GT: Republican candidates to hold fair Thursday

GAZETTE-TIMES, 5/4/2010 - Ten candidates whose names appear on the Republican primary ballot are scheduled to appear at a GOP candidates’ fair 6 p.m. Thursday. The event is sponsored by the Benton County Republicans. ∴ Another six candidates who are unable to attend the fair because of scheduling conflicts will be sending representatives to speak for them. The public event is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the King Tin Restaurant, 1857 N.W. Ninth St.

In all, 25 Republican candidates are vying for their party’s nomination in local, state and national positions on the May 18 primary election ballot.

Local candidates who will be appearing at the event include Jerry J. Jackson of Philomath, the only Republican candidate running for the Benton County Board of Commissioners. Jackson plans officially to kick off his campaign at the Thursday event.

Rose Cook of Philomath is the only Republican candidate for District 16 in the Oregon House of Representatives and also plans to use the occasion officially to kick off her campaign Thursday.

State Rep. Jim Thompson, whose District 23 includes portions of Benton County, is seeking re-election and is scheduled to be at the fair, as is State Rep. Andy Olson, who represents District 15.

State Sen. Frank Morse is seeking another term in the Oregon Legislature representing District 8, but he will be unable to attend the event.

Four GOP candidates seeking the party’s nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled to attend: Jaynee Germond and Art Robinson are battling in the Fourth District, and Scott Bruun and Fred Thompson are running in the Fifth District.

Rex Watkins of Albany, one of nine Republicans contending for their party’s gubernatorial nomination, is scheduled to attend. Representatives of three other gubernatorial candidates — Allen Alley, Clark Colvin and Chris Dudley — also are scheduled. The other GOP gubernatorial candidates are W. Ames Curtright, Bob Forthan, Darren Karr, John Lim and Bill Sizemore.

Three of the GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate will have representatives at the event: Jim Huffman, Robin S. Parker and Tom Stutzman. The other candidates are G. Shane Dinkel, Loren Later, Keith Waldron and Walter H. Woodland.

Chris Telfer, a candidate for state treasurer, is scheduled to attend.

A representative for Ron Maurer, running for state superintendent of public instruction, also is scheduled to attend.