (Democrats) are cooperative, she’ll be cooperative. If it’s confrontational, then she’ll be confrontational." As for the House GOP pushing legislation on potentially divisive social issues, Richardson said it’s not likely given the politically split Legislature. Richardson said the party’s main goal will be fixing the state’s financial woes by pushing for a budget growth cap of 4 percent per year, or about half the rate of growth in the last 10 years. The GOP may not be able to get it past Senate Democrats, though, who have already expressed opposition to the idea. Outgoing Rep. Rob Patridge, a Medford Republican who served as majority whip in the last session, said the Legislature’s political climate will require a concerted effort at compromise. "It’s going to require them to reach across the aisle and bridge that gap," Patridge said Friday evening. "I’m looking forward to Dennis stepping forward to bridge the gap." As for Richardson’s boss in the House, Patridge said he’s hopeful Minnis’ leadership will prove effective. "I hope that her experience as a speaker last time has brought her wisdom to lead the House this time," Patridge said of Minnis, who often found herself the center of political controversy last session. "Dennis is going to have to help be a consensus builder." The fact that Richardson was chosen for such a powerful position in just his second term is more the result of a lack of depth in House Republican ranks, Patridge said, joking that at 35 and with four terms under his belt, he is now an elder statesman among House members. "I don’t think there’s that many people with a lot of experience (in the House)." Regardless, Patridge said he’s pleased that Richardson was elected. "It’s important to have Southern Oregon involved in the leadership," he said. During the last session, he and other local representatives in leadership positions "were able to bring a lot of money to Southern Oregon," he said, mentioning examples such as funding for Southern Oregon University’s library expansion and money to help complete the Bear Creek Greenway. Richardson agreed on the importance of his new position. "What it means is that we will have representation in all leadership meetings," he said. "Southern Oregon will be involved in the decisions about how money is spent ... it will be a valuable opportunity for Southern Oregon issues to have a voice in the leadership." Although the minority House Democrats have yet to choose their top players, with just one local representative in a majority position of power and the rest from the Portland metro area, "It’s going to hurt (Southern Oregon)," Patridge said. Reach Assistant City Editor Scott Smith at 776-4464, 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 ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities