HD-40: The fifth open seat of 2012
Kari Chisholm
With the announcement earlier this week by Rep. Dave Hunt that he will run for the office of Clackamas County Chair, his legislative seat becomes open for 2012.
That makes five open seats so far in 2012 (after Mary Nolan, Brad Witt, Jean Cowan, and Jefferson Smith) If you're keeping score, that's zero Republicans and five Democrats. Which would seem, at first blush, to suggest that the Democrats aren't confident in their chances - except that four of the five are running for higher office.
HD-40 is fairly dramatically different after redistricting. The old district (map here) had Gladstone and Jennings Lodge at its southern end, then extended northwest toward Oak Grove and due north past Johnson City and past Clackamas Town Center to Johnson Creek Road.
The new district still includes Jennings Lodge and Gladstone, but extends south along the east bank of the Willamette to take in Oregon City and the area around Clackamas Community College.
Rep. Hunt is completing his fifth term, after being first elected in 2002. No word yet on any candidates. Stay tuned.
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7:46 a.m.
Sep 23, '11
Word is former Rep. Brent Barton and former candidate Toby Forsberg are considering running.
9:57 a.m.
Sep 23, '11
I don't believe these changes are suggestive of any lack of confidence in chances of reelection or of losing the majority in the house. I'm pretty sure that Rep. Cowan's decision is personal and Rep. Witt has to resign only if he becomes the congressman. However, I do hope that Rep. Kotek can unite the caucus to gain us the 31st seat, hopefully in HD29 or HD30 which both should be Democratic.