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HAZE Temp: 42 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend October 17, 2002 Surprise — it’s a contest The GOP’s Richardson faces phone-charge activist Maxwell in the conservative District 4 By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune When Dennis Richardson won the Republican primary in a landslide victory over the moderate incumbent, it seemed as though the conservative was assured the District 4 state House seat. So after the election, Richardson went to Salem and was introduced around as legislator-elect. After all, District 4 straddles some of the most conservative areas of Jackson and Josephine counties and has about 50 percent more Republicans than Democrats. The Democrats hadn’t even bothered to run a candidate. But then, due to a rarely used twist of election law, the door opened for a Democrat to run in the general election despite not having run in the primary. Seeing their opportunity, Jackson County Democrats scrambled to find an appropriate candidate — someone who could fill what they saw as the moderate void left in the district’s representation, but still conservative enough to appeal to the rural area. They nominated Shayne Maxwell, a woman who’s voted against sales taxes but believes in abortion rights — a woman who spearheaded the effort to eliminate long-distance phone charges for calls within Jackson and Josephine counties, proving you can battle the phone company and win. After much discussion with her Republican husband, she accepted the nomination. "We felt District 4 honestly needed someone more in touch with what the community needs," Maxwell said. Richardson, a 53-year-old Central Point attorney, is the treasurer of the Oregon Republican Party and chairman of the Oregon Republican Party’s 2nd Congressional District. He was appointed to the Central Point City Council last year, but resigned after winning the primary. He’s been the owner of Dennis Richardson & Associates since 1979, a law firm that practices consumer law and represents people suing insurance companies. He got his bachelor of arts and law degrees from Brigham Young University and flew helicopters for the Army in Vietnam. In the primary, Richardson’s biggest contributor was Oregon Right to Life. In this race, his campaign and expenditure reports show he’s collected $34,000, including a $10,000 loan he gave his campaign. His largest contribution, $5,500, came from a chiropractors’ political action committee. In that same time, Maxwell collected $29,000, more money than Richardson — if you don’t count his loan. Her biggest donation was $8,000 from the Medford Education Association. She also received $3,000 from physician Martin Hill, who is Rep. Cherryl Walker’s husband. (Richardson beat Walker in the primary.) Maxwell said she was surprised and delighted by Hill’s contribution. Walker has declined to endorse either candidate in the race. Maxwell, 43, of Gold Hill, is a partner and operations manager in Pacific Turbine Services LLC, as well as an associate broker for Gary Martin GMAC Realty. Two years ago, she helped bring national attention to the Erickson Air-Crane employees taken hostage in Ecuador and over the last year she has worked to change the way phone service is charged in Southern Oregon. She gathered 3,800 signatures and prompted an Oregon Public Utilities Commission hearing on the issue of long distance rates from Medford to Rogue River. The PUC is now determining possible rates for local calls between Rogue River, Gold Hill, Central Point and Medford. Working with state Sen. Lenn Hannon, an Ashland Republican, Maxwell broadened her effort recently, attempting to create an area calling region that includes all of Jackson and Josephine counties. "I went to every city council in this valley and got them all to come to a roundtable," she said. "After the meeting, the PUC agreed there is a community of interest." Richardson was appointed by the mayor of Central Point to represent the city at that roundtable. But Richardson was soundly criticized as "outrageous" and "deceptive" when he ran a campaign ad touting his efforts. In advertisements in several local newspapers, Richardson said he was "our representative for eliminating long-distance telephone charges." "Good grief, Dennis Richardson must think the citizens of Rogue River and Gold Hill are pretty dense, advertising in the Rogue River Press that he had anything to do with elimination of our long-distance charges," Ellen Calkins of Gold Hill wrote in a Mail Tribune letter to the editor. "This effort was, from start to finish, the work of Shayne Maxwell and the citizens of the Rogue River telephone exchange." Richardson said he never meant to take away any of the credit Maxwell earned on the phone issue. "My only reason in bringing that up was to indicate my support for amending the long distance EAS boundaries for Southern Oregon," he said. He called the controversy "a political move to try and make an issue where one does not exist." Richardson’s campaign is focused on local land control, less regulation of farms and businesses, stimulating the economy, bringing family wage jobs to Southern Oregon and stabilizing funding for education as well as giving parents more control over education, he said. When it comes to the state’s budget crisis, he said the state is like a family that has been living beyond its means. "That can’t continue," Richardson said. "There’s no way around it but we have to redefine what Oregon government is supposed to be." Richardson declined to specify cuts, but said state departments must be thoroughly reviewed for possible cuts. He suggested zero-based budgeting, in which every two years the state departments must justify their funding. Although he pointed out that "I never met a tax that I liked," Richardson said he may consider taxes under certain circumstances. "In our district there is great resistance to the T-word, but in reality, representatives are elected to do the research and come up with the best option for the people that elect them," he said. As a legislator, Maxwell said her emphasis would be on the state’s budget and making sure Southern Oregon gets its share of state money. "Southern Oregon has been on the caboose of the train of Portland for too long," she said. She said she believes partisan bickering has prevented budget cutting. She suggested "getting out of the alcohol business," auditing the Oregon Health Plan and replacing state vehicles less often. Another vital component of balancing the budget would be easing land-use laws and improving schools to attract businesses to Oregon, she said. She believes the state should do annual budgets instead of every two years. Like Richardson, she said she would consider tax increases. "I think a sales tax is a last resort," she said. "First can we cut costs? YES." But Richardson said, as a Republican, he will bring more clout to the issues that affect Southern Oregon. "Even though she and I agree on several issues, if she’s elected and the Democrats take control of the House, the Democratic agenda will be forced down the throats of people of Southern Oregon," Richardson said. Maxwell scoffed, saying, "I’m not about party politics." She voted for the incumbent, Walker, in the 2000 general election. "I’m not going to be a flag-waving Democrat, and I will not have my chain jerked up there to walk with the Democrats," she said. Maxwell said as a person with a proven track record of bringing people together and getting things done, she’s the person who will do the area the most good in Salem. "I’ll provide an environment where the moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats can work together," she said. "That’s where my skills are at, and that’s my agenda." Still, she knows she’s a long shot in the heavily Republican district. "I’m not about odds," she said. "I’m about rolling up your sleeves and getting it done." And Richardson, who never imagined he’d ever be in this race in the first place, is dead set against allowing that to happen. "I have the energy, determination, and experience to wage a strong campaign to help the voters know that I’m the best choice to represent them," Richardson said. "My experience and commitment to conservative principles make me the logical representative for the voters of this district." Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S