MCKENZIE BRIDGE, Oregon (STPNS) -- WALTERVILLE: Two candidates hoping to rep-resent portions of the local area in the Oregon House of Representatives spoke at a McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce meeting last Thursday. Hoping to represent District 7, which extends east from Leaburg was Democrat Fergus MacLean. Running for the District 11 seat was Republican Kelly Lovelace. That district extends to the west from Leaburg.

MacLean focused on what he called the Republicans poor leadership in dealing with foreclosure law reforms during the legislature’s last session. He called the fallout from the sub prime mortgage collapse a “wide spread massive fraud.”



According to MacLean the lack of leadership was the principal reason he decided to run against incumbent Bruce Hanna, despite his opponent being a “guy who’s raised $620,000.”

“In Oregon we still have over 100,000 people who are underwater on these bad loans they got talked into signing up for,” MacLean said. “It’s important that the state, which controls the foreclosure process, intercedes before those who are still employed lose their homes.”

Kelly Lovelace identified himself as a businessman as well as a farmer of 1,000 acres. He said his motive was to fight a “sate government that’s serving state government.”

“We need a state government that promotes job creation and less regulation – pure and simple,” he added.

One thing that sparked his interest, Lovelace said, was when he heard about proposals to increase setback requirements for residences along the McKenzie River. He opposed the idea saying, “It’s not theirs to take,”

Lovelace was also critical of changes he’s seen occur over the last 20 to 30 years that affect Oregon’s budget and have resulted in a shift of resources. By giving control to the agencies, Lovelace said Oregon’s state budget is now funded 50% by fees, rather than taxes. “We need to change that,” he said, “to make legislators take responsibility for what’s going on.”