Document text
Atkinson aims to lead state GOP Perry Atkinson of Medford has made it official that he will seek the chairmanship of the Oregon Republican Party. So far, he faces no other candidate. Atkinson said if he is chosen, he will move the state party headquarters from Tigard to Salem. "The party needs to develop a better relationship with the House and Senate, and this will definitely help," he said Thursday. Atkinson's son Jason will take office as District 51 state representative when the 1999 Legislature opens Jan. 11. Perry Atkinson, 50, has been general manager of Medford radio station KDOV since 1983. He was vice chairman of the state party and chairman of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee for the past two years. He was a delegate to the 1992 and 1996 Republican National Conventions. He made losing bids for the GOP nomination for the 2nd District congressional seat in 1994, 1996 and in the May 19 primary this year. The Oregon Republican Central Committee will meet Jan. 30 in Lake Oswego to choose a successor to Deanna Smith of Salem, who defeated Atkinson for the state chairmanship by one vote in 1997. Smith, wife of former U.S. Rep. and 1994 nominee for governor Denny Smith, said she will not seek a second term. Atkinson said Thursday he has asked Kevin Mannix of Salem, who is returning to the Oregon House, to run with him as vice chairman. "Kevin Mannix brings a lot to this position," he said. Mannix was a four-term Democratic state representative from 1989 to 1997 and then became a Republican. He was elected to his old House seat Nov. 3 after a short stint as an appointee to the Senate. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA