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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Officers lauded for quick action following murder ... BOLI files housing lawsuit against Medford apartment complex ... Medford police on the lookout for shoplifting thief ... Officers lauded for quick action following murder ... BOLI files housing lawsuit against Medford apartment complex ... Medford police on the lookout for shoplifting thief ... Markham's legislative journey ends soon By PETER WONG MailTribune.com By PETER WONG Posted Jun. 17, 1997 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 17, 2011 at 11:20 AM By PETER WONG Posted Jun. 17, 1997 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 17, 2011 at 11:20 AM » Social News AP photoDown-home Republican served for record 14 terms SALEM ­ When Rep. Bill Markham rose in the House chamber last weekto announce his support of a tax increase for transportation, people satup and took notice. It wasn't because of the bright colors in his tie. It was because of who said it and how he said it. Markham, a Republican from Riddle in southern Douglas County, representsa rural district that takes in northwest Jackson County (including ShadyCove) and northern Josephine County. His philosophy during his three decadesin the House is expressed succinctly on his office door: It's a goodthing you don't get all the government you pay for. But in his floor speech last week, this rural and conservative lawmakersaid he would vote for a bill to raise more than $300 million annually forroad repairs and transportation needs, benefiting rural and urban areasalike. It's time to get off the pot and do it, he said. Though he has a reputation for snappy one-liners, Markham seldom speaksin the House chamber unless he is assigned as the floor manager for a bill. I don't get up and bray on the floor, he said in an interview.But I think people listen when I do talk. As he winds up a record 14 terms in the House ­ a record that willstand unless voters repeal Oregon's term limits this fall ­ the 74-year-oldMarkham is acknowledged by friend and foe alike as the last of his kind. He knows the issues, the economy, the culture ­ everythingin his district ­ and is in tune with his constituents, said DougRobertson of Roseburg, who is himself in his 17th year as a Douglas Countycommissioner. There could be a future situation where we would have that match again. But Bill is such a unique individualthat you're not going to see another Bill Markham again. He entered the House when legislators still were elected by a countyor groups of counties, rather than from single-member districts. As districts were redrawn in the '70s, '80s and '90s, his District 46moved partly into Jackson County, but about two-thirds of its votes stillare cast in Douglas County. It's a rural district that is not dominated by one city or newsmedium, so it's hard to win name familiarity, and once you build it up,it's hard to be unseated, said Verner Andy Anderson ofRoseburg, a Republican who represented neighboring District 45 from 1981to 1989. Although Bill is outspoken, he's stayed out of trouble andrepresented his district well. The largest city in Markham's district is Winston, five miles south ofRoseburg, population 4,170. As a rural legislator, I think it has become more difficult torepresent everybody as this state becomes more urbanized, Markhamsaid. I think we're getting run over a little more each time. When Markham was first elected to the House in 1968, he merged his businessinterests in forestry with his avocation of public service. His family rana timber management and logging business, and he grew trees and raised cattle. Over three decades, he has sponsored myriad measures affecting timberworkers and forest lands. In his second term, Markham headed the House panel that worked on whatbecame the Oregon Forest Practices Act, the 1971 law that let the Boardof Forestry set rules for managing and cutting timber while protecting theenvironment. It underwent major revisions in 1987 and 1991. I think some of it has been good, and some of it has gone too far,said Markham. He opposed the 1987 revisions as too oriented toward environmentalprotection, but he supported the 1991 changes sponsored largely by industry. When Markham returned to the House in 1977, following his only electiondefeat in 1974, the Oregon Legislature approved a state severance tax toreplace local property taxes on standing timber in Western Oregon. EasternOregon timber had had such a tax since 1961. This session of the Legislature may give timber owners the option ofchoosing a severance tax or a property tax. Markham has long fought against what he sees as threats to the timberindustry from environmental legislation. But he praises Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat who formerly representedDouglas County in the Senate. Markham said Kitzhaber did well to work outa recovery plan to help stave off threatened species status for coho salmonin northern Oregon waters. I think he has done a good job, Markham said. Someof the die-hard Republicans will hate to hear me say that, but I might aswell call a spade a spade. We are good friends personally. We just disagreeon the philosophical side of life. Markham said he has had to learn to hold his tongue. You can violently disagree on a subject, he said. Butif you are going to get anywhere with legislators with any consistency,you're going to need them the next day. So you don't dare overreact ­and that was tough for me to learn. But I learned it. In 1981, someone who disagreed with Markham over a bill either spilledor poured coffee on him in a Capitol hallway ­ accounts differ on whathappened ­ and when Markham pursued him, another person went after Markhamwith a cane. No one was hurt, and no one was arrested in the so-called coffee-and-caneincident. Markham has had a greater effect on state policy than many realize. He was the author of the 1979 restriction that links additional stategovernment employees with population growth. He was a principal sponsorof a restriction voters approved in 1980 to limit use of gasoline taxesand vehicle registration fees for road repairs and construction. He sponsored a constitutional amendment voters approvedin 1986 to bar state taxation of Social Security benefits. And he is co-sponsorof a plan for pre-paid college tuition, which voters are likely to decidenext year. He has gone through a lot of trials, some amusing and some not,Anderson said. But he's been a hard worker. He doesn't blow his buglemuch, but he's produced a ton of legislation. When Markham came here in 1969, a legislator's office was his desk andhis chair in the House or Senate chamber, another chair next to the desk,and a three-drawer file cabinet against the wall. Now, the Legislature employs staff for members and committees and providesspace for individual offices and public hearing rooms. I think we have made the legislative branch equal with the judiciaryand the executive branch, which used to dictate everything around here,including where to sign the check, Markham said. Things havedrastically changed, so that whoever is governor must work with the Legislature for about anything you can think of ­ andI think the people are better represented. Markham has reservations about the new limits of three terms on Houseservice and 12 years overall in the Legislature. I suppose that special interests are going to come back with proposalsthey have never been able to get through when you had members with moreexperience around here, he said. I think the public will notbe that well-served. But that is what the people wanted, and let's hope it works out for the best. There's nothing wrongwith a few new minds around here. After 30 years, Markham said he would have left public life even if termlimits did not exist. At age 76, which is what I will be at the end of my term, if you'reever going to have a little peace and quiet at home, you'd better startsoon, he said. By PETER WONG MailTribune.com By PETER WONG Posted Jun. 17, 1997 at 2:00 AM Updated Feb 17, 2011 at 11:20 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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