Oregon: Linda Flores

On Friday, Oregon House Republicans chose their caucus leaders to take them through the 2009 legislative session.

House Minority leader Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg) is back at the leadership helm after he was re-elected during the caucus meeting.

Hanna will be joined by two new representatives in the leadership; Rep. Kevin Cameron (R-Salem) will replace Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany) as deputy minority leader and Rep. Ron Mauer (R-Grants Pass) was elected to replace Rep. Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) as minority whip.

The Oregonian came out in favor of five Democratic candidates running in districts in or around the Portland area Friday.

The most notable endorsement went to HD-51 candidate Brent Barton (D-Clackamas) who is running against incumbent Rep. Linda Flores (R-Clackamas), a three-term representative. The paper was strongly critical of Flores; they questioned her accomplishments as they gave the nod to Barton.

A spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Oregon said Wednesday the party was saddened and disappointed about vandalism that ruined several Republican candidate signs off of Hwy. 212 in Clackamas County.

“We hope everybody would be willing to participate in a fair election process, and this is not fair,” ORGOP spokeswoman Brianne Hyder said.

The annual Dorchester conference kicked off on Friday night, led by a parade of Republican legislators and candidates, one by one running down the aisle, slapping enthusiastically upraised hands, and demonstrating that, in the words of Rep. Linda Flores,  the party is ready to be re-energized.