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POLITICS GOP has candidate for House District 5 Steve Richie previously worked in Washington state Legislature By Bob Hunter Mail Tribune Follow @@mteditor MailTribune.com By Bob Hunter Mail Tribune Follow @@mteditor Posted Aug. 27, 2016 @ 2:37 pm Updated at 5:19 PM By Bob Hunter Mail Tribune Follow @@mteditor Posted Aug. 27, 2016 @ 2:37 pm Updated at 5:19 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Jackson County Republicans have a candidate seeking a spot on the November 8 ballot for state House District 5. Steve Richie, 53, of Ashland says he will put his name forward when the county GOP precinct representatives meet Monday evening to select a nominee for the House seat. Richie, a 1987 graduate of Oregon State University's College of Forestry, operates Flame, Inc., a home sprinkler system design business. After graduating from OSU, he worked first with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, then with the Republican caucus in the Washington state Legislature, researching issues for Senate and House members. He and his wife, Natalie, who grew up in Ashland and attended Ashland High School, moved to California in 1998 to care for family members. They moved to Ashland in 2011. Their son, Tanner, 23, is a 2014 graduate of Southern Oregon University. The local Republicans found themselves in need of a candidate for the House seat after Alan DeBoer shifted to run for the Senate District 3 seat. That position unexpectedly came on the ballot after state Sen. Alan Bates, D-Medford, died of an apparent heart attack while on a fishing trip on Aug. 5. If nominated, Richie would face Pam Marsh, a Democrat who is on the Ashland City Council. The House seat is currently held by Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, who has opted not to seek re-election. Noting that he runs a small business and his wife formerly worked in the vacation rental business, Richie said his motivations for running include slowing the increasing number of regulations being put on businesses. "The amount of regulation seems kind of oppressive to us," he said. He also said he feels that rural areas of the state need to have more of a voice in Salem. "It seems like it's time for us as a state to get away from one-party rule," Richie said. "I want to go to Salem and provide some more diverse opinions. "Portland, Eugene and Salem are passing laws and regulations that might work for them, but not for Southern Oregon." Richie, who described himself as a fiscal conservative, also said he was concerned about tax levels. "I want to make sure that we are spending money the right way before we spend more of it," he said. Dave Dotterrer, who previously ran unsuccessfully against Bates for the Senate District 3 seat, said he knew Richie through their mutual involvement with local politics. "He and his wife have been active in the Republican Party," Dotterrer said. "... He helped me with my campaign and I always thought that he was a great guy." The Jackson County Republicans will select the nominee for the House seat in a meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Ashland Springs Hotel, 212 E. Main St. Richie is so far the only candidate who has come forward publicly to express an interest in running. The seat has been a longtime Democratic possession, with nearly 10,000 more Democrats than Republicans registered in House District 5. There are about 12,000 Independent or non-affiliated voters in the district. The district includes Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Ruch, Jacksonville and a small portion of Medford. Bob Hunter is editor of the Mail Tribune. Reach him at [email protected]. By Bob Hunter Mail Tribune Follow @@mteditor MailTribune.com By Bob Hunter Mail Tribune Follow @@mteditor Posted Aug. 27, 2016 @ 2:37 pm Updated at 5:19 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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