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44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 18, 2003 Sen. Lenn Hannon, shown here at the Capitol in June 2001, is widely regarded in Southern Oregon as a champion for the region�s needs in Salem. Lenn Hannon quits Senate Hannon, R-Ashland, ends his 30-year legislative career to join the state parole board By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Setting off a potential power struggle in Southern Oregon, Sen. Lenn Hannon will end his 30-year legislative career in January to accept a seat on the state Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision. "The governor approached me with the possibility and asked me if I would do it and I did," Hannon said Wednesday. The 60-year-old Republican from Ashland said his decision had nothing to do with his criticism of the lack of clear direction and leadership in the Legislature that led to the longest session in history this year. "It’s been a real honor and privilege to serve," said Hannon, who will keep his home in Ashland, but plans to move to Salem with his wife, Dixie, to assume the full-time job. During the past session, Hannon served as co-leader of the Senate. Advertisement Looking back on his career, Hannon said, "Certainly you have regrets in anything you do. You look back and hopefully you have done the right things and best things and hopefully the productive things." By law, a fellow Republican must be appointed to replace Hannon in an interim capacity until a general election is held in November. State Republican Party members will nominate several people and Jackson County commissioners early next year will decide who gets the interim job. Rep. Alan Bates, an Ashland Democrat, said he will definitely run for the Senate seat. "I’ll be the underdog," said the Ashland Democrat. "The Republicans have an 11 percent edge in the district." Rep. Rob Patridge said he might run for the seat, but worries about the power vacuum created by Hannon’s departure, as well as the potential loss of either Bates and Patridge from the House if they run for the Senate position. "This could have future damaging consequences for Southern Oregon," said the Medford Republican, a likely candidate for the interim job of filling Hannon’s Senate seat until the election. If Bates and Patridge run against each other, the winner will be the only senior legislator from this area at the Capitol. Also, as a freshman senator, the winner would wield considerably less power in the Legislature, said Patridge. Despite these political obstacles, Patridge said, "I’m interested and would look forward to a campaign if one were to occur." Both Patridge and Bates praised their senior colleague. "He had no arrogance in his nature," said Bates. "He is a down-to-earth, salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. He is a smart, very competent kind of senator." Patridge said, "I just think he provided a voice of reason to the Oregon Legislature. His experience and historical perspective will be sorely missed." Hannon said he wouldn’t close the door on possibly running again for office. "Never say never," he said "You always want to maintain your options." He looks forward to joining the three-member parole board, which has supervision over prisoners incarcerated prior to Measure 11. About 300 prisoners are released every month from Oregon prisons. If a person has served their time but still might pose a threat to the community, Hannon wants to make sure public safety agencies can keep an eye on them. "We need to make sure there are sanctions placed against them," he said. "We could require ankle bracelets or other monitoring techniques so we know where these people are at all times." Hannon will assume his position on the parole board on Jan. 2. His nomination to the board will have to be confirmed by the Senate. Bryan Platt, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party, said representatives from the Republican Party will meet in Jackson County within about a month after Hannon steps down to choose nominees for the interim seat. While he thinks the position would be a natural for Patridge, he said there is fairly strong opposition for Patridge’s leadership in supporting the $800 million income tax surcharge, passed by the Legislature this year. The state Republican Party has taken a position opposing the surcharge and supports a February ballot measure that, if passed, would repeal the surcharge and other tax measures included in the bill that created it. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! 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