Hicks talks state issues at forum
From our weekly issue dated March 03, 2010
Wally Hicks, an Oregon legislative hopeful who currently serves as Josephine County deputy district attorney, hammered out his platform during the Thursday night, Feb. 25 meeting of the Josephine County chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP).
More than 30 people attended the meeting at a Grants Pass restaurant. Among them was Gordon Anderson, who once held the District 3 House seat that Hicks is pursuing.
Hicks, 33, serves as the juvenile delinquency prosecutor, and handles violent felony and repeat property offender cases. He is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Ron Maurer (R-Grants Pass). Maurer has declined to seek a third term, opting instead to run for superintendent of public instruction, a statewide office.
After growing up in Eugene and The Dalles, Hicks enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at age 17. While stationed in Yuma, Ariz. as a lance corporal, Hicks said that he was encouraged by a captain to attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.
Hicks said the experience taught him how to work with people as part of a team, as well as how to deal with bad situations.
In 2004, Hicks fought in the Iraq War as a USMC officer. He worked the following year as a volunteer law clerk with the U.S. Dept. of Justice Office of Immigration Litigation in Washington, D.C.
Hicks began attending the University of Oregon School of Law at Eugene, and became active in the student senate until graduating in 2007. During that time, he also volunteered as a victim advocate with the Lane County District Attorney“s Office and served as an aide to Oregon Sen. David Nelson (R-Pendleton). Hicks joined the Josephine County District Attorney“s office in 2008.
Government should do a few things well instead of many things poorly, Hicks said, and should focus primarily on protecting jobs and protecting people. If elected to the Legislature, Hicks said that he would fight for lower taxes and decentralized land-use decisions.
Public safety is a top priority for Hicks, he said, adding that he considered it “embarrassing“ that the Legislature tried to shut the state“s courts down for one day per week last year.
“The government in Salem is broken, and I want to be part of the team that fixes it,“ Hicks said.
Hicks responded to a series of pre-written questions formulated by AFP members. One in particular dealt with state help for counties if federal funds are not approved.
In response, Hicks said that the county should bolster the use of its agricultural resources. He added that there needs to be reform of the state“s land-use laws so that the “politbureau“ in Salem has less control on local decisions.
Also addressed was the use of natural resources on federal land.
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