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.

The seat has drawn two contenders with experience in dealing with the issues that concern rural communities. Voters will need to decide between Republican John Huffman, the incumbent by virtue of his appointment to the post last year, and Mike Ahern, his Democratic challenger. The hard-fought race comes in a year that has produced only a few such ably contested state races. Where other districts go begging for more than one strong candidate, we find two seeking the post for the district that covers more than half of Grant County.

Both Huffman, a radio station owner from The Dalles, and Ahern, a Madras businessman and longtime community volunteer, would bring to the post abilities that would represent rural communities well.

Ahern is likely to receive quite a few crossover votes, especially in Jefferson County, thanks to his record of service there. He has served on the Jefferson County Court and dealt with many issues shared by Grant County - budget cuts, water resources, economic woes, and inflexible state bureaucracies, to name a few. He wants to restore the state’s efforts to aid rural economies, something that was undercut in the last Legislature.

If elected, he could help provide a rural perspective within the majority party - something that is sorely needed. He says that perspective has been miserably represented in District 59 for many years, and he feels that having yet another rep from the Columbia Gorge only continues that situation.

We agree Grant County’s needs were largely ignored during the tenure of the previous officeholder, who vacated the seat when he moved out of the state in 2007. Indeed, if Ahern were running against former Rep. John Dallum, it would be an easy call to endorse Ahern.

That said, Dallum’s successor has proved to be more than just another politico from The Dalles. Since taking office, Huffman has plunged into the issues and worked alongside our Republican state Sen. Ted Ferrioli to press for solutions to rural problems.

Huffman took office at a challenging time, and had to learn the ropes in a special session that dealt with tough budget issues. He says he learned a lot of lessons in that time, and also gained critical information and contacts that are helping to guide his service in Salem. He has shared those experiences not just at home in The Dalles, but in numerous visits to John Day and other communities in his district.

In his travels, he has shown a grasp of the economic challenges facing Grant County and Eastern Oregon, and he clearly has studied up on the energy, water and development issues that will be crucial to our ability to survive and thrive in the future. He has shown considerable dedication to the job in his first year in office, and we’d like to see what he can do with a full term.

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.

Oregon Catalyst 

[State Rep. John Huffman Press Release]
REPRESENTATIVE HUFFMAN CO-SPONSORS NEW LOCKSMITH OVERSIGHT LAWS

THE DALLES – Representative John E. Huffman (R-The Dalles) announced today that he is co-sponsoring legislation for the 2009 Legislative Session that will provide better oversight for the locksmith industry in Oregon. Rep. Huffman is working with State Representative Linda Flores (R-Clackamas) to draft the legislation.

“The information and tools to walk through any locked door is out there and it is getting into the wrong hands,” said Ernie Blatz, President of the Pacific Locksmith Association (PLA). “In an industry where every aspect is security - homes, auto, businesses – why wouldn’t you want tighter licensing for locksmiths?” Blatz is also the owner of Ernie’s Locks and Keys in The Dalles.

The PLA endorsed the idea of moving ahead with a new law for better oversight at their recent monthly meeting. “This is a great example of how a business group is trying to police their trade and restore some of the credibility they may have lost with customers,” said Rep. Huffman. “I am hoping we can add some protection and peace of mind for consumers.”

Blatz noted similar attempts to strengthen licensing laws have been unsuccessful, however, “in the last couple of years there has been a large group of out-of-state illegal locksmiths scamming and ripping off the public in Oregon. They use 1800 numbers that go to other states where the job is then dispatched to local people who are not licensed and who have been trained out of a hotel room. Once they size up a customer they over charge them.”

Under current law, locksmiths who work on homes, businesses or other structures need to be licensed as a contractor. The Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) estimates around 72 locksmiths are presently licensed, yet there are hundreds listed in the phone book, many with false addresses. The CCB recently issued several penalties and warning letters but only 60 such enforcement actions have occurred over the last 20 years. The Oregon Department of Justice has limited investigative powers but they have recorded over 900 consumer complaints in the last two decades. Ten other states have stricter laws than Oregon.

Some potential changes that are being considered are giving locksmiths a separate specialty license similar to Washington State, requiring more training and certification or moving the licensing duties to another agency.

This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Rep. Huffman’s office are available on the web at: www.leg.state.or.us/huffman.

Posted by The Associated Press March 28, 2008 07:57AM

MAUPIN, Ore. -- This city has become at least the second in Oregon to lose its planning commission because of a new financial disclosure law.

Four of the panel’s seven members resigned because of a state law that requires more public officials -- including unpaid, small-town volunteers -- to submit a statement of their economic interests to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, The (Dalles) Chronicle reported.

The resignations left the commission without a quorum. Mayor Denny Ross said the City Council will take over the commission’s duties.

The entire commission for the city of Elgin, north of La Grande, resigned earlier this month for the same reason.

The statements, due April 15, must identify the source of income for the officeholder, their relatives or member of their household -- anything above $1,000, though not the specific amount. The statements also address property holdings, shared business with lobbyists, honoraria and certain types of debt and investments.

Ross complained that the state legislators made a "sweeping" rule change that hurts small towns. He said the rules provide an extra layer of bureaucracy and expose more information to the public without adequate protection.

"It’s a slap in the face" to the integrity of volunteers, Ross said. He added that the ethics rule isn’t necessary in a small town, where "everyone knows what’s going on."

Ross has written a letter to state Rep. John Huffman, R-The Dalles, and plans to forward a summary of the resignation letters to the ethics commission. Ross said it took two months to find the last volunteer for the commission and he has no confidence he can fill four vacancies.

Joan Silver Endorses John Huffman. Listen below to hear how she is supporting John and his work in the community!

REPRESENTATIVE HUFFMAN SUPPORTS TAX RELIEF FOR OREGON’S FAMILY FARMERS AND RANCHERS

February 15th, 2008

SALEM – Representative John Huffman (R-The Dalles) supported providing tax relief to small farmers and ranchers with his aye vote on House Bill 3618. House Bill 3618 will give a tax break on estate taxes for family farmers, forest owners and commercial fishing businesses. The House of Representatives passed HB 3618 by a vote of 41 to 18. The bill now goes to the Senate.

HB 3618 will provide tax relief through a credit schedule depending on the size of the estate. The credit schedule is highest at $7.5 million and lowest at $15 million. In order to be eligible for this tax credit, two criteria must be met:

- 50% of the total estate’s value must be natural resource or commercial fishing property.
- In the event that ownership of the property transfers to heirs of the family, the property must continue to be used for the same purpose for five of the next eight years.

“This bill still needs to be amended to extend this benefit to small woodland owners,”
said Rep. Huffman. “I will be working with Senator Ferrioli to ensure this amendment is added.” If signed by the Governor, HB 3618 will become effective 91 days following the adjournment of the 2008 supplemental legislative session.

This press release and an archive of previous press releases issued by Rep. Huffman’s office are available on the web at: www.leg.state.or.us/huffman.


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By CORY ELDRIDGE
of The Chronicle
Commissioners from seven counties in District 59 chose former broadcaster John Huffman of The Dalles to fill a vacancy in the Oregon Legislature. The district was left without representation by the surprise resignation earlier
this month of Rep. John Dallum. Dallum himself was originally appointed to the seat in a similar procedure when former Rep. John Mabrey resigned in 2004.

The county commissioners met at Cousins Restaurant’s banquet room today at 9 a.m. to choose from a pool of three candidates selected by Republican Precinct Committee People on Wednesday, Aug. 23. The other
candidates were Meredith Van Valkenburgh of The Dalles and Mick Goss of Madras.

After a short introduction, the candidates separately answered questions from the commissioners. Most of the questions addressed the three men’s views and plans concerning the district’s rural communities. About these issues, Huffman said he wants to work with the counties to decide which issues they need state assistance with and “what Salem can stay out of.”

During his introduction, Huffman stressed what he called his “stick-to-itivness”, and throughout his questioning said his first business would be to build relationships with the district’s counties and state agencies to solve problems,
such as those concerning land and water use. In the election, each commissioner was given a vote, but the weight of the vote was determined by the number of registered voters in the commissioner’s county. The commissioners from Deschutes, Gilliam, Wheeler and Sherman had 1/3 of a vote while Wasco’s commissioners each had 4 1/3 votes. A candidate would win by plurality, receiving more votes than either of the other candidates.

The first four counties to report their votes, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant and Wheeler which all phoned in, went unanimously to Huffman. Goss received one vote, weighted to be worth three, from a Jefferson commissioner. Huffman then took Sherman county unanimously. Van Valkenburgh received two votes from Wasco County’s commissioners, worth 8 2/3 votes. Needing only a plurality, Huffman won with 18 1/3 votes of a potential 30. While accepting his new post, Huffman said to the commissioners, “I will visit every one of you until you are sick of me.”
After the meeting adjourned, Huffman said his first task will be to fulfill his promise to build relationships with his constituents. Mostly it will be learning the issues. “I’m going to have to get up to speed on all of the issues,” he said. “I’m being loaded up as we speak.”

He said rural issues such as farming, property and water rights, cellular service, and timber receipts will be at the forefront of his work as District 59’s representative. House District 59 is one of the largest districts in the state. It covers all of Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler and Jefferson counties plus two thirds of Grant County, a portion of Deschutes County, and tiny unpopulted slivers of Marion and Clackamas counties.