Rep. Annessa Hartman to Leave Legislature, Run for Clackamas County Commission
TL/DR –
Rep. Annessa Hartman, a Gladstone Democrat from Oregon, has announced she will not seek reelection and plans to run for a seat on the Clackamas County Commission next year. Hartman, who was the only House Democrat to vote against a tax-raising transportation package, cited the partisanship of the Legislature and the need for more time with her family as reasons for her decision. If she wins the county commission seat, Hartman’s salary will significantly increase from the state legislator’s base salary of $37,000 to roughly $130,000.
Rep. Annessa Hartman Steps Down, Runs for Clackamas County Commission
Rep. Annessa Hartman, the lone Democrat dissenting the tax-raising transportation package last week, will not seek reelection, but will vie for a seat on the Clackamas County Commission.
Hartman, having served on the Gladstone City Council before her electoral victory in the House in 2022, will return to local politics for her family and to distance herself from legislative partisanship.
In a press release, Hartman expressed that party power often overshadows people, and votes are often influenced by allegiance rather than conscience, which led to her decision.
Despite the controversy as the sole House Democrat to oppose the tax-raising transportation package, Hartman defended her decision, explaining her constituents’ mistrust for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s additional revenue management, and asserting that taxing working-class families is unjust.
While the package passed by a narrow margin, Hartman’s opposition stands, stating that party politics and bureaucracy obstruct people-centered solutions.
Hartman to Run for Clackamas County Commission Seat
Hartman seeks Seat 4 on the Clackamas County Commission, vacated earlier this year by former Commissioner Melissa Fireside amid a controversy.
If successful, Hartman will see a salary increase, with Clackamas County Commissioners earning about $130,000 annually compared to state legislators’ base salary of roughly $37,000. She also works as a community wealth building manager for a Portland nonprofit.
For more information, contact Carlos Fuentes at cfuentes@oregonian.com.
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