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Frank makes 2nd run for House Republican has support of former opponent Atkinson By PETER WONG JACKSONVILLE -- Larry Frank, whose 1998 primary opponent was in the crowd Wednesday, says he will run again for the Oregon House seat that covers southwest Jackson County and part of Josephine County. But this time, Frank will have the support of Jason Atkinson, who edged Frank by 122 votes of more than 5,000 cast for the Republican nomination and went on to win the District 51 seat in 1998. Frank outspent Atkinson in their primary contest by almost 4 to 1. "This time I think Jason and I are going to offer the district a win-win scenario," Frank said in his announcement on the steps of the old county courthouse. "Jason will be in the Senate and I will be in the House." Atkinson announced Sept. 22 that he will vacate the House seat and seek the Republican nomination in the May 16, 2000, primary for an open Senate seat. To show party unity for Frank, other attendees included Perry Atkinson of Medford, state Republican Party chairman and Jason Atkinson's father, and former U.S. Rep. Bob Smith of Medford, whose political action committee gave $1,000 to Frank in the 1998 primary. Also planning to support Frank was Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford. Frank, who lives in the Applegate Valley, was the first from either major party to announce his candidacy. Lon Holston of Central Point, the Democratic nominee in 1998, has said he is likely to run again. The district is largely rural. Its major urban areas are Central Point and White City. Frank said among the major issues facing the next Legislature are state support of public schools and transportation projects, and defense of private property and water rights. "The recent Legislature stepped up to the plate and increased the amount of funding for schools," he said. "But I am not comfortable with the formula. I do not see a lot of the money that was set aside coming to Southern Oregon." He was on the Applegate School Board from 1987 to 1991 and was its chairman his final year. The district since has merged into the Three Rivers School District. Frank, 48, has been in real estate sales since 1991 and a broker since 1994. He works for Windermere-Van Vleet and Associates, which has offices in Medford and Ashland. He has been a board member of the Medford Board of Realtors and Oregon Association of Realtors. He also has been legislative chairman for the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors. He worked for Medford television station KDRV from January 1984 to October 1990. His last position there was as an assignments editor. From June 1974 to March 1983, he worked as a deputy sheriff in Orange County, California. He and his wife, Sue, have three children, the youngest of whom just started at Western Baptist College in Salem. They also have a foster son. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA