The big battles in Election 2000 were supposed to happen
west of Portland, where Republican incumbents Eileen Qutub
and Bill Witt are fighting for their political lives.
But suddenly, south of town, it's the Democrats who are
worried, as one of the nicest guys ever to serve in Salem
finds himself facing a bizarre political blitzkrieg.
For the past four years, Democrat Richard Devlin has
represented Lake Oswego and Tualatin in the House of Representatives.
He is a moderate man known for thoroughness, thoughtfulness
and always keeping his word. He has, as his campaign brochure
points out, been a quiet and dignified lawmaker for his
district.
That, says Jim Hansen, is exactly the problem. "The people
in this district are not quiet, dignified people!" he
asserts.
Hansen says his district is full of movers and shakers
who want to be led by one of their own. Movers like Mark
Hemstreet, head of Shilo Inn. Shakers like Allen Alley,
CEO of Pixelworks.
Hansen, who cashed in on his investment-banking business
to devote his life to politics, considers himself a driver
in that same fast lane. That's why the Republican is trying
to unseat Devlin, despite largely agreeing with his voting
record. In fact, Hansen confessed to WW, he's voted
for the Democrat twice himself.
This, then, is a campaign based on style.
Hansen is to Devlin what the tornado was to Dorothy.
People who like Hansen call him enthusiastic, dynamic
and quick-thinking. People who don't like him call him
obnoxious, vain and ill-informed.
"People who meet Hansen are probably going to remain
supporting me," Devlin says. "And if they didn't support
me before, they probably will after."
Hansen's race has mostly been a lone quest. At the end
of last month, he'd received less than $16,000 in contributions
but had supplemented the campaign coffers by more than
$46,000. He hasn't received a single contribution from
a lobbyist, political action committee or traditional
Republican funding source other than $5,000 from the state
GOP party. But that's okay by him. The lobby money and
endorsements have been going to Devlin. Political consultant
Paul Phillips funneled $1,000 of Nike money toward the
incumbent.
"Richard Devlin is a very good legislator and is considered
to be a good business Democrat," Phillips says in explanation.
Besides, he points out, Hansen doesn't need the money.
There's been a shift in the campaign this week, however.
Hansen doesn't have any more endorsements, but the Republican
brotherhood is starting to embrace him.
Over the last week, state representatives Mark Simmons,
Max Williams and Bruce Starr, among others, have started
slipping him some money.
It could be they're finally believing the numbers. Hansen
says his polling shows him leading Devlin 37 percent to
35 percent, with the balance undecided. In a district
that's 44 percent Republican, 34 percent Democrat and
18 percent independent, it seems anything could happen.
Still, to swing Hansen's way, voters would have to agree
to boot a moderate Democrat who has one more session before
he is term-limited out.
Hansen says priority No. 1 for him is what he calls "the
thing that cannot be said." He means tax reform. He is
less clear on where to go from there. But he is sure about
one thing: He loves Oregon and wants to be a catalyst
for change within the state.
At one time, he says, he had notions of becoming governor,
but now that he's seen politics first-hand he won't make
a bid.
"I don't know if it would be good for the state," he
says. "The more I get into politics, I learn there is
a lot to know."
