Jim Weidner

Rep. Jim Weidner of Yamhill, the freshman Republican representing most of Yamhill County in the House, announced his candidacy for re-election Friday.

He is currently serving on the Veterans and Emergency Services Committee, an assignment that will continue through the off-year session slated for February.

During the 2009 regular session, he served on the consumer protection committee and joint transportation committee. However, in the latter assignment, he ran afoul of House Speaker Dave Hunt over his opposition to the committee's centerpiece transportation package.

"A lot of it was a learning session for me," he said of the Legislature's 2009 regular session. During the coming campaign, he said he planned to continue putting the emphasis on the themes of his first campaign - government accountability, tax efficiency and job creation.

"We need to give businesses a reason to locate here in Oregon," he said. He said creating private sector jobs would do more for the state's struggling economy than continuing to swell the government workforce.

Weidner, a small businessman himself, said he favors tax credits to help small business owners and homeowners make their buildings more energy efficient. However, he does not support the energy tax credits currently in place, saying they are limited largely to promotion of wind and solar power.

Weidner is a graduate of the West Valley Academy in Sheridan. He went on to study business at the National Broadcasting School in Portland.

He recently sold his Yamhill restaurant, Lago de Chapala, but continues to own the building it occupies, he said. He is now devoting most of his private working hours to a British-based software company called Data Decypher, he said.

An ethics complaint is pending against him, alleging he attempted to promote his software business from his legislative office. He said it has no merit and he fully expects to be vindicated.

Weidner opposes the two income tax measures, 66 and 67, appearing on Oregon's January ballot. "They don't encourage job growth," he said.

Instead of raising taxes, the Legislature should cut spending for "non-essential" agencies like the Department of Consumer and Business Services, he said.

He acknowledges that defeat of the measures would leave the Legislature about $750 million short, forcing substantial cuts. But he welcomes the opportunity to have another go at the state's multi-billion-dollar budget.

Weidner said the state's English as a Second Language program is floundering, and he plans to introduce a bill that would reduce the number of years students could spend in ESL from the current five.

"It would take a huge financial burden off the schools," he said. He favors a different approach - English language immersion.

During his first campaign, Weidner promoted himself as a champion of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass. And during his tenure on the Joint Transportation Committee, the Legislature enacted a landmark transportation bill making the bypass its $192 million centerpiece.

However, after twice voting for the bill in committee, he cast a dissenting vote on the floor, infuriating Hunt and disappointing local bypass supporters from both parties.

Weidner, who took a no new taxes pledge during his 2008 campaign, said he made it clear from the outset that he could not support a measure based on a six-cent gas tax increase. "He knew I was voting no on it from the beginning," he said of Hunt.

However, lobbyists, local officials and other legislative watchers said that while they never considered Weidner a firm yes voter, they never considered him a firm no voter either, feeling his had enough conflicting allegiances to swing either way. And House leaders said his vote caught them by surprise, what with his home county being by far and away the biggest beneficiary.

Weidner does not have any announced opposition at this point, in either party. However, he said he's expecting a tough campaign - one that could turn ugly and personal.