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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, January 27, 2005 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 Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? 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 October 17, 2004 House District 4: Opposition emerges on conservative turf By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune In the Oregon House District 4 race, Democrat Richard Koopmans has challenged Republican incumbent Dennis Richardson just to give people a choice. The swath of northwestern Jackson County and eastern Josephine County has been a conservative stronghold, but Koopmans, 51, of Gold Hill, said he was tired of Republicans running unopposed. "Everybody in Jackson County knows I won’t win," Koopmans said. "I just don’t want people to look down at the ballot and see they have to vote ‘R’ or leave it blank." An advocate for education, jobs and health care, as well as the fiscal responsibility needed to pay for such key programs, Koopmans said his campaign has been a great civics lesson and a way to learn more about himself and his community. He already plans future forays into public life and encourages others to get involved, too. "We need working people you can trust in government," he said. Advertisement Richardson, 55, a Central Point attorney elected in 2002, said he welcomes a contested race as a chance to discuss his positions. At the Legislature, Richardson has served on committees for environment and land use, state pension reform and trade and economic development, all issues he’s interested in. Building a strong economy with family-wage jobs has been a top priority, he said. "If we can bring in jobs, we can make families stable and that’s good for education," he said. Thriving businesses also help provide state revenue for schools and other vital programs, he added. Richardson offers a three-part plan to provide stable funding for schools. First: cap budget increases in line with inflation to prevent overspending and set guidelines for program expansion. Second: set aside money in every budget for a rainy-day fund. Third: address education funding early on and not treat it as a political football at the end of the legislative session. Richardson said gridlock has prevented the Legislature from dealing with land-use issues and sees Measure 37 — which would require governments to compensate property owners for land-use regulations or ignore the rules — as a way to break that gridlock. Richardson’s campaign has raised $12,919 in cash and in-kind donations on top of $7,339 left from past efforts. He has spent $7,676. Koopmans committed to spend less than $2,000 and is not required to file finance reports. Dennis Richardson Age: 55. Occupation: attorney, incumbent. Party affiliation: Republican. Education: bachelor’s and law degree from Brigham Young University. Experience: elected to state House of Representatives in 2002, appointed to Central Point City Council in 1999, served on the Jackson County School District No. 6 budget committee, was a delegate with grassroots Citizens for America, has held organizational positions within the state Republican Party. Richard Koopmans Age: 51. Occupation: Dry cleaning delivery driver. Party affiliation: Democrat. Education: classes at Rogue Community College, Pasadena City College in Pasadena, Calif., College of Marin in Kentfield, Calif. Experience: lifeguard and coach of Rogue Valley swim team, Army chaplain’s assistant. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 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 Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers