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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 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 AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental 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 Email Story to a Friend February 27, 2004 Newcomer to run for District 5 House seat Joanna Lofaso, an Ashland Republican, wants to create family-wage jobs By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Ashland Republican Joanna Lofaso plans to announce today her candidacy for the state representative seat held by Alan Bates. Bates, an Ashland Democrat, is running against Medford Republican Sal Esquivel for the Senate seat formerly held by Lenn Hannon, an Ashland Republican. "I want to serve in Salem," said Lofaso. "I’m the best person to do it." A widow, this 55-year-old mother of two said she will be particularly interested in developing a strong economy for the region. Lofaso will announce her bid for the District 5 seat at 1 p.m. in the ballroom foyer of the Ashland Hills Inn-Windmill Inn in Ashland. Advertisement District 5 includes the cities of Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Jacksonville and Ruch and a portion of southwest Medford. A political newcomer, Lofaso will challenge Ashland Democrat Peter Buckley for the seat. Buckley ran for Congress against Rep. Greg Walden in a heavily Republican district. Buckley got 26 percent of the vote. Lofaso thinks voters don’t want a business-as-usual approach in Salem. "In the past I haven’t been a part of the local political climate or state politics," she said. "I think it is a plus because I’m coming in with a fresh point of view." One of her goals is to promote business and develop more family-wage jobs. She also wants to see whether the state’s education system is being run efficiently, making sure it’s not spending too much on overhead and administration and too little in the classroom. Lofaso is a business relationship manager/commercial loan officer for Wells Fargo Bank. She has lived in Ashland for more than two years and in Southern Oregon for five years. She ran for school board in Southern California but lost. She has been active with the American Heart Association in the San Fernando Valley and on the Chamber of Commerce board in Westlake Village. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, 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 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times