When he first saw the woman who looked shockingly like the incumbent he’d defeated last November, Rep. Jason Conger, R-Bend did a double-take.
That’s because it was indeed, Judy Stiegler, and she was standing in Conger’s Capitol office.
Judy Stiegler
Since then, Conger’s stopped being shocked. Stiegler has crossed the mountains eight times already this session, not to haunt her old opponent but to testify and lobby for a half-dozen bills she’d been working on before losing the election. Stiegler said she made that commitment to other lawmakers who agreed to take on her bills as a favor.
Under the legislative schedule, most bills had to have a hearing scheduled by one week ago, or die. Most of Stiegler’s survived, including one pertaining to court appointed special advocates and their ability to consult with records custodians. The bill was a priority for her old employer, the nonprofit Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Oregon.
Stiegler says she has no plans to be a lobbyist or run for office again. But she’s not through with Salem: She plans to see her bills through the state Senate as well.
Conger, for his part, said it’s great that Stiegler is volunteering her time for good causes , and on some of the bills, he’s even offered to help.
I just wanted to clarify a couple of items in this latest post. Nick Budnick is correct that I have been working several pieces of legislation filed on my behalf over in Salem. I felt it was my responsibility to do so. I have also helped other legislators on issues or pieces of legislation at their request. I have been happy to do so, and have done so gratis with no fees or costs to anyone but myself, primarily because I am committed to continue to serve the public in any way I can.
To be clear, I could not serve as a paid lobbyist during this session as I am prohibited from doing so. However, I have not ruled this out in the future, after the prohibition lapses. Neither have I ruled out future public service. What I have actually said when asked is that I have no current plans to run for public office at this time, but you never say never.
The bottom line is that I always have and will continue to work for the betterment of our community no matter what I do.