Posted Nov 30
By Gordon R. Friedman
The Oregonian/OregonLive
Commissioners of Multnomah, Clackamas and Hood River counties appointed a retired Portland Police Bureau officer to the Legislature on Wednesday. The vote was unanimous.
Jeff Helfrich, 49, will finish out the House term of Mark Johnson, who resigned this month to be chief executive of Oregon Business and Industry, the state's largest business lobbying group.
In a news release, Helfrich said he is "incredibly humbled" to have been appointed and will aim to continue pushing policies that Johnson did, such as improvements to education, the economy and the environment in the Columbia River Gorge area.
Helfrich lives in Hood River and worked for the Portland Police Bureau for 25 years before retiring, according to the House Republican Caucus. He was also enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
Helfrich's prior government experience includes service on the Cascade Locks City Council, the city's planning commission and budget committee, and serving on the board of directors of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District.
"Jeff will be a great addition to the House Republican caucus and to the Oregon House," said House Republican Deputy Leader Greg Barreto, R-Cove. "His law enforcement background combined with experience serving as an elected leader within his community will suit him and his constituents well as he begins his time in office."
Helfrich is the third person appointed to a vacancy in the Oregon Legislature since it adjourned this summer. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Lake Oswego, was appointed to replace Ann Lininger, who has since become a Clackamas County judge. Rep. Danial Bonham, R-The Dalles, was appointed to succeed John Huffman, who President Donald Trump picked for a regional job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Other appointments will follow. Sens. Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, and Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, will resign because they've accepted paid appointments to the Northwest Power & Conservation Council. Rep. Jodi Hack, R-Salem, has said she will resign to take a job as chief executive of a group that lobbies for building policies favorable to developers.
The resignations will change dynamics in the House Republican Caucus, which has 25 members. Johnson, Huffman and Hack are all moderates, along with Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, who is forgoing re-election to the House for a bid at governor.