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New legislators get their bearings Patridge joins colleagues at orientation By PETER WONG As a student at Willamette University in Salem a decade ago, Rob Patridge worked in the Capitol across the street for then-state Sen. Ron Grensky, R-Medford, and the Senate Republican Office. Patridge went back to school for three days this week at his alma mater, the Capitol and Portland State University to boot. But as the new state representative from Medford's District 50, he is just a month away from taking office in his own right. Patridge was among 70 to 80 members of the 1999 Legislature who took part in extensive orientation sessions for newcomers and veterans alike. Among new members who skipped the orientation were Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass, who said he had planned a post-election vacation, and Rep.-elect Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, who said he covered some of the material as a graduate student at Willamette in 1996-97. "It was a good opportunity to get to know people in a less contentious setting, not in competition but as part of a learning experience," Patridge said afterward. "It is different this time because I am not just an observer, but the one who is doing it," he said. "It looks a lot different when you sit in the driver's seat." Most new legislators attend orientation sessions before they take office. But what made this time different is the sheer number of new members -- 27 of 60 in the House, six of 30 in the Senate. That is largely a result of Oregon's term limits opening up 22 House and two Senate seats. Ramona Kenady, chief clerk of the House, said the number of first-term representatives is the largest since 1957, when her father was among 33 new members. Oregon's switch from county to single-member districts resulted in 27 new House members in 1973. In anticipation of turnover, Rep. Judy Uherbelau, a Democrat from Ashland elected last month to her third term, was on the bipartisan House panel that worked several months on a more extensive orientation. "Some of us `oldsters' said this orientation was much better and more extensive than what we had," Uherbelau said. "But then we joked that maybe we didn't remember ours. "Like almost anything else, it doesn't really sink in until you get involved in it." The first day of orientation at Portland State University included overviews of Oregon's population and economy, perspectives on state legislatures and Oregon's experience, and explanations of state and local government. Uherbelau led one panel on the executive branch. "With term limits, members do not have the time to learn so much information as they would have in the past, when they could learn at the feet of our wise men and women," Uherbelau said only half-jokingly. Former U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield, also a former governor and state legislator, spoke about state relationships with the federal government. The second day at Willamette University offered training in negotiation and mediation -- subjects Patridge covered during law school there -- and the final day was a mock legislative session for newcomers at the Capitol. But the schedule also allowed time for members to socialize. "We mingled pretty well," Uherbelau said. "With a few exceptions, you didn't see members peel off as Republicans or Democrats. I think it was helpful, and so did everyone else." Patridge said becoming acquainted with his future colleagues was as important as learning about the issues and process. "The Legislature is about the merits of issues," he said. "But to get to the merits, you have to get to know the people as well." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA