Septembre Russell. Seth Prickett, a 2005 Linfield alumnus, seeks an appointment to the Oregon House of Representatives.
The District 22 senato¬rial seat became vacant when Margaret Carter, an Oregon state senator, stepped down from her position at the be¬ginning of the month for an¬other in the State Department of Human Services.
Prickett’s district repre¬sentative, Chip Shields, will leave an open seat within the House of representatives should he receive the appointment from the Board of County Commissioners to replace Sen. Carter.
Prickett could possibly fill Shields’ seat.
In these cases, the County Democratic Party selects three people and forwards their names to the Board of County Commissioners, which has 30 days to vote on a replacement following a vacancy.
Prickett said seeing the number of people who have become involved and sup¬port his success is enjoyable; however, he faces a large obstacle: his employment.
As director of public policy and governmental affairs for the Oregon Solar Industry Association and executive director of a renew¬able energy political action committee, ReNew PAC, he has considerable time com¬mitments. This creates obsta¬cles for holding a state House appointment.
Prickett said he under¬stands Oregon’s struggle against the recession and unemployment.
“We are at a place where we can really develop renew¬able energy and be a leader in the country,” he said. “It’s not just [about] the potential for clean electricity; it’s also about boosting our economy.”
Also in need of reform, he said, is the state’s education system. Investing in teach¬ers as well as students and bestowing them with tools for success is the cornerstone to improving the economy in the future.
“We can do multiple things to enhance our economy now, but un¬less we fix the education system now, we are go¬ing to be in this situa¬tion again and again,” Prickett said.
Prickett grew up in Hillsboro, Ore., and has lived in Oregon his entire life; five genera¬tions of his family have resided in Washington County. At Linfield, he majored in political science. He said he had a wonderful college experience. His favorite class was state and local politics.
Prickett was also involved in student government at Linfield, serving as vice president of Associated Stu¬dents of Linfield College and as student body president his senior year. The experience, he said, reinforced his interest in politics.
This interest was sparked after a mock presidential party convention during his time at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro.
As campaign manager for District 30 candidate Dave Edwards in 2006, Prickett helped create the strategy for Edwards’ campaign. He was in charge of scheduling and planning events, as well as campaign publicity. From his experience as a campaign manager, Prickett said he learned a great deal in terms of what is necessary to be elected.
“I’m a strong believer in grassroots campaigning, walking door-to-door, talk¬ing to voters, asking them for their vote and finding out what the community wants and needs,” he said.
Although a grassroots campaign is not necessary for an appointment, Prickett said he is met with tremendous support for his efforts.
“Many people do not realize that the government
and our legal system control what we can and cannot do,” Prickett said. “If you truly want to be a part of changing our society for the better, there is no better place to be than an elected posi¬tion.”
Join the Facebook group, Seth Prickett for State Representative N & NE Portland, to find more information about Prickett and support his campaign.