Primary Election ’24: In their own words: D-12, D-7 & Springfield City Council candidates

Charlie Conrad: D-12 (R)  incumbent

Many of us are now planning and planting our gardens as we do every Spring. I am excited for the taste of fresh salsa made with ingredients from our garden combined with ingredients from our family and neighbors. 

This is also the time of elections – ballots are in our hands. Just as we plant our garden in anticipation of the rewards, we elect people to office in anticipation of the work they will do – and the benefits we receive. 

As you read, consider, and discuss who to vote for in this election, I encourage you to think about what you want the end result to be. Do you want someone who knows how to work within the system to accomplish things for you? Or do you want someone who will just vote no, and not bring any tangible benefit back to our District? 

I understand that addressing our many challenges will take me, and electing people with character, experience, and the willingness to put in the hard work are a few of the criteria that are required to receive my vote.

For the past two years, I have had the privilege of bringing decades of public service experience to the Capitol on behalf of all the residents of House District 12. I voted to repeal Measure 110, re-criminalizing drugs, while maintaining needed funding to help folks get back on their feet. I voted to protect parents and kids, support veterans, and small businesses.

The District has directly benefited from the relationships and reputation I have established through the money I have brought into local communities to fund infrastructure projects, and through the additional appointments to groups, committees, and commissions.

As a very diverse, but primarily rural District, my focus has been to ensure the entire District is represented (55,000 voters) and our particular challenges are addressed. Distance and access to resources, limited revenue, and limited local representation all affect our daily lives. Working to improve public safety, emergency management, education, access to affordable healthcare, fighting inflation, and holding state agencies accountable are a few of the challenges I have taken on, and will continue to tackle. 

I am running for reelection to continue representing the District and the people who live here by building on the successes I achieved during my first term, and I would be honored to receive your vote. 

ElectCharlieConrad.com

Darin Harbick: D-12 (R) candidate

My name is Darin Harbick. I’m running for State Representative to put our conservative values into action.  I am a native Oregonian, but more importantly to me, I’m a grandparent and father. That’s why parental rights are at the top of my priority list. When I learned my opponent voted for House Bill 2002, I knew I had to do something.  

When I was a school board member and a high school and college basketball coach, I strongly encouraged parents to be involved and instill their values into their child’s life. To do this, parents need to know what’s going on to navigate these informative years. 

I would have never voted to take rights away from parents in HB 2002. Sadly, because of this bill passing parents won’t know if their child is making permanent gender change decisions or abortions because the professionals cannot inform parents by default. 

Republican Senator Cedric Hayden had the courage and backbone to make sure this bill was modified to be less extreme before it became law. I’m proud to announce Senator Cedric Hayden endorsed my campaign along with former Lane County Sheriff Bryon Trapp.

Another top priority is to make life easier on small business owners. When I bought my first business at 20 years old, the process was difficult, but it wasn’t a long-dragged out process with so much red tape like it is today. 

I would like to see people in District 12 who have always wanted to open a business to be able to accomplish their dream without the arduous process, draining their life savings and taking a long time. Let’s simplify the process. 

Lastly, mental health and substance abuse are a top priority. It’s no secret that Oregon has one of the highest rates of mental illness in the country. My wife and I opened a residential treatment home for people who suffer from mental illness because we see this right in front of us in our communities.

You see, I don’t just talk about the issues, I have solutions and I act on them. I will take my work ethic and a servant’s heart to Salem just like I did when my family fed three meals a day to over 200 firefighters, first responders, and workers the day after the Holiday Farm Fire started. Our communities deserve this kind of leadership. 

I would be honored to be State Representative for District 12. 

HarbickForOregon.com

John Lively: D-7 (D) incumbent

I am honored to have served the citizens of Springfield for almost twelve years in the Oregon Legislature. During that time, I have learned a great deal about the ever-changing needs of our area and our state and how to best address those in the Legislature. Experience is important to understand enough about the issues to be heard.

In 2025 the legislature is facing multiple challenges that will take much discussion and consideration of many options to adopt the best solutions. Funding of our transportation system is on top of the list. The state and local governments do not have the available funds to maintain our roads, bridges, and related infrastructure. Ever improving automobile efficiency has led to diminishing tax revenue generated by the gas tax. 

Given the growing gap in needs versus income, a multiple prong strategy will be required. One part of the strategy must be implementing the road user fee that I have worked on for over a decade to eventually replace the gas tax.

Besides transportation needs, we face increasing demands on our other infrastructure including sewers, water systems, electrical both for replacement and expansion. Again, it will require increased investments both by the state and local governments. As a legislator I will carefully consider the options presented to balance the needs along with the ability of all taxpayers to afford the costs. Too many of our citizens are already burdened by the rising costs in so many other areas.

Managing the state budget is always a priority especially as we face higher overall costs and demands with revenue that will not be sufficient to meet all the needs. I am a staunch supporter of agreeing to our priorities and funding them before we consider any new programs. In addition, we still have areas that we have not fully funded the need, like behavioral health, homelessness, the cost of housing, job training and other similar areas that are critical to our standard of living. We cannot afford to not understand the impacts of not fully funding such key areas.

As I have always done, I will continue to focus on long-term financial stability and accountability to ensure that our citizens get the services for which they are paying.

Facebook.com/ElectJohnLively

Cory Burket: D-7 (R) candidate

State government needs to stop telling Springfield what to do. I moved to Lane County from Southern Oregon to be a union low-voltage electrician. When I got laid off during the 2008 housing crash, my wife Julie and I got to experience the generosity of this community firsthand.

I am grateful for those challenges because they set me on a path to enter the Springfield/Eugene business, faith, and nonprofit communities, where I have met and experienced the best of Springfield. But we have challenges to face stemming from Salem politicians.

We’ve seen the consequences of poor leadership from our state government: rampant homelessness and drug abuse, an ever-increasing cost of living, and local businesses being shut down from excessive regulations. These limit Springfield’s potential, but I am running because I believe Springfield deserves to unleash that potential.

Let’s be specific.

Former Governor Kate Brown issued an executive order to impose expensive and unpopular environmental regulations found in her failed Cap and Trade bill. In response, the City of Springfield had to compile a 325-page report to explain to the state government how we planned to comply with these new regulations. The result will cost Springfield residents more by forcing us to build homes that Portlanders want, not what we want.

Many of us remember the ultimatum ODOT gave us when they told us that our Main Street upgrades needed roundabouts and bike lanes. They weren’t interested in the needs of local Springfield residents and businesses; instead, they wanted to transform our Main Street, which would have decreased transportation capacity and business access. We are all thankful the city council stepped in to halt this disaster.

Rosboro recently closed its mill because of state regulations, costing 25 families their livelihood. State policies that restrict the supply of lumber are not in the best interest of our community. In 2021, the Legislature forced Springfield to pass an ordinance to allow homeless camps. Even though Springfield banned panhandling years ago, the state still wants to come in and tell us how to manage our homeless challenges.

These examples illustrate one thing: the political class has lost touch with everyday Oregonians already struggling and now also living with the consequences of that disconnection. I am running to be Springfield’s voice in Salem because we need better leadership that pushes back against the government telling us what to do.