Sara Gelser, the Democratic District 16 seat holder in the Oregon House of Representatives, has been representing Philomath and Corvallis for 8 years. Recently she announced a run for the state Senate’s District 8, which encompasses Corvallis, Philomath, Albany, Tangent and Millersburg. The election for this seat will be held in November 2014.
“If I am successful in my campaign to become a state senator, my term of service for that office will begin at the same time my term as a state representative ends. I cannot run for two offices at the same time, so my seat will be considered open,” she said. Gelser’s term as state representative lasts through January of 2015, and she will continue to represent Corvallis and Philomath until then.
Ever since her announcement, those living in Corvallis and the surrounding areas have been wondering one thing: who will fill her void once she’s gone? The answer so far seems to be unknown.
At this point, Corvallis attorney Dan Rayfield has been the only candidate who has announced a run for Gelser’s eventual old seat in District 16, but the filing deadline does not occur until March. The field is likely to change in the interim. In 2010 Rayfield was defeated by Frank Morse in a bid for the seat that Gelser is now running for.
As for Gelser’s campaign, she is committed to showing the public that she will keep the same values she has had throughout her government career. “As a senator, I will continue working on the same priorities—strong schools, empowering working families, standing up for vulnerable populations, protecting our environment, and combating sexual and domestic violence,” she said.
To get updates on the campaign, you can follow Sara Gelser on Twitter or Facebook, or sign up for her e-newsletter at: www.saragelser.com. Questions or comments can be directed to: repsaragelser@yahoo.com.
Source: Sara Gelser and her website at www.saragelser.com.
by Jennifer Smith
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