By Shannon Wells
Tuesday’s primary election results mean two Rockwood residents will face off this fall for the District 49 Oregon House seat being vacated by Republican Karen Minnis.
Political newcomer Nick Kahl, 31, overtook seasoned Troutdale City Councilor Barbara Kyle, both Democrats, by a small but decisive margin Tuesday night in the primary election. The law school student and Rockwood resident will face Republican John Nelsen, Reynolds School Board chairman, in the November general election.
According to results from the Oregon Secretary of State’s office, Kahl received 3,068 votes, or 53.24 percent, and Kyle received 2,670 votes, or 46.33 percent. There were 25 write-in votes cast.
Despite her narrow loss, Kyle, 59, said she was “grinning” about the results. With the money Kahl took in and spent on his campaign, she contends, he should have won by a greater margin than 398 votes.
According to Secretary of State records, Kahl received $78,634 in contributions to Kyle’s $11,644 in contributions and $1,400 in loans. Kahl’s campaign spent $70,286, while Kyle’s expenditures totaled $13,547.
“With the money Nick had and the mailers put out, I don’t think that’s much of a win for him,” Kyle said. “I’m really proud that my grassroots campaign did this well.”
The Outlook was unable to reach Kahl for a response by deadline. However, earlier this week he said he was pleased with his campaign as well as Kyle’s.
“She should be very proud of what she accomplished,” he said. “Barbara made this a tough race. She has deep ties to the community and put up a good fight.”
A second-year law school student at Lewis & Clark College, Kahl has never held a political office, but the Rockwood resident kept many plates spinning while serving his community. He serves as a precinct committee person and recording secretary of the Multnomah County Democratic Party and worked as staff assistant to Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen.
Nelsen is also new to state politics. The 49-year-old has devoted much of his life to education and served as Reynolds School Board chairman since 1999, as well as on its budget committee.
If elected, Nelsen said he intends to serve as a liaison between the state and East County’s academic needs.
“Teachers feel the state is not a partner in education but a bully,” he said. “The state needs to take its emphasis on compliance and put it on supporting teachers and kids.”
A father of four, Nelsen is concerned about public safety funding, particularly for MAX trains and trouble spots such as his Rockwood neighborhood. The primary election brought up valid community issues, he said.
“I’d like to thank Barbara (Kyle) for what she added to the conversation.”