Political Desk

Published: March 8, 2008

By DAVID BATES
Of the News-Register

State Rep. Donna Nelson finally broke her silence about her 2008 political plans Thursday.

The McMinnville Republican won’t seek re-election to her District 24 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. Instead, she will challenge the fellow Republican she replaced in District 24, Yamhill County Commissioner Leslie Lewis of rural Carlton.

That promises to pit two of the county’s most visible Republican politicians against each other in a race that is, per a 2002 voter mandate, nonpartisan. It may also mark the first time one of Yamhill County’s legislative representatives has run against one of its former legislative representatives for an entirely different office.

“I think this is a first,” said Yamhill County Clerk Jan Coleman. “It’s kind of an interesting one.”

If the race remains a two-person affair, or someone secures a majority in the May primary despite the surfacing of additional candidates, it will be decided then. In the event more than two candidates file and none of them is able to secure a majority, the two top vote-getters will square off in the November general election.

Nelson announced for the race Thursday in an eight-page, single-space press release detailing the highlights of her four terms representing House 24. She turned in her paperwork Friday morning, five days before Tuesday’s 5 p.m. filing deadline for the May primary.

A 64-year-old McMinnville resident and retired Evergreen International Aviation executive, Nelson already has some experience with county government. She did a tour on the county budget committee, and also has served on county parks and transportation boards.

But she cited her tenure in Salem, where she served both in the majority and minority, as her key training ground.

“I feel that tough environment has prepared me well for focusing on county issues,” she said. “I believe I can add a new perspective to county government.”

The 54-year-old Lewis served in the Legislature in the mid-1990s, quickly rising to the rank of co-chair of the powerful Joint Ways & Means Committee, before unseating former Commissioner Ted Lopuszynski in a hard-fought partisan race in 2000. She was re-elected in 2004 in a considerably quieter election that was conducted on a non-partisan basis by voter mandate.

Nelson does not mention Lewis in her announcement, although the two are known to be at odds on at least one local issue: The location of a proposed veterans’ park being touted by state Sen. Gary George, a Newberg Republican who is not seeking re-election.

George and fellow park supporters want to site the facility on county property on the old Newberg landfill site. Lewis has joined other county officials in objecting on numerous logistical grounds.

Park supporters have taken that as an affront. And Nelson, a longtime veterans advocate who once chaired the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has rallied to their cause.

“As a county, we can show greater appreciation and respect for them with the establishment of the County Veterans Memorial Park,” Nelson said in her announcement.

Nelson said she had decided to make the run at the urging of constituents. There’s been some buzz about another candidate emerging, but so far, no one else has announced, let alone filed.

Informed of the news Friday, Lewis said she was looking forward to the opportunity to discuss policy issues and her record in office.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a fun race.”