Conger Says Census Number Could Mean Better Local Representation

State Representative Jason Conger is reacting to the census numbers. He says a bigger influx of people in Central Oregon could eventually translate to more representation in Salem. An additional lawmaker could impact decisions that have a big effect on people this side of the mountains. He says lawmakers in the Valley and Eastern Oregon agree on some issues; but sometimes a different emphasis is needed: “Sometimes the priorities might be different, just as an example land use have a choking effect on our economic development in Central Oregon." By contrast, he says the Willamette Valley is rich in farmland and lawmakers there may want to take a very different approach to land use planning.