House race rebooted after Edwards’ exit

GOP Candidate Lindsay will face Banks teacher Doug Ainge in a race that is suddenly a potentially competitive battleground

By Christian Gaston

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 7, 2010 (2 Reader comments)

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The tables have been turned in the race for House District 30 following a surprise announcement from state Rep. David Edwards that he’s ending his campaign for re-election.

In his place, Democrats will run Doug Ainge, a Banks social studies teacher and the older brother of former Portland Trailblazer Danny Ainge.

But aside from the similarity between Ainge’s name and his famous brother’s, his status as a political newcomer means the previously longshot effort by Republican Shawn Lindsay to unseat Edwards will transform into a head-to-head battle.

“The fundraising advantage goes to the incumbent,” Lindsay said, but with Edwards out, “contribution support will open up.”

Edwards announced his exit from the race Tuesday, citing an ongoing battle his wife has been fighting against an autoimmune disorder.

“I’ve struggled with this decision,” Edwards said in a prepared statement. “But as much as I want to continue to serve my hometown in the state legislature, my family must come first.”

His exit is a replay of the last election season, when Andy Meyer, who won the Republican primary for House District 30. bowed out, to be replaced mid-cycle with Washington County Commissioner Andy Duyck.

Duyck failed to put a dent in Edwards’ political lead in spite of his name recognition. Edwards won the race with 56 percent of the vote. Duyck got 42 percent.

While Ainge won’t be heading into the fall with the power of incumbency, the Democrats are in a better position to dump money into the race than the Republicans.

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