The field of politics is suddenly sprouting.

Peter Nordbye, of Brightwood, and Marv Hollingsworth, of Welches, will face off in May in the Democratic primary for state representative of District 52.

Waiting in the wings is incumbent Mark Johnson, of Hood River, who is unopposed in the Republican primary.

Nordbye has never held elective office.

“As a new candidate, the primary provides a practice round – for both of us,
actually,” Nordbye told The Mountain Times.

The Brightwood hopeful has taken an unusual approach with his campaign in
light of the Citizens United decision and the hefty money that is being tossed
around the political landscape. He’s only accepting $50-maximum
contributions from supporters.

“There will be no big money in this campaign,” Nordbye said. “I will be
beholding to no big money people. I know it’s idealistic, but I’m concerned
about the direction politics is going.”

Hollingsworth served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1972-74,
representing Multnomah County, Gresham and Troutdale. This run for District
52 – Hood River, the Mountain community, and parts of Multnomah County –
is a comeback borne out of disappointment.

“After (Rick) Metzger lost his Senate seat, and we (Democrats) lost the
House, I realized I needed to get active again,” Hollingsworth told The
Mountain Times. “The Democrats need to wake up. My job is to re-energize
them.”

Nordbye’s entrance into the fray was prompted by his wife, Blythe.
“She challenged me, ‘you need to do this, she said.’ I was irritated at first,”
Nordbye said. “But after I thought about it, I realized I had strong feelings.
There are people excluded from the system, and I want to serve the
unserved. So many people think their vote doesn’t count. That’s my
motivation. I just want to roar.”

To compensate for his thrifty approach to contributions, Nordbye has a plan.
“We will rely heavily on volunteers,” he said. “There will be house parties,
meetings, phone lines, door knocking.”

Nordbye moved to Oregon in 1972, and has resided in Brightwood since 2000.

He has dedicated himself for more than 40 years to teaching and
administration – the majority of that time in the Parkrose School District. He
holds a BS degree from Northern State University, an MS from State
University at Buffalo, an administrative certificate from Portland State and a
PhD from the University of Oregon.

“I have become dismayed at what I believe is a well-documented attack on
our freedoms and the growing gap between those who have much and those
who have little,” Nordbye wrote in a press release. “I want to be able to say I
did something to change the momentum of the extremes of our country. I
want to find a way to bring back as many living wage jobs as possible. I want
to be able to say I made a difference.”

Hollingsworth has been a Mountain resident since 1996. He holds a BS in
education from Portland State University and a law degree from Northwest
College of Law (Portland).

Hollingsworth is also an educator, having taught in the David Douglas School
District for seven years, and was instrumental in the creation of Mount Hood
Community College during the years of 1965-68. During his term in the
Oregon House he served on the Judicial and Natural Resources Committee.
“As a retiree, I started going to Democratic meetings, their workshops,”
Hollingsworth said. “I saw how the Republicans were targeting Clackamas
County. That has brought me out of retirement. Besides, you have to have an
ego (to run for office), and be half nuts.”

As to Nordbye’s $50 pledge limit, Hollingsworth admits it’s a “noble idea” but
insists it is unrealistic.

“You can’t beat Mark Johnson without money,” Hollingsworth said. “And trust
me, he’ll have plenty of money.”