Woodburn Independent Online

Candidates throughout the Mid-Valley area file for 2010 primary

May 2010 election preview

• By: Amanda Newman  
• Published: 9/17/2009 10:19:40 AM
• Last Updated: 9/17/2009 2:22:40 PM

Oregon filing for federal and state offices opened last week for the May 2010 primary election, prompting candidates to formally express their intent to run for numerous offices throughout the area.
 
In federal office, Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden, in office since 1996, is up for reelection. Wyden has filed a campaign with the Federal Election Commission, which opened for 2010 filing before the state did, as has Democratic challenger Pavel Goberman. Goberman has also filed with the Oregon Elections Division, although Wyden has not.
 
All five House of Representatives positions, two-year terms, are also up, including David Wu (D-1st District), incumbent since 1999, and Kurt Schrader (D-5th District), who took office this year. Wu has filed a campaign with the FEC, as have Republican challengers Stephen Brodhead, Robert Cornilles and John Kuzmanich, but no candidates have filed with the Oregon Elections Division. Schrader has also filed with the FEC but not the state office, and is currently facing no opponents. Senate terms are six years.
 
The governor position is up for grabs, with incumbent Democrat Ted Kulongoski legally unable to seek a third consecutive term. His predecessor, fellow Democrat John Kitzhaber, has filed a candidate committee with the state and announced his intention to seek a third, nonconsecutive term. Allen Alley, a Republican who previously served as Kulongoski’s deputy chief of staff, filed a campaign Sept. 10, the day state filing opened, and Democrat Roger Obrist filed Wednesday. Stephen Shields, a Democrat, has also filed a candidate committee. Former secretary of state Bill Bradbury launched a gubernatorial bid this week, but has not yet officially filed.”
 
In the state senate, 16 of the 30 seats will open up next year, 12 held by Democrats and four by Republicans. Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem), in office since 1999, filed for reelection last week, as did Sen. Martha Schrader (D-Canby), in office since 2009. Sen. Larry George (R-Sherwood) has been in the senate since 2007; his term is also up next year.
 
In the Oregon House of Representatives, where terms are two years, all 60 positions (36 held by Democrats and 24 by Republicans) are opening next year. State Rep. Matt Wingard (R-Wilsonville) filed for reelection last week. Other area representatives, including Vic Gilliam (R-Silverton), Betty Komp (D-Woodburn), Jim Weidner (R-Yamhill), Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer) and Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City), have not filed candidacies, although Gilliam has filed a candidate committee. Democrat Sandy Webb has also filed a candidate committee for Wingard’s position.
 
Nonpartisan offices opening next year include superintendent of public instruction, a position held by Susan Castillo since 2003. There are currently no filings for the position. Also up for statewide, nonpartisan reelection are Supreme Court judges Rives Kistler (Position 4 incumbent since 2003) and W. Michael Gillette (Position 5 since 1986) and Court of Appeals judges Darlene Ortega (Position 3 since 2003) and Robert Wollheim (Position 7 since 1998).
 
Circuit Court judgeships will open throughout the state. In Clackamas County, Eve Miller (position 2), Douglas Van Dyk (position 4), Robert Herndon (position 7) and Thomas Rastetter (position 10) will be up for reelection. In Marion County, Claudia Burton (position 3), Mary James (position 6), John Wilson (position 10) and Thomas Hart (position 13) will be up for reelection. In Yamhill County, positions 1 (Presiding Judge John Collins) and 3 (Cal Tichenor) will be up. Judges are elected for six-year terms.
 
Marion County will also vote for District Attorney. Walt Beglau has held the office since 2004.
 
All candidate filing information is current as of Wednesday morning.
 
The filing period for the May election closes March 9. Most nonpartisan offices will be elected in the May election. Those receiving a party nomination for partisan office will go on to the Nov. 2, 2010 general election. Those elected in 2010 will take office in January 2011.

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