Oregon’s newest state representative took the oath of office Wednesday.
Christine Goodwin, R-Roseburg, will serve the remaining 16 months of Gary Leif’s term. Leif died of cancer last month.
Goodwin was appointed to the job this month by county commissioners in House District 2, which stretches from Roseburg south to Grants Pass. She said her goal in Salem will be to speak up for the needs of her constituents.
“There are lots of things that are of interest to my district," said Goodwin. "Of course, natural resource issues. Education. Health care. And of course, things that are really stopping (the) growth of business.”
Goodwin says she hasn’t decided whether to run for a full two-year term in next year’s election. She took the oath of office in the House chambers, with family members and several current and former Republican lawmakers in attendance.
"I'm very honored to be in the state legislature," she said.
With her appointment, 33 of the 60 members of the Oregon House are women. The House Clerk’s office said that sets a new record.
She's the third woman to be appointed to a House seat this year, and all three replaced men. Aside from Goodwin, Rep. Anna Scharf, R-Amity, took over House District 30 after her former boss, Rep. Mike Nearman, was expelled from the legislature in June for allowing violent protestors to enter the closed state Capitol in December, 2020.
And Rep. Andrew Valderrama, D-Portland, was appointed to serve the remainer of Rep. Diego Hernandez' term in March after Hernandez resigned under pressure amid a sexual harrassment probe.
