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R.V. Manor hires Patridge Legislator to be its attorney By DAVID PRESZLER One of the Rogue Valley's most prominent politicians is going to work for one its most influential entities. State Rep. Rob Patridge, a Medford Republican, will become the in-house attorney for the Rogue Valley Manor once the Legislature adjourns this summer. The former Medford City Council president said he doesn't consider working for the manor during his legislative term a conflict of interest. But he acknowledges he will have to balance his duties as a representative of the people with his job as the manor's attorney. "I have my Legislature hat and my real-world lawyer hat," he said. During Patridge's tenure as council president, city leaders voted to approve a controversial plan to expand the manor over the objections of neighbors concerned about traffic and property values. As a member of the Legislature, Patridge sits on the transportation subcommittee of the Legislature's budget committee, which supplies funding for the transportation department but does not identify specific projects for funding. Patridge will vote on a bill that proposes to raise the state gas tax to fund projects such as improving the south Medford freeway interchange. Improving the interchange is seen as important to development in the area near the manor because of traffic congestion. The manor -- along with nine other Southern Oregon businesses and Jackson County -- has hired former state representative John Watt to lobby for those improvements through the gas tax bill. Watt lobbied Patridge's subcommittee on the issue last week. Patridge noted that he campaigned in favor of fixing the interchange. "The south Medford interchange is one of our top priorities," he said. And he said he talked to community members before agreeing to take the manor job. "There hasn't been a lot of concern from anyone," he said. "That's why I talked to them. I believe that I'm ethical and honest. To a person, they said it's a great opportunity." Patridge worked as a Jackson County deputy district attorney before being elected to the Legislature; since salaries of district attorneys are partially paid by the state, Patridge could not continue working as a deputy DA and serve in Salem. Patridge said he needed to find another job, and the manor position fit well. He said he agreed to take the job in December. Though no contract has been signed, Patridge would become the first in-house attorney for the manor's parent company, Pacific Retirement Services, according to executive director Tom Becker. Becker said Pacific Retirement Services has grown to the point where an in-house attorney makes sense. The company oversees 24 retirement centers in three states: Oregon, California and Texas. "With all the stuff we have going on, we've got all kinds of contracts and we hire all kinds of attorneys," Becker said. Becker said having an in-house attorney will reduce costs, and Patridge's skills in contract writing and communication made him a good candidate for the job. "You need somebody that's a good communicator," Becker said. "It takes a special person that has a sensitivity to our residents." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA