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Candidate pledges to listen Hunts runs for House position By PETER WONG ASHLAND -- Jane Hunts of Trail says her second campaign for the House District 52 seat will differ from her first. Hunts, the losing Republican nominee a year ago, obviously would like to see a different outcome next year. She said she will do more listening. "Campaign issues are not defined by the candidates; they are defined by the voters," she said Wednesday. "I am going to be spending a lot of the months ahead listening to voters, who are going to be telling me what they want me to be talking about." Democratic Rep. Judy Uherbelau of Ashland defeated Hunts last year, 56 percent to 44 percent, but is barred from seeking a fourth term. District 52, which stretches from Ashland to Prospect, is the only one of five in Jackson and Josephine counties in which Democrats hold a registration edge over Republicans -- 40.1 percent to 33.4 percent. Uherbelau is endorsing Alan Bates of Eagle Point, an osteopathic physician in Central Point and an Eagle Point School Board member, for the Democratic nomination to succeed her. Two Republican holders of the District 52 seat, Leigh Johnson (1971-75) and Kip Lombard (1977-85), were with Hunts at her announcement at Southern Oregon University. She also spoke in Phoenix and Eagle Point. Hunts, who turns 47 next month, and her husband, Larry, manage their own business. Among other things, they have patented and are marketing a device that makes it easier to break open sealed pill packages. In her 1998 campaign, Hunts was criticized for being too aggressive against Uherbelau, but Hunts said she did not intend it to turn out that way. Hunts said the tone this time should be different because no incumbent is running. "A number of people already know who I am and have expressed their support for me," she said. "Last time, it was a matter of introducing myself to voters. This time, I think it gives me an opportunity to explore the issues in more depth." Hunts talked about three issues: State support for the university system: Hunts said the 1999 Legislature gave the first real boost in state aid in years as universities convert to per-student budgeting. "We need a representative who is working with the staff and administration at SOU and Rogue Community College to make sure the new system, which appears to be a wise choice for the state, also is a wise choice for us.'' Medical services for the poor, which she said are threatened by the pullout of several managed-care organizations from Jackson County: "The Oregon Health Plan is not a sacred cow. Just because it was implemented by a popular and competent governor, it doesn't mean it is hands off ... We can do better." She said the state Film and Video Office has neglected to advocate film and video production in Southern Oregon. "We are not getting our fair share of those dollars," she said. "It is not right that we are not being promoted at least equally with the Willamette Valley." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA