Huffman for Representative

The Dalles Chronicle
October 19th, 2008

      District 59 voters have the happiest — and rarest — dilemma in politics: Two excellent candidates for the same office.
     It is indicative of their quality that both agreed early to run a principled campaign, devoid of mudslinging, and have kept to it.
     District 59 is a monster, encompassing all or part of nine counties. It’s tough to get known widely throughout the district.
     Mike Ahern is from Madras. He’s a Realtor and small businessman who owns Ahern’s Grocery and Black Butte General Store.
     He brings lots of government experience as a member of the Madras city council and as a Jefferson County commissioner. He’s also served on the Deschutes River Management Commission, the 509-J School District budget committee, the Madras planning commission and others
     John Huffman is a familiar local figure in The Dalles. For 22 years he was the manager and part owner of Q-104 radio station. He also managed orchards in Parkdale.
     Huffman served on the Oregon Investment Board and on The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce economic development committee.
     But his strongest government experience is as the incumbent State Representative for District 59.
     He was appointed to fill the position after the resignation of Rep. John Dallum last August, so has had 14 months in the office, including service in the special 2008 session earlier this year.
     Either candidate would serve the voters of District 59 well, but Huffman has clearly demonstrated not only an aptitude for the job, but a willingness to listen carefully and consider all aspects of a position.
     In his tenure so far, Huffman has shown a commendable ability to find consensus and practical solutions.
     We believe John Huffman is right for the job and will best represent the people of District 59.

The Madras Pioneer
October 18th, 2008

In contrast with other state and national races, congeniality ruled when the candidates for state representative met at a forum in Madras Oct. 10. Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Ahern, of Madras, and Rep. John Huffman, of The Dalles, answered more than a dozen questions at the Chamber of Commerce’s second candidate forum.

Both Ahern, 52, a Democrat, and Huffman, 51, a Republican, agreed that it was unfortunate that the Office of Rural Policy closed its doors in Salem earlier this year. The office addressed the unique challenges facing rural counties, such as those in District 59.

"We’ve got to advocate for higher grants for rural counties," Ahern said, noting that he was very disappointed with the change. Huffman said he has been working with others on a plan to divide the state into zones which could be exempted from certain pieces of legislation. "We need to get our unfair share," he said.

Legislative audits also drew support from both candidates. Huffman said he would like to have an "outside force look at things and make some right decisions." Calling himself a conservative fiscal leader, Ahern said he favors the Rainy Day Fund, but disagrees with Huffman about cutting state income tax. Because of "tough times," he said, "I don’t think we can do that."

Both men ranked education and economic development as among their top priorities. “You can’t separate those; if we’re going to build our economy, you have to put education first," said Huffman, noting that when companies consider locating in an area, "they look at the education system first."

The recent lack of emphasis on arts, music and vocational-agricultural classes in schools concerns both candidates. "The country needs to make a giant change," said Ahern. "We need to invest in public education and economic development." The two candidates have similar stances on illegal immigration and work programs for those entering the U.S. legally for employment purposes. "We need to have a guest worker program," said Huffman, who also supports a pathway to citizenship for longtime residents.

Ahern agreed, commenting that there are thousands of migrant workers in the area. "We absolutely have to have a guest worker program," he said, noting that the current situation has caused animosity. "We need to get them documented and legal."

"I agree with Mike, and I’m ashamed of the majority of the (Republican) party," Huffman said. "We need to remember we should be a God-loving, God-fearing country." On the subject of a sales tax, Ahern said it’s a dead issue. "I’m not going to spend my time on it. I think we’re stuck with what we have unless someone shows me something better."

Huffman pointed out that Oregon voters have turned sales tax proposals down nine times. "I think the only plan voters would support would be a limit on property tax, income tax and sales tax," he said. "It would have to go to voters."

For low-income families, Huffman would like to strengthen rural health clinics and add more school-based health centers. With federal revenue likely to decline, Ahern is concerned about the future of the Oregon Health Plan, which receives about 60 cents from the federal government for every 40 cents the state puts in.

"I do think the Oregon Health Plan is a good thing," he said, "but I’m worried that the federal government isn’t going to be a good partner in the future." Asked about tribal sovereignty, and the practice of states withholding money from tribes if they don’t follow rules, such as the no-smoking law, Huffman said he sees both sides.

"Every situation is different," he said. In the case of no-smoking law, however, Huffman said, "I’m not a regulatory guy. I’m not in favor of the no-smoking law in bars." Ahern said tribes "shouldn’t have to abide by our rules."

Opinions were short and sweet about same-sex marriages. "I have no trouble with it," said Ahern, but, "I wouldn’t want the government forcing churches to abide by it." As his grandfather would have said, "I’m agin’ it," Huffman said. Ahern and Huffman were both strongly in favor of the Central Oregon Community College bond measure, which would fund a Madras facility. "We need to get behind higher education," said Ahern, "and take care of our youth." Huffman agreed, "Community colleges based in your community are phenomenal."

Candidate backgrounds
A second-term county commissioner, Ahern is also employed as a realtor with Coldwell Banker, Dick Dodson Realty. He graduated from Madras High School, and has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon.

Ahern has three sons, Aaron, 25, Jared, 23, and Carson, 19, and he and his wife Jane are expecting a fourth son in November.

Besides serving as state representative since his appointment in August of 2007, Huffman is a commercial property owner and manager. He serves on several Oregon House of Representative committees, especially those dealing with education, workforce and economic development. A high school graduate, Huffman said he attended "some college." Huffman and his wife Korina have eight grown children and 10 grandchildren.

Huffman gets the nod for District 59 seat in House

Blue Mountain Eagle
October 15, 2008

Grant County faces a win-win situation in the state House District 59 race.

Both candidates have been highly visible in Grant County, appearing at forums and community meetings. We believe voters would be well served by either candidate, but we give the edge to Huffman and urge voters in Western and Northern Grant County to do the same. – SC

By SAM CRAIG
of The Chronicle

     With Nov. 4 just around the corner, several candidates for city, county and state positions marched into The Dalles Civic Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 14 to give their views.
     Each candidate had a chance to give a four-minute speech followed by a question and answer session moderated by Kathy Gray, editor of The Chronicle.
     A majority of the candidates are running unopposed for office, and the only contested races are for Position No. 2 in The Dalles City Council and for District 59 State Representative.
     Brian Ahier, running unopposed for city council, started the event, speaking of his desire to evaluate city proposals for fiscal responsibility, among other topics.
     Randy Cole and Dan Spatz, both running for City Council Position No. 2, were among the first to take the stage, offering their plans to make The Dalles a more prosperous town.
     Spatz, the Chief Institutional Advancement Officer for Columbia Gorge Community College, would like to keep business growing in The Dalles; the focus of new businesses being creators of clean, renewable energy, as well as new businesses brought to the downtown area. He’s also got his eyes on what a major company is doing on their port property.
     “One thing I’d like to see is the completion of the Google Data Center down there,” he said. “They have about a third of their plant that they have yet to construct so it would be good to see that built out.”
     Cole also has a mind for Google finishing up, but not at the expense of the economic wellbeing of The Dalles.
     “First of all,” said Cole, Traffic Safety Commission chair and a conductor for Union Pacific, “I don’t believe that we as citizens need to give tax exempt status to a multibillion-dollar corporation. Sure I’d like to see them here and I’d like to see them develop the rest of their property, but I don’t think we need to give them tax exempt status. Our economy hurts, we need that tax base.”
     As the sole candidate, Nikki Lesich isn’t looking at a long battle to the mayor’s desk, but she is poised to make history. As mayor, she would be the first female to take the job in the 151-year history of The Dalles.
     Lesich, an ad sales representative at The Dalles Chronicle, is focused on making the town a more attractive place to new industries. Having worked with the urban renewal committee, she believes by creating a place that would be more appealing to tourism, The Dalles could be a force to reckon with when it comes to flirting with new businesses.
     “I’ve been on that committee for nine years,” she said. “And that committee has proved to me that we can dream big, that we can attract business and we can make our community healthy with its spirit and I hope you vote for me, even though I’m unopposed, for mayor of The Dalles.”
     Sherry Holliday beat Georgia Murray in the May primary election and now will run uncontested to maintain her position as county commissioner. She says her main goals are for expansion, development and growth within the county, more funding for the Sheriff’s Department, as well as finding solutions to help the mentally ill other than housing them at NORCOR.
     Running as the only candidate for clerk is Karen LeBreton-Coats (not pictured). She’s held the position for 21 years, worked in the office for another 15 and has officiated at more than 1,100 marriage ceremonies. Her goals for her next term are for increased voter registration and to “overwhelm” the public with the content available on the new clerk’s section of the county’s website.
     Wasco County Sheriff, Rick Eisland is also running for re-election. Being sheriff of a big county can be tough, especially when there aren’t that many deputies on patrol, but Eisland said he always maintains at least two deputies on at a time. Even if sometimes they are 100 miles apart from one another. Next term he’d like to see more deputies on the force, as well as more money to make the job safer for the ones already on patrol. He’s also planning on making sure radio contact is available to deputies no matter where they are in the county.
     Also at the event were John Huffman, the Republican state representative of District 59, and his opponent for the position, Madras Democrat Mike Ahern.
Both promised to bring the concerns of rural Oregon to the forefront in Salem.      Huffman vowed to bring back the proposal for the Rural Investment Program and Ahern said, if elected, he would do his best to reinstate the Center for Rural Policy.
     Sitting at opposite ends of the same table, the two exchanged a few barbs during the night.
     When asked what he expected would be different if his opponent were elected, Huffman said, “I would hope there would be no changes, because I’ve set the bar pretty high. If Mike were to beat me, quite frankly, he’s got big shoes to fill, because I do put a lot of time in on this job.”
     Ahern, who’s also a real estate agent, was asked if he’d be willing reach across the aisle to work with members of the other party.
     “I have always served with Republicans,” the Democratic candidate said. “Jefferson County is overwhelmingly Republican. Most of my campaign donations are Republican. You think I don’t like Republicans? I love Republicans.”

Return Huffman for a full term

Bend Bulletin
October 7, 2008

A pair of very good candidates would like to represent Oregon’s enormous House District 59, which stretches all the way from Deschutes County to the Columbia River. Mike Ahern, a Democrat from Madras, is a member of the Jefferson County Commission. John Huffman, a Republican from The Dalles, was appointed last August to the seat he and Ahern now seek. Voters should give Huffman the nod, if only because of the experience he’s gained over the last 13 months, a period that includes the Legislature’s 2008 “emergency” session.

Ahern and Huffman are not as different as their party affiliations and hometowns might suggest, at least in ways that should matter to District 59 voters. Both have many years of small-business experience, Ahern as a grocery-store owner and Huffman as a radio-station owner. Both describe themselves as fiscally conservative. Both are committed to economic development, and to this end both have mentioned the potential value of more windmill installations. Both believe the Legislature can do a better job serving rural areas like those in District 59. And both decided to seek the House seat at the urging of others. Huffman says he was nudged by U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, whom he has known for years. Ahern says he was recruited by Oregon Rep. Dave Hunt, the House majority leader, who appealed to Ahern’s spirit of public service.

The biggest relevant difference between the two candidates, apart from party affiliation, is experience. Huffman has been learning the ropes for 13 months, and he’s even participated in one session, albeit a short and experimental one. Ahern’s argument for placing him in Huffman’s seat rests largely on his determination to represent rural areas like those in Jefferson County. We have no doubt he’d represent the district well, including those areas he highlights.

But Ahern hasn’t accused Huffman of indifference to rural issues, and Huffman himself argues he hasn’t been. As evidence, he points to his efforts to restore funding to the defunct Office of Rural Policy and the many miles he has put on his car crisscrossing his district.

We confess to a Central Oregon bias in Ahern’s favor. But Huffman has done a credible job so far, and voters should send him to Salem for a full term. He’s not likely to disappoint.