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37 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 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 3, 2004 Peter Buckley speaks to the crowd at the Democratic Party celebration at the Reston Hotel in Medford. Buckley won the House District 5 race. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven District 5: Buckley holds off Lofaso By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune Ashland Democrat Peter Buckley won the race for the open state House of Representatives District 5 seat, outpacing his Republican opponent Joanna Lofaso, also of Ashland. With most of the votes counted by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Buckley had captured 17,668 votes, or 60 percent. Lofaso got 11,554 votes, or 39 percent, conceding defeat around 11:30 p.m Tuesday. Buckley, 47, watched the returns roll in at the Reston Hotel ballroom with the Democratic Party faithful. He said traditionally the early returns in House District 5, which includes Ashland, Talent, Phoenix and Jacksonville, effectively indicate the ultimate results and he was pleased with what he saw. "I’m involved in thanking those volunteers who made my campaign successful," he said. "Most of them are here tonight. I want to hit the ground running in the morning." Buckley, who works as executive director of a nonprofit foundation called Democracy’s Edge that encourages civic participation, said he wanted to started preparing for the January legislative session right away. He plans to focus on stabilizing the state budget and has proposed suspending the corporate kicker law to free up $68 million for education funding. During his campaign he promised to make state government more open and efficient, with plans to shift money from managers to front-line workers and to reward cost savings. Advertisement Lofaso, a 55-year-old business relationship manager/loan officer at Wells Fargo Bank, also campaigned hard on her budgetary expertise. This was her first run for office, although she has been a member of the Jackson County Republican Women; the Ashland, Phoenix, Medford and Jacksonville chambers of commerce; the American Cancer Society; the Soroptimist Club; and other organizations. Lofaso, who had held out hope for a late surge earlier in the evening, conceded as those final votes began to come in. "I have no regrets," she said. "I did all I could possibly do. It was a wonderful experience." Buckley lost a 2002 run for the U.S. House of Representatives against Greg Walden. He also has worked as a radio commentator and been active in community organizations. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, 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