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P/CLOUDY Temp: 49 °F Wind: WNW at 7 mph Sunday, March 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 19, 2003 District 55 Rep. George Gilman talks in his office with Joan Plank and Stuart Foster, a state transportation commissioner. Gilman is a freshman this year, though he�s been in the House before. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Newcomers will ‘be force-fed with a fire hose’ By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune When Dennis Richardson headed up Interstate 5 to start his new job as state representative, it was like taking a trip down memory lane. "Driving up here in my Suburban, I’ve got this trailer behind me loaded with furniture for this unfurnished student apartment," he said. "It felt like I was going to a student apartment 30 years ago and here I am back again." But that carefree feeling was short-lived as Richardson of Central Point found his desk at the Capitol piled high with pending legislation and paperwork. "It has been compared to being force-fed with a fire hose," he said. Richardson and Rep. George Gilman of Medford are the new kids on the block in the Jackson County delegation. Richardson dove immediately into weighty issues such as the state’s Public Employees Retirement System. "This is my PERS book for the day," said Richardson, showing a huge binder that is one of many on the subject. While Richardson has to spend a lot of time away from his wife and 14-year-old daughter, Gilman decided to put his wife to work. "It’s a giant learning curve," said Sandy Gilman, who has signed up for classes to keep track of the hundreds of bills that make their way through the Legislature. Gilman said his wife helped him through the campaign so he wanted her to help him at the Capitol. She also helps him a little with his hearing difficulty caused by Meniere’s disease. "It’s a bit of a problem," Gilman acknowledges. "In social gatherings or meetings where there is a bunch of people, I have a terrible time." Because of the nature of the disease, his hearing comes and goes, he said. Despite the problem, Gilman said, "People are being very accommodating." Gilman has been a representative before, in 1987-89. After his 14-year absence, Gilman said many things have changed but others have stayed the same. "We didn’t have computers when I was here in 1987 and, of course, that is a huge difference," he said. He is pleased that the Legislature is still made up of people from all walks of life — from doctors to electricians — and is not heavily stacked with attorneys, he said. However, he has noticed fewer farmers and ranchers. The couple have rented a house in Salem, with Gilman insisting it had a hot tub. "He goes there when he can’t sleep," said Sandy. "He also likes a hot tub because that’s where he spends a lot of time thinking about everything." Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S