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Home , Cliff Bentz, Kurt Schrader, Wes Cooley

Bentz takes over ’s 2nd District

By Jeff Duewel of the Daily Courier There is still one Republican among Oregon’s five representa- tives in the U.S. House, but for the first time in over 20 years, it isn’t . of Ontario, veteran of the Oregon Legislature, now represents Oregon’s vast 2nd Congressional District after Walden’s retirement. He defeated several bigger names in the 2020 primary, including former gubernatorial candidates of Bend and of Jacksonville, as well as a well- financed campaign by newcomer Jimmy Crumpacker. In the November election, he won in a landslide to keep the district red. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes the Grants Pass portion of Josephine County, Jackson County and all of Central and , has more than 70,000 square miles, the seventh-largest Congressional district in the country. It hasn’t had a Democrat elected since the legendary Al Ull- man of Baker City in 1981. Ullman served 12 terms, one more than Walden, before he was defeated in the Reagan landslide of 1980. CLIFF BENTZ Bentz, 69, has the same pedigree as Walden and the late Bob Smith, Republicans who have ruled the vast 2nd Congressional Wyden, Oregon’s senior senator at age 71, has been elected District since 1983, save for Wes Cooley’s single term in the to three six-year terms since he won a special 1990s (and he was a Republican, too). Bentz is a rancher, election over Gordon Smith in 1996 after Bob lawyer, and lawmaker who has served in the state Legislature Packwood resigned in a sex scandal. He said he since 2008. will run again in 2022. Walden won 10 straight reelections before deciding last year Merkley also defeated Smith to earn his first to hang it up at the end of this term. six-year term in the Senate in 2008. He was “I tried my best to follow in the footsteps of both of them,” reelected in 2014, and in 2020 defeated Republi- Bentz said last year. “As far as our goals go, they’re very simi- can Jo Rae Perkins for his third term. lar.” Here’s how to contact your representatives Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, won his 18th straight election and senators: in the 4th Congressional District, beating Alek Skarlatos of • Sen. , 313 Hart Senate Office DEFAZIO Roseburg, who had no political experience but was well known Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-3753. for his role in stopping an armed attack on a Paris-bound train Portland office: 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1400, in 2015. Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-3386; Medford office: The 4th District includes rural Josephine County. The dis- 10 South Bartlett Street, Suite 201, Medford, OR trict is diverse, with Democratic strongholds Eugene and Cor- 97501; Phone: (541) 608-9102. Email: Go to his vallis to the north, and rural Southwest Oregon leaning red. A website at merkley.senate.gov. Republican hasn’t won the district since 1972. The district also • Sen. , 221 Dirksen Senate Office includes Curry, Douglas and Coos counties. Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-5244. DeFazio, 73, is chairman of the House Transportation and District office: 310 W. Sixth St., Room 118, Med- Infrastructure Committee. He paid Grants Pass a visit in August ford, OR 97501; 541-858-5122. Email: Go to WYDEN 2020, going to the airport in Merlin to see where a runway exten- Wyden’s website, wyden.senate.gov, and click sion is needed. DeFazio said then he could work with the Federal on “contact.” Aviation Administration to get a 1,700-foot extension instead of a • Rep. Peter DeFazio, 4th Congressional 400-foot extension suggested by the FAA in 2020. District, 2134 Rayburn House Office Building, The committee has jurisdiction over the nation’s highways, Washington, D.C. 20515; 202-225-6416. District public transit, rail systems, airports, pipelines, and seaports, office: 405 E. Eighth Ave. Suite 2030, Eugene, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, OR 97401; 541-465-6732 or 800-944-9603. Roseburg the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Army Corps office: 612 S.E. Jackson St., Room 9, Roseburg, of Engineers, and other agencies OR, 97470; 541-440-3523. Email: Go to DeFazio's The other three congressional districts further north in Ore- website and click on “email me.” Website: gon are all Democrat. defazio.house.gov. MERKLEY , and Susan Bonamici all • Rep. Cliff Bentz, 2nd Congressional District, 1239 Long- were reelected in 2020 to another term in Congress in the 3rd, worth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; 202-225- 5th, and 1st districts, respectively. 6730. District office: 14 N. Central Avenue, Suite 112, Medford, Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Portland- OR, 97501; 541-776-4646 or 1-800-533-3303. Email: Go to based, are Oregon’s U.S. senators in Washington D.C. bentz.house.gov and click on “contact.” 14 — A - Z In Josephine • SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2021