For Immediate Release
Contact: Molly Woon
press [at] dpo [dot] org
State Senator DeBoer manipulating election timeline to benefit his preferred candidate
February 22, 2018
PORTLAND — With there being little secret that Senator Alan DeBoer (R-Ashland) has no plans to seek re-election to the state Senate, the Democratic Party of Oregon made public their concerns about the election for Senate District 3 in Southern Oregon. DeBoer has not made any announcement about his intentions, giving an advantage to his preferred candidate—who happens to also be his current legislative staffer.
Despite repeated claims that he would announce his future plans, DeBoer has put off making an announcement for several months. He claimed to the Medford Mail-Tribune that he would announce his decision in December 2017, then moved the timeline to January 2018. As of late February he has still not made any announcement or indication of his intention to run.
“DeBoer’s apparent plan to bail on the Legislature and handpick his successor should gravely concern the voters of Senate District 3,” said Jeanne Atkins, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. “Republicans and Democrats alike deserve the opportunity to vote for a set of candidates that emerge from the district, not just the anointed preference of the incumbent.”
As of February 20th, DeBoer has not filed for re-election to District 3 or updated his Political Action Committee to show that he is running in the 2018 race. His legislative staffer, Jessica Gomez, has been rumored as the replacement candidate and has begun making moves toward a run, including interviewing prospective campaign staffers.
“The move by DeBoer to rig the filing process will deprive his own constituents of having a robust field of candidates in the May Primary,” said David Roadman, Chair of the Jackson County Democrats. “It’s a cynical ploy, and I believe it will backfire and taint the candidacy of Jessica Gomez.”
Four Democratic candidates have filed to run in the May 15 Primary election for Senate District 3. As of today, no Republican candidates have filed. District 3 has an eight point Democratic registration advantage and voted for Hillary Clinton by eight points over Donald Trump in 2016.
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