Oregon’s newest rural lawmaker sworn in

Mark Owens, a Republican from rural Oregon, was sworn in Thursday as the newest member of the state House of Representatives.

A rancher and small business owner from Crane, Owens previously served as a Harney County commissioner and is the school board chair for the Crane Union School District, home to Crane High and its 66 or so students.

County commissioners from numerous Eastern Oregon counties chose Owens to replace Lynn Findley, R-Vale, in the House after commissioners voted to appoint Findley to the Senate, where he replaced Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, who resigned to run for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden’s seat in Congress.

Secretary of State Bev Clarno administered the oath of office at Central Christian School in Redmond. Family members, friends, students and fellow Republican lawmakers attended the ceremony.

“I look forward to serving Oregonians and the communities in House District 60, and being a voice for eastern Oregon in Salem,” Owens said.

In a statement, House Minority Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, hailed his appointment.

“Representative Owens brings a vital rural Oregon perspective to Salem,” Drazen said. “His years of experience working the land, serving as a county commissioner and school board chair will serve him well.”

Owens will serve on the House Revenue Committee and the House Water Committee.

Prior to his nomination by the Republican Party as a candidate for the appointment, he had filed to run for the House District 60 seat this year.

He joins fellow Republican Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson of Prineville and Democrat Akasha Lawrence Spence of Portland as House remembers who will serve in the 2020 Legislature having been appointed rather than elected to their seats.

Mark Owens Officially Sworn-In As State Representative for Oregon House District 60

PRESS RELEASE
January 30, 2020

CONTACT
Andrea Dominguez, Chief of Staff, 541-889-8866

REDMOND—Mark Owens (R-Crane), a local farmer and small business owner who was recently appointed to the House District 60 seat by a unanimous vote of the County Commissioners, was officially sworn-in today as Oregon’s newest State Representative by Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno in Redmond, with family and friends in attendance.   The location was moved to Redmond to accommodate Secretary Clarno’s schedule.

Oregon House District 60 includes all of Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, and part of Lake Counties.  The House District 60 seat was recently vacated upon the resignation of Rep. Lynn Findley (R-Vale), who was appointed to the Senate District 30 seat following the resignation of former-Senator Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario).

Owens resigned his recent position as Harney County Commissioner effective January 29, and will immediately report to Salem to take part in the 2020 Legislative Session, which will commence on Monday, February 3.

Rep. Owens said, “I am honored to be a part of this esteemed group of individuals who craft the legislation that governs our state.  I look forward to working on the important issues that face Oregon, and serving as a voice for our Eastern Oregon communities in Salem.”

Rep. Owens can be reached during the Session via phone at 503-986-1460 or via email at rep.markowens@oregonlegislature.gov.

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County commissioners appoint Mark Owens to replace Findley

East Oregonian
January 22, 2020

ONTARIO — Commissioners from Baker, Harney, Grant, Malheur and Lake counties voted unanimously today to appoint Mark Owens, a Harney County farmer, to replace Lynn Findley as representative for Oregon House District 60.

Findley, a Republican from Vale, was appointed earlier this month to replace Cliff Bentz in state Senate District 30.

Bentz resigned to run full time for Greg Walden’s seat in Congress.

“I am thankful and humbled today to have been appointed to serve as the next state representative for House District 60,” Owens said in a press release. “I look forward to serving the communities and being a voice for Eastern Oregon in Salem.”

There were two other candidates for House District 60 — Tom Van Diepen of Baker City, and Tim Smith of Burns.

Baker County Commissioner Mark Bennett said neither was present when commissioners voted Tuesday in Ontario.

Owens, a Harney County commissioner, filed Nov. 4, 2019, as a candidate for the House District 60 Republican primary in May.

He will be sworn in later this month. The Oregon Legislature convenes Feb. 3 in Salem.

“At the state level, there is a lot of work to be done to protect our way of life in Eastern Oregon and to provide a better path for future generations of Oregonians,” Owens said. “We need to make sustainable natural resources a top priority. Our kids deserve stronger schools and greater opportunities for their career paths. Families need financial stability instead of living paycheck to paycheck and having to worry about the next tax increase coming our way from Salem.

“Most importantly, my top priority and my No. 1 job will be to listen, learn and represent the constituents in Eastern Oregon.”

No opposition for Owens

His non-negotiables include ‘pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-free speech’
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ONTARIO — Harney County Commissioner Mark Owens was unanimously appointed to fill the Oregon House District 60 vacancy during a meeting of fellow commissioners from the five counties included in the district at Treasure Valley Community College on Tuesday. Owens said his current plan is to be sworn in some time next week.

Owens replaces Lynn Findley who was appointed to the District 30 Senate position two weeks ago through a similar process.

Owens, a farmer, was nominated for the position on Saturday by Republican Precinct Persons from Malheur, Harney, Grant, Baker and Lake counties at a meeting at TVCC. Other nominees were Tim Smith, also from Harney County, and Tom Van Diepen, of Baker County.

Only part of Lake County is within District 60.

Owens was the only one of the three candidates to show up for Tuesday’s session, but he proceeded through the agenda, making an opening statement and answering a few questions from the commissioners before the roll call vote. Lake County Commissioners participated by phone.

In his opening remarks, Owens said his focus is to be a strong voice for the eastern Oregon, particularly the counties he represents.

“I’ve grown as a leader,” Owens said, of his time as a commissioner and a member of the Eastern Oregon Commissioners Association.

‘’I’m pro-life, pro-second amendment and pro-free speech,” he said, noting those are his non-negotiables.

On the other hand, Owens said he realizes he will be in the minority and has to work with the people on the other side. “I have the ability to build relationships.”

Given a question about the Second Amendment and gun rights, Owens responded that, “Counties do need total position on the Second Amendment (because the state will not.)”

To a question on water, Owens said the state needs to protect its control of water within the state and not left the federal government take control.

Owens’ appointment came in time for him to serve during the short session which starts Feb. 3, and has also filed to run for the Republican nomination for the position in the May Primary.

He farms near Crane and is on the Crane School Board, where his wife is a teacher.

Mark Owens appointed to Oregon House

Blue Mountain Eagle
January 22, 2020

Republican Mark Owens was selected unanimously by County Commissioners as the next state representative for House District 60 Jan. 21. The position was left vacant after Sen. Lynn Findley resigned and was appointed to the Oregon Senate Jan. 6.

“I am thankful and humbled today to have been appointed to serve as the next state representative for House District 60,” Owens said in a press release. “I look forward to serving the communities and being a voice for eastern Oregon in Salem.”

Owens, a Harney County commissioner, farmer, small business owner and Crane school board chair, filed to run for the seat on Nov. 4.

“At the state level, there is a lot of work to be done to protect our way of life in Eastern Oregon and to provide a better path for future generations of Oregonians,” Owens said. “We need to make sustainable natural resources a top priority. Our kids deserve stronger schools and greater opportunities for their career paths. Families need financial stability instead of living paycheck to paycheck and having to worry about the next tax increase coming our way from Salem. Most importantly, my top priority and my number one job will be to listen, learn and represent the constituents in Eastern Oregon.”

House District 60 encompasses all of Baker, Grant, Harney and Malheur counties as well as portions of Lake County. Owens will be sworn in later this month and will serve in the short legislative session that begins Feb. 3.

For more information, visit markowensfororegon.com.