Rep. Kim Wallan, R-Medford, speaks on the floor of the Oregon House.

Two Medford Democrats will challenge one another in the House District 6 primary in May, hoping to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Kim Wallan.

John Holm, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress four years ago against Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, is the first Democrat to file his candidacy papers for the House race.

“I want to put the people first and put their needs first,” Holm said.

Medford resident Lilia Caballero has formed a political action committee and plans to file her candidacy papers soon.

Caballero, who is on the Medford School Board and is community outreach coordinator for the Medford Police Department, said, “I am ready to serve as the face and voice of Medford in Salem, focusing on issues critical to our future.”

Wallan, a Republican who became representative in 2019 and was previously on the Medford City Council, has filed her candidacy papers and is so far running unopposed in the May 21, 2024, primary.

House District 6, which encompasses the city of Medford, leans Republican, and Wallan won handily in the general election in 2022 with more than 60% of the vote.

Holm lists his occupation as “currently disabled” and his occupational background as caregiver for his mother, broker for a local realtor and grocery clerk at Safeway.

Holm said, “One of reasons why I’m running is that we don’t listen to our community and what are needs are. We need to stop and listen to what people say and find out what the problems are.”

Holm said many people he encounters are concerned about getting a better living wage and are not happy that Salem legislators have given Portland residents the highest minimum wage. Rural residents get the lowest minimum wage, he said.

According to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, the Portland minimum wage is $15.45 an hour, while the rate for most urban counties, including Jackson, is $14.20 an hour.

In more rural counties such as Klamath or Douglas, the rate is $13.20.

Oregon legislators adopted the tiered approach seven years ago to account for cost-of-living differences throughout the state and because of the generally lower number of employees at businesses in less urban areas.

“Rural areas get the shaft,” Holm said. “When you raise the minimum wage in one part of the state, you should raise it everywhere in the state.”

Another pressing issue is utility assistance for low-income households.

Holm said the state should put more effort into placing solar on more rooftops, which would offset utility assistance costs in the long run.

Unlike many in the Democratic Party, Holm said he doesn’t feel it necessary to push climate change issues at the legislative level.

“Climate is not first in Jackson County,” he said.

While he’s a firm believer in developing broad efforts to deal with climate change, Holm said legislators should instead work on other efforts such as pushing out solar energy solutions, which also have the net effect of helping the environment and helping families’ pocketbooks.

Caballero, who has been endorsed by former Medford police Chief Tim George, said in an email response that her goal as representative would be to find solutions to the issues issues facing local residents.

Medford residents work hard, try to save and have a stable income, she said. “They should be able to buy a home here,” she said. “That’s not always possible.”

Working parents should have access to quality care for their children, something that is not possible for many, Caballero said.

“Child care systems are broken in too many areas,” she said.

Increased access to mental health services is needed, Caballero said, and the healthcare leaders she’s talked to have identified this as among our major community challenges.

In her role working with the city of Medford for 16 years, Caballero said she has worked with various groups and organizations to work out solutions to bring about positive change.

“I know what it takes to bring people together and to make sure all voices are heard,” she said. “The school board role has helped me learn what it means to dig into issues and work productively to improve our community.”

Caballero is in her third term on the school board, her only elective office, and has volunteered for many organizations.

“I’m looking forward to broad support in the community. People know me not as a politician but as someone who is passionate, who leads with integrity, who brings people together, and who gets jobs done,” she said.