Filing deadline clarifies local races

BY PATRICK JOHNSON
Appeal Tribune
March 19

Local races for the Oregon Legislature came into view Tuesday, when filing for state office closed. For Oregon Senate District 9, three Republican and two Democrat candidates have filed.

Incumbent Sen. Fred Girod of Lyons drew two Republican opponents in the GOP primary May 20. Girod was appointed early this year to fill the seat vacated by Roger Beyer of Molalla.

Girod will face Sarah Arcune of Stayton, who lost a Senate District 11 primary race in 2002, and Herman Joseph Baurer of Molalla, who was the Constitution Party nominee for the District 9 seat in 2004 and the Constitution Party nominee in House District 18 in 2002.

Steven Frank, a Stayton City Council member and retired postal worker, and Bob McDonald, a retired physician from Silverton, are seeking the Democratic nomination.

On the House of Representatives side, Rep. Vic Gilliam, R-Silverton and Democratic challenger Jim Gilbert are unopposed in the District 18 primaries.

In House District 17, appointed Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio, who replaced Girod after he was appointed to the Senate, faces three Republican primary opponents, including real estate agent Bruce Cuff of Mehama, Linn County Commissioner Cliff Wooten and former Oregon Republican Party Field Director Marc Lucca of Stayton.

Robert Upmeyer of Lebanon filed for the primary, but according to state election officials was not registered as a Republican, and was removed from the primary ballot. Dan Thackaberry is the Democrat who filed for the primary.

“We believe in our incumbent there and think it’s the right thing to do,” said House Republican Leader Bruce Hanna of Roseburg.