Bentz for Dist. 60representative

Tim Smith would be a good representative for Baker County in the Oregon House of Representatives.

But Cliff Bentz will be a better one.

We recommend voters elect Bentz, an Ontario attorney, to a two-year seat in the House.

Bentz is running against Smith, a geological consultant and rancher from Burns, in the May 20 election.

Ballots for the vote-by-mail election were sent today. Because no Democrat filed for the position, the race comes down to the May 20 primary and to Bentz and Smith, both Republicans.

As their responses showed during a public debate last month in Baker City, there's no dramatic difference in political philosophy between the two candidates.

We're confident that either Smith or Bentz would stand up for Baker County residents on matters important to them, such as the concern that statewide land-use laws and environmental regulations will stifle the economy.

Bentz, though, can boast of more — and more relevant — experience than Smith can.

Most obviously, of course, Bentz is the incumbent. Commissioners from the four counties in District 60 — Baker, Malheur, Harney and Grant — appointed Bentz to replace Tom Butler, the Ontario Republican who resigned in December 2007 to serve a church mission.

Although Bentz's legislative tenure is short — he represented District 60 during the Legislature's three-week, experimental mid-biennium session in February — he gained valuable knowledge about the lawmaking process that Smith lacks.

Bentz also served for eight years on the Oregon Water Resources Commission.

Smith contends that some of Bentz's votes as a commissioner show a preference for keeping water in streams rather than diverting it for farmers and ranchers. But we believe Bentz, who owns land irrigated with water from Owyhee Reservoir and has three brothers who are ranchers, not only understands how vital water is to Baker County's economy, but will strive to preserve irrigators' access to that water.

Cliff Bentz has represented Baker County as an appointee. We urge voters to send him back to Salem, this time as an elected lawmaker.