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GOP leader will challenge Holt for commission seat By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune A Central Point woman who participated in the campaign to elect Jackson County Commissioner Ric Holt in 1998 will run against him in the May primary election. Republican Diane Davidson, 56, will announce her candidacy for commission position No. 3 at 11:30 a.m. today on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse, 10 S. Oakdale Ave. "The bottom line is that we need a change; we need a new leadership," Davidson said of her decision to enter the race. "It's not about good guys and bad guys. It's about change." In addition to incumbent Holt, Davidson will face candidate Walt Fitzgerald during the primaries. Dave Gilmour, a Democrat, and Independent John Michaels have also filed for candidacy for position No. 3. In the race for county commissioner, position No. 1, candidates include Democrat John Hallett, Republican Curt Chancler and incumbent Jack Walker, also a Republican. Commissioner Sue Kupillas is not up for re-election. Davidson is president of the Jackson County Republican Women and committee chairwoman of the Oregon Federation of Republican Women. If elected, Davidson said she would step down as president of Landowner Resource Management Corp., a nonprofit organization dedicated to property rights. Her campaign focuses on improving transportation in the county, ironing out the land-use and planning system and creating a comprehensive approach to environmental issues. "The economy of Jackson County, I believe, is being strangled by these issues." she said. "Not that we can change what has happened in the past, but we make a difference in what's going to happen." Davidson was born in North Dakota and moved to the Rogue Valley a few years later. She graduated from Medford High School and eventually became the manager at Black Bird. At 31, Davidson opened Big Bear Shopper in White City, a sporting, clothing and hardware store. She closed the store in 1984 following a recession. Following the store's closure, Davidson began serving on a wide variety of boards and organizations, from the Oregon Hunters Association to the Chamber of Medford/Jackson County to the Medford School District board. In 1996, Davidson and her neighbors rallied to keep the state from building a prison in Southern Oregon. Last year, she became the spokeswoman for the county's pilot association. The association supports tenants who lease land on airport property and have built office buildings or hangar. A policy passed in 2000 reverts ownership of those structures back to the county when tenants renew their leases. Davidson has served three governor appointments for the state - Workforce Quality Council, Job Training and Partnership Council and Oregon Council on Professional Technical Education. "I do have a lot of experience," Davidson said. "I would not run if I didn't believe I had the heart of the people." Diane has been married to Cliff Davidson for 31 years. The couple have two children and four grandchildren. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.