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Rep. Susan Morgan announced this morning she will not seek a sixth term in the Oregon Legislature.
At the same time, Roseburg City Councilor Tim Freeman said he will seek the District 2 seat being vacated by the Republican from Green. He was preparing to file for the seat this morning with the Secretary of State’s Office, the first day candidates for next year’s primary could officially announce their candidacies.
Candidates have until March 11 to file for state and local positions.
Morgan said she is exploring her options but would not say what she has planned when she leaves office at the end of 2008. She will continue to represent the Roseburg area and other portions of Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties until the end of her current two-year term.
“I’m ready to move on to new responsibilities,” Morgan said. “I’m looking forward and want to stay in public service.”
Freeman praised Morgan for her nearly nine years in the Legislature. He said she has been an effective legislator who works well with people regardless of political affiliation and tries to do what’s right. If elected, Freeman said he would try to model himself after her.
Freeman, 42, is the owner of Garden Valley Shell. He has served on the Roseburg City Council for four years, three as council president. He was appointed in August 2003 to fill a vacancy created when former Councilor Dick Mitchell resigned.
For the past several years, Freeman has served on the General Government Committee of the League of Oregon Cities, which lobbies at the Legislature. Freeman served as chairman of that group for the last year and spent time talking in Salem with legislators about issues of concern.
“With Rep. Morgan planning not to re-run for her seat, I saw an opportunity that has come up and feel this is a good time for me to step up and run for the office,” Freeman said.
Freeman once served as the Roseburg council’s liaison to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and regularly attended that group’s meetings. He said he had considered running for commissioner but felt Morgan’s decision to leave the statehouse provided him with a better opportunity.
“I feel the Republican Party, locally here and at the state level, needs some new folks to get involved. They need folks that are strong business people, strong family values people. They need people who share the Republican view and Republican values and I fit that mold very well. I feel very comfortable in that role,” Freeman said.
Freeman, a member of the Douglas County Republican Central Committee, said he would campaign on a platform of trying to keep government from controlling people’s lives. He said he is a strong advocate for public safety and would advocate for more Oregon State Police troopers.
“What I see is a chance to go to the state, take some of the things that I know as a businessman, that I know as a family man, that I know as a local elected official and forward that to the state level, to where I can continue to represent the citizens of Douglas County here in District 2,” Freeman said.
His experience on the City Council and dealing with people holding widely differing views has prepared him, Freeman said, to tackle statewide issues and be an effective representative.
“I’ve learned to respect other people’s views and ideas and that government is a public process,” Freeman said. “If you’re not involved, it’s pretty hard to complain about the outcome.”
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
At the same time, Roseburg City Councilor Tim Freeman said he will seek the District 2 seat being vacated by the Republican from Green. He was preparing to file for the seat this morning with the Secretary of State’s Office, the first day candidates for next year’s primary could officially announce their candidacies.
Candidates have until March 11 to file for state and local positions.
Morgan said she is exploring her options but would not say what she has planned when she leaves office at the end of 2008. She will continue to represent the Roseburg area and other portions of Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties until the end of her current two-year term.
“I’m ready to move on to new responsibilities,” Morgan said. “I’m looking forward and want to stay in public service.”
Freeman praised Morgan for her nearly nine years in the Legislature. He said she has been an effective legislator who works well with people regardless of political affiliation and tries to do what’s right. If elected, Freeman said he would try to model himself after her.
Freeman, 42, is the owner of Garden Valley Shell. He has served on the Roseburg City Council for four years, three as council president. He was appointed in August 2003 to fill a vacancy created when former Councilor Dick Mitchell resigned.
For the past several years, Freeman has served on the General Government Committee of the League of Oregon Cities, which lobbies at the Legislature. Freeman served as chairman of that group for the last year and spent time talking in Salem with legislators about issues of concern.
“With Rep. Morgan planning not to re-run for her seat, I saw an opportunity that has come up and feel this is a good time for me to step up and run for the office,” Freeman said.
Freeman once served as the Roseburg council’s liaison to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners and regularly attended that group’s meetings. He said he had considered running for commissioner but felt Morgan’s decision to leave the statehouse provided him with a better opportunity.
“I feel the Republican Party, locally here and at the state level, needs some new folks to get involved. They need folks that are strong business people, strong family values people. They need people who share the Republican view and Republican values and I fit that mold very well. I feel very comfortable in that role,” Freeman said.
Freeman, a member of the Douglas County Republican Central Committee, said he would campaign on a platform of trying to keep government from controlling people’s lives. He said he is a strong advocate for public safety and would advocate for more Oregon State Police troopers.
“What I see is a chance to go to the state, take some of the things that I know as a businessman, that I know as a family man, that I know as a local elected official and forward that to the state level, to where I can continue to represent the citizens of Douglas County here in District 2,” Freeman said.
His experience on the City Council and dealing with people holding widely differing views has prepared him, Freeman said, to tackle statewide issues and be an effective representative.
“I’ve learned to respect other people’s views and ideas and that government is a public process,” Freeman said. “If you’re not involved, it’s pretty hard to complain about the outcome.”
• You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
