Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:00 am
Dan Thackaberry, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the Oregon Legislature's House District 17, raises livestock and trees on his family's 420-acres near Lebanon, plus leased land that stretches nearly to Salem.
In February, he told the Lebanon Express that his top three priorities in the legislature would be education, transportation and economic development.
He's an advocate for alternative fuels, particularly cellulose-based ethanol from wood products, which he says would create jobs through forest thinning while at the same time lowering fire danger.
A supporter of Measure 49, Thackaberry was an opponent of Measure 37, saying it was flawed.
On immigration, he is against amnesty for illegal aliens, but says finding qualified agricultural workers can be difficult for farmers.
"It's very difficult to find someone with animal husbandry skills," he told the Express, adding those skills used to be taught in high school until such programs were cut.
Thackaberry supports more funding for education.
"I will work to build a world class education system by investing more from our general fund in our K-12 and local colleges. Oregon would attract more investment and higher paying employment with a better educated work force," Thackaberry said in a statement on his website.
Dan Thackaberry
Democrat
Residence: Lebanon
Occupation: Farmer
Prior government experience: Lebanon City Councilor, 1998-2006; current director, State Farm Bureau for Linn and Lincoln Counties; director of Linn County Farm Bureau, 1989-present; president, Linn County Farm Bureau, 1998-2006; Oregon Farm Bureau Advisory Committee; Lebanon Planning Commission 1991-1998; Linn County Planning Commission, 1992-1994
Education: Oregon State University, bachelor's degree entomology; Lebanon Union High School
Primary election coverage
Ballots for the May 20 primary election will be in the mail in the next few days. The last day to register to vote was yesterday but registered voters still may change his or her address within the county as well as name by contacting the Linn County Elections Office at 967-3831.
In this issue of the Lebanon Express we profile candidates for two competitive races - for State Representative in District 17 and for County Commissioner Position 3. Other candidate profiles will appear in the next few weeks.