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Republican Kim Wallan took a sizable lead and held on through the night against Democrat Michelle Blum Atkinson for House District 6, which represents most of Medford. Late results showed Wallan leading Blum Atkinson 54 percent to 45.7 percent. “I’m fairly confident it will hold up,” Wallan said. “I’m really excited to win.” But she said it’s going to be an uphill battle for her in Salem because the House will have a 38-22 Democratic edge. “It’s going to be a real challenge to not be irrelevant,” she said. “We’ll be less than irrelevant. It will be disappointing for people here who expect their legislators to go to Salem and do something for them.” The biggest potential disappointment will be to pass legislation to deal with wildfire smoke, she said. Wallan said she’s not sure how the Democrats will deal with the smoke issue. “It remains to be seen,” she said. In Salem she will work to cut wildfire smoke, cut regulations and curtail land-use restrictions that inflate housing costs, she said Tuesday. Wallan said other priorities include dealing with Public Employees Retirement System crisis so more money can be devoted to schools. Wallan, whose license to practice law is on inactive status, represents Ward 4 on the Medford City Council and is the current president of the Medford Urban Renewal Agency and sits on the boards of Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, the Hospital Facilities Authority, Habitat for Humanity and the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization. Blum Atkinson conceded her loss before well-wishers in Medford, who booed when they heard the results. “This was one of the best experiences of my life,” she told the crowd. “I gave it my all.” Blum Atkinson said she will continue to work to help the community. “I will not give up,” she said. “There is so much else we can do.” Blum Atkinson’s major endorsements include the Oregon Education Association, Oregon AFL-CIO, Oregon School Employees Association and Oregon League of Conversation Voters. Wallan’s endorsements include the National Federation of Independent Business, Oregonians for Food & Shelter, Builders Association of Southern Oregon and Oregon Chiefs of Police Association. Blum Atkinson, who lists her occupation as “nonprofit leadership,” has not held elected office before and has accepted only limited PAC money to finance her campaign. Wallan has served on the Medford School Board and is currently on Medford City Council. The Elect Michelle Blum Atkinson committee raised $71,665.65 in cash and in-kind contributions. The Jackson County Democratic Central Committee is her largest contributor at $2,000, and Atkinson has given herself two loans totaling $10,000 for the campaign. Blum Atkinson has spent $62,586.41, according to the Oregon Secretary of State. The Friends of Kim Wallan group has received $113,701.70 in cash and in-kind contributions, mainly from political action committees that represent financial, hospital, utility, timber and agricultural interests, as well as out-of-state contributions from business and industry corporations, including Weyerhaeuser, Koch Industries, AT&T and Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing Association. The Chamber PAC was the biggest donor with a $10,000 contribution. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.