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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW California man dies in I-5 rollover ... Medford man wins Megabucks jackpot ... Budget tops $339 million for 2016-17 ... California man dies in I-5 rollover ... Medford man wins Megabucks jackpot ... Budget tops $339 million for 2016-17 ... SURPRISE CANDIDATE C.W. Smith will run for Senate He says he'll launch write-in campaign for District 28 seat Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Mar. 23, 2016 at 6:53 PM Updated Mar 23, 2016 at 8:04 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Mar. 23, 2016 at 6:53 PM Updated Mar 23, 2016 at 8:04 PM » Social News Former Jackson County Commissioner C.W. Smith says he'll run as a write-in candidate for the District 28 state Senate seat against Republican challenger Dennis Linthicum. Smith, who posted his plans to his friends on Facebook this evening, said in a phone interview that the one-candidate race needed divergent views. "I think it's very important to the Legislature," Smith said. "There's a lot less of that, and we need a little bit more of that." Smith is a three-time Jackson County sheriff and served as county commissioner from 2005 to 2012. He said he plans to make a formal announcement Thursday. Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, and his wife, Republican Rep. Gail Whitsett, announced their retirements from the Legislature the morning after the filing deadline for the May primary, effectively bequeathing their seats to the only other candidate to file for either position. “It’s totally legal, I’m sure, but it smacked of collusion,” Smith said. Both Whitsetts had filed for re-election in October, only to withdraw after Republicans Dennis Linthicum and Werner Reschke filed as candidates for senator and representative, respectively, minutes before the deadline March 8. No Democrat filed for either seat. “I had no idea he was thinking about leaving,” Smith said of Whitsett. “I was surprised that he pulled the pin like he did. That was really strange.” Smith said he sat in on a meeting last week in Klamath Falls regarding a Republican write-in campaign against Linthicum. Participants there mulled over whether Smith or Klamath County Museum Manager Todd Kepple would be a stronger write-in candidate before reaching the conclusion that state Rep. Mike McLane and U.S. Rep. Walden should determine the stronger write-in candidate. Walden and McLane determined Smith was the stronger candidate in a conference call yesterday, Smith said, and that although the agreement was for the candidate determined to be weaker to step down, Kepple decided not to withdraw. Smith acknowledged launching a write-in campaign against another will be tough. "It's going to be an uphill battle," Smith said. Smith said he waited to make any announcements about his write-in campaign until after receiving confirmation from state Rep. Mike McLane and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden for their endorsement. Smith said a benefit of a write-in campaign is that he'll be able to draw in votes from Independents and Democrats who support him. "That gives me a chance to get everybody," Smith said. Whitsett's Senate District 28 includes northeastern Jackson County from the Douglas County line to the northeastern edge of Medford. Gail Whitsett represents House District 56, which takes in portions of Klamath and Lake counties. Smith said that although Linthicum has stronger footing because his name will be on the Republican ballot, Smith has factors in his favor. “He’s going to have his own skeletons to deal with,” Smith said. Smith also said he has a wider breadth of experience in public and private industry than Linthicum. Smith, of Eagle Point, was a former Medford police officer when he was elected Jackson County sheriff in 1983, serving until 1995. He later retired as police chief for the city of Talent before serving as county commissioner. He turns 69 on Friday. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Mar. 23, 2016 at 6:53 PM Updated Mar 23, 2016 at 8:04 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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