Oregon State Seal

OREGON HOUSE REPUBLICANS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Nick Smith

October 21, 2011

503-515-4206

 

REP. BILL GARRARD TO RETIRE FROM OREGON LEGISLATURE

AFTER TERM EXPIRES

Veteran Klamath Falls Legislator Will Not Seek Re-Election

 

KLAMATH FALLS— Rep. Bill Garrard (R-Klamath Falls) announced today he will retire from the Oregon Legislature after completing his sixth and final term.

 

“It has been my honor to represent the citizens of the Klamath Basin in the House of Representatives,” Rep. Garrard said.  “Our region has overcome many challenges and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.  I’m very fortunate to have enjoyed a long legislative career, and it’s simply time for me to step aside and allow a new leader to represent us in Salem.”

 

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Rep. Garrard spent 40 years in the broadcasting industry, including owning and operating radio stations in various West Coast markets.  He was elected to the Oregon House in 2000 after serving two terms on the Klamath County Commission.  He chaired the House Land Use Committee for two consecutive sessions and served on the budget-writing Joint Ways and Means Committee. 

 

In additional authoring and passing many bills, he has successfully secured resources to expand the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls.  Rep. Garrard has also supported and defended Klamath Basin farmers and their rights to access water to grow their crops, support their families and sustain the local economy.

 

“Rep. Bill Garrard has always been a strong advocate for the Klamath Basin, and has always served as a strong voice for rural Oregon,” said House Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna (R-Roseburg). “He’s a valued friend and mentor, not just to me, but to many Republican and Democratic legislators.  The Oregon House will miss his institutional experience and his deep knowledge of natural resources issues.  Rep. Garrard is a true statesman, and we wish Bill and his family all the best in his retirement.”

 

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