SD-20: Forsberg interested in Schrader’s seat

State House candidate Toby Forsberg (D-Oregon City) has not officially lost the race against State House candidate Bill Kennemer (R-Oregon City), but Forsberg expressed interest in Friday in being appointed to replace outgoing State Sen. Kurt Schrader (D-Canby).

“I am interested in the seat and have been encouraged to look at it,” Forsberg said in a voicemail to PolitickerOR.com.

Forsberg said he was examining a couple other options as well, but seemed intrigued by the idea of replacing the outgoing Schrader, who is vacating his seat after he won the district five congressional race and will be replacing outgoing U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-West Linn).

As soon as Schrader officially resigns his seat, it will be up to Clackamas County Democrats to decide on three to five candidates that will replace him. The Dems will then give those names to the Clackamas County Commissioners, who will vote on Schrader’s successor.

Forsberg is the only candidate that has specifically expressed interest in the seat so far. Clackamas County Commissioner Martha Schrader, Kurt Schrader’s wife, has also been rumored to be a potential replacement.

Depending on the timing of Kurt Schrader’s resignation, Martha Schrader may end up being one of the Clackamas County commissioners to vote on her husband’s replacement.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, there is nothing in Oregon law that would stop her from voting for herself.

That means that Forsberg would probably need the support of Kennemer, who is currently a Clackamas County Commissioner. Forsberg and Kennemer engaged in a heated campaign, where Kennemer accused Forsberg of misrepresenting his record in order to gain votes.

According to the secretary of state’s unofficial election results, Forsberg lost to Kennemer by 441 votes.