Fergus McLean never planned to take on Oregon House Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna. The Dexter resident, a private contract forester, filed for office on the final filing day back in March just so the Democratic Party would have a candidate. He planned to later withdraw his name from the District 7 race, allowing party leaders in Douglas and Lane counties to choose a replacement. Unknown to McLean, Yoncalla artist Susan Applegate also filed for the Democratic nomination on the final day. She didn’t want the position, either, and following a discussion between the two of them, Applegate withdrew from the race …



