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68 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 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 Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest 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 March 9, 2004 Medford businessman Jim Wright receives applause after announcing his Republican candidacy for Senate District 3 on the county courthouse steps in Medford Monday. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Wright enters race for state Senate seat By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Party politics were not foremost on the mind of Jim Wright when he announced Monday his bid for the state Senate District 3 seat in the Republican primary. "I look forward to the opportunity to go to Salem and represent Southern Oregon as a Southern Oregonian," stressed the Medford resident. While observing that most of the nearly 50 well-wishers gathered at his announcement were Republicans, Wright noted that previous Republican legislators who held the seat, including Lenn Hannon and Lynn Newbry, made a point of representing the region first, the GOP second. "We’ve had too much partisan politics in Salem," he said. "It’s time we tried to do something about it." Wright, 63, a longtime businessman and civic activist, is the only Republican yet to file for the seat. Advertisement Today is the last day to file as a candidate for Oregon’s May primary, which promises some interesting match-ups. On the Democratic side of the aisle, State Rep. Alan Bates of Ashland already has filed for the Senate District 3 position. He opted not to run for re-election for House District 5, leaving the seat open. The Senate post was vacated after Hannon resigned to take a position on the state Parole Board Jan. 2. The seat has been temporarily filled by Medford resident Sal Esquivel, former Medford City Council president, who was selected through a party caucus and appointed by the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. In a related development, state Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, said he would not seek re-election, prompting Esquivel to enter the race for the House District 6 seat. Democrat John Doty of Medford also has filed for that position. Meanwhile, the race for Bates’ House District 5 seat has drawn Democrat Peter Buckley and Republican Joanna Lofaso, both of Ashland. Wright, who was among three runners-up to fill Hannon’s seat through November, acknowledged it may be difficult for the voters to follow what some have described as "political musical chairs" to fill Southern Oregon’s legislative seats. "If people are confused, it’s understandable," he said. "But it’s our system. It’s democracy. It may not be perfect but it’s the best thing in the world." Patridge has endorsed Wright, calling him "the leader that Southern Oregon needs in Salem ... experienced and community-minded." A 1958 graduate of Ashland Senior High School and a 1963 graduate of what is now Southern Oregon University, Wright is former president and current vice chairman of LTM Inc., a Medford construction and construction materials firm with $60 million in revenues and some 400 employees. His civil commitments include past chairman and current board member of the Asante Health System board, current board member of the Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation, past chairman of the Oregon Economic Development Commission, past board member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and current chairman of Teamsters Bargaining Committee. During Monday’s announcement, Wright said he would use his business experience if elected. "I’d like to see us get a handle on our spending," he said, noting that voters have sent a message to the Legislature by defeating tax Measures 28 and 30 within the past year. "Heavens knows that after two times ... people don’t want to spend more money on government," he said. "We need to find ways to live within our means." School funding would be a top priority for him as a legislator, he said. "We need to take care of the schools first, then move on with the rest of our budgeting," he said. "If we do that early, then we have a better chance of handling it at the end." Given today’s battles between political parties, Wright acknowledged it will be difficult to get the Legislature to work together. "I guess I’m a little bit Pollyanish," he said. "But I think if we start worrying about Oregon first, and ... if the Republican caucus makes that kind of commitment and the Democratic caucus makes that kind of commitment, then we can do it. "We need to remember we are Oregonians first," he reiterated. To that end, he said he would meet with Southern Oregon legislators Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, and newly appointed interim Sen. Esquivel to discuss how the delegation could best work together to serve Southern Oregon. Wright and his wife, Judy, married for nearly 40 years, have three grown sons and four grandchildren. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [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