Central Oregon realtor and civic leader Jack Zika announced his candidacy for Oregon House District 53. Zika, 40, of Redmond, will seek the Republican nomination in the May 2018 primary election and hopes to earn the support of HD 53 residents in the November general election. He cited education, access to affordable housing and the need for fiscal responsibility as his top priorities as a candidate.
“Central Oregon is a great place to put down roots and raise a family,” Jack said. “However, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with a state government that seems oblivious to our needs in Central Oregon. As a Redmond Planning Commissioner, a Realtor, and a father to two children, I see every day how the high cost of living impacts residents. The answer is not higher taxes and more regulations that drive up the cost of housing. I’m running for state representative to be an advocate for fully funding our schools, reining in runaway government spending and finally restoring some common sense to our state’s land use laws. It’s my hope that with the support of our community, I can go to Salem and deliver positive change for Central Oregonians.”
As a real estate broker serving clients throughout Central Oregon, Jack is very engaged in housing issues locally and across the state. He serves on the Redmond Planning Commission and Neighborhood Revitalization Committee, as well as the Board of Directors for the Oregon Association of Realtors and is a member of the association’s government affairs committee. Jack was also recently elected to as the First Vice President for Central Oregon Association of Realtors.
“Access to affordable housing is one of the most important issues we face in Central Oregon,” Jack said. “The prices for housing have skyrocketed in recent years. At this rate, our children are not going to be able to afford to live here. As a realtor and planning commissioner, I understand our housing crisis and am committed to advocating for solutions that will alleviate it. We need leaders who will address the pressures of rising housing costs and stagnating incomes head-on so we can ensure that our community remains a great place to raise a family.”
Jack is also very engaged with local community nonprofits and volunteer organizations, including; Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Prineville Elks, Ronald McDonald House, Deschutes County Fair, Bethlehem Inn, Project Connect, Oktoberfest, Red Cross, Heaven Can Wait and the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District. He is also the coach for a local kindergarten and first-grade soccer team.
Jack is running to replace longtime Central Oregon state representative, Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver), who announced on Monday that he would not seek re-election to the Oregon House.
“Representative Whisnant has been a staple of our community for more than a decade,” Jack said. “As a retired U.S. Air Force member and community-first legislator, he set the standard for what it means to be a public servant. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to earn the support of Central Oregon residents to follow in his footsteps.”
House District 53 includes the communities of Redmond, Tumalo, Sunriver, and portions of Bend and unincorporated Deschutes County.