Four candidates are in the Republican primary for the open Oregon Senate District 29 seat.
Todd Nash, Jim Doherty, Dave Drotzmannn and Andy Huwe are vying to succeed Bill Hansell of Athena, who opted not to seek a fourth term. There are no Democrats running for the seat.
Nash has been a Wallowa County commissioner since 2016. He grew up in Enterprise and owns a cow-calf ranch. He also is the immediate past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.
Doherty is a former Morrow County commissioner who served six years before losing his seat in a recall in late 2022. He was raised in the county and owns a cattle ranch there. He is a past president of the Association of Oregon Counties.
Drotzmann is the mayor of Hermiston and is an optometrist who owns a private practice in Hermiston. He moved to the city about 25 years ago and has served as mayor since 2012. He’s also held positions on the Hermiston School District Board of Directors and with the League of Oregon Cities Board of Directors.
Huwe is an Eastern Oregon University student whose family moved to Wallowa County in 2018, when he was a teenager. His experience comes from working as an in-district liaison for Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo, and serving as a precinct committeeperson in Enterprise, as well as his experience with the Young Republicans of Oregon and EOU’s student government.
We emailed each candidate the same four questions with word limits. What follows are those questions and their answers, which we placed in alphabetical order according to the candidates’ last names. We edited the answers for grammar, punctuation and spelling. Otherwise the answers are as is from the candidates themselves.
What do you consider are the top three priorities or needs for the district, and if you win the election, what will you do to address those priorities or needs?
Doherty: I think first and foremost that we need a stronger voice in Salem. Folks in the district feel disenfranchised, marginalized and voiceless. The cost of living, coupled with the lack of affordable housing has created a huge strain on budgets of families struggling in underpaid professions. The inability for young families to both be equal wage earners when childcare availability and cost rival a second mortgage. And I will forever champion the restoration of our drinking water aquifer. I am crafting legislation aimed at reestablishing the Office of Rural Policy. The office was signed into effect through the governor in 2004 but was never fully funded nor staffed. It mandated that all the agencies working with District 29, representatives from the district and bipartisan legislators focus solely on ensuring that rural voices and concerns were met in equal measure.
With one senator representing the district and some 19 in the Portland metro region we were seeing less and less of our tax dollars returned to the challenges of the district. With the average home cost at $400,000 a young couple looking for a starter home need to earn upward of $100,000. I will incentivize infrastructure that will bring back more middle housing and insure that people have more disposable income. I will address childcare costs and availability, allowing a much-needed boost in the workforce numbers and local production dollars.
Drotzmannn: 1. Bring down the cost of living in Oregon. 2. Protect Oregonians’ constitutional rights. 3. Reduce government spending and taxes.
A large driver of costs is state-mandated policies around business and climate. Businesses have been mandated an escalating minimum wage, Oregon paid leave act, Corporate Activities Tax, ag worker overtime and many others. These are often just passed along to consumers. Our national or international businesses can’t pass those costs along, due to competitive disadvantages, often eating at their bottom line and forcing many out of business or to leave the state taking jobs and taxes with them. Our climate policies are driving up costs in transportation and electricity. The sky rocketing electricity costs affect our residents and businesses are passing along the higher costs for products.
I will fight to protect against further erosion of our Second Amendment rights. As the only candidate in this race endorsed by Oregon Gun Owners Association, I will work to protect those and other erosions to civil liberties.
Oregon doesn’t have a revenue problem; we have a priorities and spending problem. Salem saw a 20% increase in revenue last year and returned a $5.5 billion kicker. Those dollars should be staying in constituents’ pockets to pay their bills. We’ve also seen a lot of dysfunctions in our state departments, including multiple misuses of funds and failed audits. I will work with fellow legislators and administrators to better manage those funds and push back against further tax increases and protect our kicker.
Huwe: The top three priorities in this district definitely fall within the education, public safety and the cost of living.
The cost of living increase has a few simple fixes with it, such as repealing the (Corporate Activity Tax), making it easier to change land use and build houses, making Oregon more business-friendly as we have Dutch Bros. Coffee leaving the state, and Salt & Straw just left their original location in Portland.
Education is another simple fix: Reinstitute graduation requirements that require students to be able to read, write and be able to do simple arithmetic. These are essential elements that will help you continue your education.
Public safety is the last one, which has possibly been fixed with the Ballot Measure 110 legislative fix, but that most likely will not resolve the issues we need to resolve. The public safety issue also includes additional services; Gilliam, Wheeler, Sherman, and Jefferson counites have had conversations about disbanding their regional 911 center, which will lead to an increased burden on other counties’ services, such as in Umatilla, Hood River, and Crook counties. These counties are already getting near their capacity for their services. There are also issues around our medical system, such as installing protection for our nurses and doctors as they get attacked in the emergency departments.
Nash: My first priority is to ensure the voices and values of the citizens of Senate District 29 are represented in Salem. I work for the people of SD 29, and their priorities are my priorities.
A safe community is a thriving community. I stand behind our police 100% and we must fully support and fund public safety without compromise. I will push for more money to go directly to county sheriffs, district attorney, deputy DAs, and first responders.
By strengthening our local economies, we can reduce the cost-of-living burdens on Oregonians. Families should not need to choose between affording gas or medicine, or food and clothing for their kids, or which utility they can afford this month. I vote against tax and fee increases and will protect your kicker. I support bringing industry to our district and identifying job-creating policies. My first legislative bill is to exempt the agricultural industry — the TOP economic driver in SD 29 — from the Corporate Activities Tax.
I will establish incentive programs for housing investment and reform some of the tenant laws that have kept people from investing in rental properties. We need to revisit outdated land use laws and see where we need to adjust to meet the current way of life in Oregon.
I am so grateful and proud to have raised my four children and six grandchildren here. My passion and drive to make Oregon better come from wanting to make sure they and their generation grow up in an Oregon they love and can have a future they deserve, full of opportunity, where they will want to live, work, and play just as my wife Angie and I have.
What in your background is key for you to be successful as a senator?
Doherty: I was a two-term county commissioner, past president of the Association of Oregon Counties and mostly a local cattle rancher — as such I spent a great deal of time in Salem and Washington, D.C., advocating for the district and Oregon alike.
The important part is working as a rancher I remain grounded in the realities of the Northwest and shared struggles of other folks making their way in the district.
At the same time I am fully aware of the process for change in the Legislature and feel confident that I can begin making strides on day one. I have half a dozen policy changes being drafted and will when elected push to get them instituted.
Drotzmann: I’m a successful small business owner. I’ve had to balance a budget while providing living wage jobs and benefits. Every dime that’s come across my desk, I’ve monitored and I will do the same for East Oregonians in Salem.
I’m a heath care provider, so I’m uniquely positioned to understand what it takes to be successful in health care from the provider side and patients’ side. I served as a parent on our local school board, kept class sizes small, provided robust athletic and activities and built facilities our community could be proud of.
As the mayor of Hermiston for the last 11-plus years, I’ve worked on the issues that matter most to East Oregonians. We’ve built 950 homes. We have a homelessness solution that provides empathy and accountability. And I’ve worked to increase resources for police, roll back Measure 110 and reduce the crime that is occurring in our communities.
Huwe: There are quite a few items that will help me become successful. I am an elected precinct committeeperson for the Wallowa County Republican Party, secretary of the Young Republicans of Oregon, director of Political Affairs of Associated Students of Eastern Oregon University, and previously worked for state Rep. Bobby Levy. I am effective in my work within these organizations. One of my endorsements says it best: “His extensive experience in addressing critical issues such as health care and economic development makes him the ideal candidate to drive positive change to the district. Andy’s integrity, work ethic and passion for creating a better future make him the clear choice for Senate District 29. Vote for Andy Huwe and let’s build a stronger, better, Oregon.”
Nash: I have lived in Enterprise since I was five years old, I know this community with depth and breadth that comes only from growing up here. I have worked in natural resources and public service my entire life, starting by putting myself through college working at a sawmill to now running my own small ranch with my wife Angie to being a current Wallowa County commissioner and immediate past president of Oregon Cattlemen’s Association.
I’ve been shaping and testifying on state legislation for 15 years and have brought hundreds of thousands of dollars of investment into SD 29 for fairs and fairgrounds, public safety, small business relief, education and more.
Most recently, I was instrumental in passing Senate Bill 955 to make the Agri-Stress Hotline a reality. I worked with legislators, Oregon State University, the executive branch and other stakeholders to make it happen.
What guiding principles or political philosophy would you use in determining legislation you would carry or support?
Doherty: I allow my conscience to largely guide my principles. As a Republican candidate it is important to hold firm to the values and protections of our civil liberties that conservatives in the district hold near and dear. At the same time more than half the constituents in the district are not eligible to vote in this primary which will select the next senator. Despite not being able to weigh in on the outcome they remain small business owners, farmers and families of the district and need representation that addresses shared concerns. I will carry and support legislation that supports better conditions for all in the district but doesn’t in any way affect our values and liberties. Stalwart principles of those that elect me must be preserved and the greater good fought for.
Drotzmann: For 20 years, I’ve worked in a nonpartisan fashion to address the concerns that matter most to my community. That will be my approach. However, I am pro-life, pro-liberty and an every-Sunday Christian. I believe in getting value for our tax dollars.
We shouldn’t continue to grow government and try to be everything to everybody. Government’s initial purpose was to protect property and property is freedom. I will stand up to any erosion of those liberties and the continued growth in government. I will support policies that build-up families and communities and maintain local control in decision making.
Huwe: I carry a realistic libertarian view. If the world were perfect, I would have a full libertarian view where the government was entirely out of your life. However, in our world, especially our state, that is impossible. Additionally, I hold very conservative values that coincide with that libertarian view, such as small government, fewer and lower taxes, and less unnecessary regulation. The most important aspect of the legislation I will carry and support is those the community needs and cares about. I am elected to represent the people who elect us based on what we discuss during the campaign. However, those ideas and policies are only a snapshot of what is required.
Nash: As our next senator, I will be elected to represent, honor and voice the priorities of our constituents, and to uphold our constitution and protect our constitutional rights. Those are absolute principles for me.
I will scrutinize policies to determine A) Is this a benefit to the citizens of District 29; B) Is this something the Legislature should be addressing or is it out of their scope; and C) Does it fit the principles and values of District 29?
My philosophy has always been the less the government is intruding in our lives, the better it is for all of us, whether it’s regarding personal or parental choices for their kids and education, unnecessary taxes, fees and regulations that harm instead of help, Second Amendment rights, property rights and more.
Your predecessor, Bill Hansell, built a reputation for working with Democrats on successful legislation. Given you are likely to be in the minority party, what is your plan to work across the aisle?
Doherty: When good legislation presents itself, I think we need to seize on the opportunity. I think I can best address this with an example.
When I was six months into my first term as a county commissioner, a Portland-area senator was visiting Heppner to learn more about the model we were using for Community Counseling Solutions. She was lamenting that her bill addressing tobacco products and the need for folks to be over 21 before purchasing was failing.
This good legislation was split on party lines. I learned more about addiction receptors going own some 85% from 18 to 21 (sic). And thought of my mother who had started smoking in her teens and died in her 70s. I got all the incoming class of commissioners and many Eastern Oregon counties to sign a resolution in support of the bill.
Both Sen. Hansell and the late Sen. Jackie Winters broke with their caucus. It past by that margin and I have one of the four signed copies.
Drotzmann: I will try to build on Sen. Hansell’s legacy. He built a legacy of bipartisanship while still being principled in his decisions and standing up to protect Eastern Oregon values. In my 25-plus years of civic services, I’ve built hundreds of relationships in all corners of this state, in both chambers of the Legislature and on both sides of the aisle, the governor’s office, the business community and the lobby. I will work to build upon those relationships and develop trust in those friendships. At the end of the day, the voters want us go to Salem, work across the aisle, solve the big problems that are facing our state and bring value back to our region. That will be my No. 1 goal.
Huwe: Most of the bills passed in the Legislature are bipartisan, as usually the best policies become reality when everyone can give some input. A lot of how the Legislature operates is relationships. With my time working for Rep. Bobby Levy and being actively involved in state party infrastructure, I have developed sound relationships with the most senior Legislature members and the most freshman. Having these good relationships will make me successful in determining what policies need to be pushed forward to represent Eastern Oregon. I do want to mention that I do not plan to be in the minority for very long; 11 out of the 15 seats next cycle are Democrat-controlled seats.
Nash: As a commissioner, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association president, and as an individual, I have been advocating for our district for nearly 20 years. In that time, I have developed strong relationships across the aisle and in various industries at the local, regional, and state level to get things done, and have a proven track record of doing so. I have been and will continue to bring Democrat legislators to this side of the state so they can meet and hear from the people effected by their policies.
Our next senator needs to share the common sense and conservative values of our district and have the relationships and credibility to get them heard from a minority position. I am the candidate and will be the Senator that does so, and it’s one of many reasons I have been endorsed by statewide organizations such as Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Right to Life, TimberUnity, Oregon Firearms, and over 200 others, including legislators, county commissioners, business owners, public safety officers, farmers and more.
