BEND, OR -- Michael Summers announced last week he’s running as a Republican for Tim Knopp’s local State Senate seat, just seven days ahead of the filing deadline. "It was something that came out of the blue, kind of unexpected," Summers tells KBND News, "I felt prepared for it but I wasn’t seeking it. So, I was really humbled to be asked to do it." The filing came days after the Secretary of State's Office disqualified the only other GOP candidate for failing to meet residency requirements. 

Summers currently chairs the Redmond School Board and says he was asked to enter the Senate race by a fellow board member who is running for the State House. "Keri Lopez was one who - and Tim [Knopp], obviously, was the other," says Summers, "I think they sent Keri as the ice-breaker." He says both he and Lopez plan to stay on the school board if elected to state office, "That was one of my main hang-ups, honestly. One I got the green-light from my wife and she was on-board and excited, that was the other thing. It’s like, ‘Oh, if I had to step out of the Redmond School District, out of the board there, I’d be pretty sad about that.’"

Given his last minute filing, Summers says he hasn’t had a lot of time yet to consider his policy positions, "The top of mind for me is education, because that’s what I’ve spent the last two and a half years digging into and diving into." He adds, "Making sure I’m not a legislator that makes good sounding policies that actually is very difficult and sometimes impossible for a school district to carry out."

He also says he wants to reach across the aisle, "How do we disagree well? Because the world is not doing it well. Nationally, not going well. And the incentive is to get votes through fear and anger and frustration and wedges. And that is just not who I am." Summers says, "I’m not naive, I know it’ll be tough, especially coming in - if I get elected - as a new senator. Good things only come through relationship, and that takes a little bit of time to build."

If no other candidates file before Tuesday's deadline, Summers will face Democrat Bend City Councilor Anthony Broadman in the November general election.

Photo: Senate candidate Michael Summers talks with KBND News via Zoom, March 8, 2024.