James Hieb appointed to Oregon House District 39 vacancy – Pamplin Media Group
Canby resident, veteran, planning board vice-chair with criminal record replaces former Rep. Christine Drazan
James Hieb of Canby has been appointed by Clackamas and Marion County commissioners to the Oregon House, filling the vacancy left following former Rep. Christine Drazan’s resignation in January.
Hieb, a former Canby City Council candidate and current vice chair of the city’s planning commission, earned the majority vote on Monday, Feb. 7, over Canby business owner Paul Carlson and disabled Navy veteran Don Hedlind.
“My biggest reason for getting involved politically is because I care for our community and I want to be there for people,” Hieb told commissioners in his opening remarks, adding that he wants to be a “true representative of the public” who is “able to engage everybody from different demographics.”
In the current legislative session, Hieb is representing Drazan’s former district including Estacada, Canby and unincorporated areas south of Oregon City like Mulino, Redland and Beavercreek. The district will change substantially with this year’s redistricting maps, which will require potential Canby candidates like Hieb to run for HD51.
Oregon court records show Hieb has faced several charges in the past, which in a call with KOIN 6 News, he confirmed and spoke about. He said his DUII occurred when he was young and that the criminal trespass charge he received was on family property and involved drama with his in-laws.
“Transparency is one of my goals,” Hieb said in a phone call with KOIN News. “I’ve tried to grow up over the years.”
In October 2004, Hieb was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, violating the basic speeding rule and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
His charge for eluding was dismissed. He paid his ticket for speeding and went through diversion for the DUII charge to have it dismissed.
In 2008 he was cited for failure to register a vehicle and failure to carry proof of compliance. The proof-of-compliance charge was dismissed and Hieb was fined for the vehicle registration.
In 2009, he had his license suspended after he was convicted of operating a vehicle without required lighting equipment and improper display of validating stickers. Hieb was fined and his license was reinstated 10 months after it was revoked.
Three years later, in 2012, Hieb faced charges of second-degree criminal trespass and second-degree disorderly conduct. He was acquitted of the trespassing charge and found not guilty of disorderly conduct.
In 2013, he was convicted again of improper display of validating stickers and was once again fined.
His most recent incident was in 2019 when he was stopped and cited for improper use of safety belts. According to court documents, Oregon State Police stopped Hieb on Highway 30 in Multnomah County after noticing he was driving with two kids in the car who were not wearing seat belts properly. The trooper said an 8-year-old was sharing a seatbelt with their father, Hieb, and an 11-year-old in the vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt. Hieb once again paid a fine for this incident.
Hieb also owed more than $1,900 to Clackamas County for more than five years, from 2012 until he paid the amount owed in 2019. He claims the tax money owed to the state was a “clerical error,” but said he bit the bullet and eventually paid it.
Hieb told commissioners on Monday that he opposes the tolling implementations expected to hit areas of I-5 and I-205 in the coming years, adding that Canby’s planning commission believes traffic will be “diverted onto the arterial streets” including 99 E, which he said will ultimately “have a major negative effect” on vehicle congestion in the city.
“This project, it may raise a little money, but it is going to hurt the middle class, it’s going to hurt working Oregonians and we’ve got to find another way,” Hieb said.
Outside of his planning board duties, Hieb has worked as a precinct committee person and is currently the director of Building Blocks Early Learning Center, a daycare and preschool in Wilsonville which his mother owns and operates.
An Iraq War veteran, Hieb also serves as a vice commander and adjutant for the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter in Canby and regularly volunteers for the American Legion, a national nonprofit serving veterans and their families.
Hieb told KOIN News he has post-traumatic stress disorder following his service in the Marine Corps, but that he “was not going to let the trauma of life eat me. I wanted it to make me stronger.”
Hieb will assume the District 39 seat left vacant by Drazan, who resigned on Monday, Jan. 31, to focus on her bid for the Republican gubernatorial race. The district’s Republican precinct committee had 30 days to nominate candidates for commissioners to interview.
Clackamas County resident Laurie Kimmel pointed out during her testimonial that no women were selected as a finalist, despite three women applying to replace Drazan in the House.
Hieb was the lone candidate to respond to Kimmel’s concerns, sharing that he is happy to see that women currently hold the majority of seats in the Oregon House of Representatives, which became true for the first time in state history in March.
During the interview, Hieb pledged to champion small businesses in support of the local economy and to advocate for the review of local land use laws amid a rapidly growing population and housing crisis in Clackamas County.
“I would also like to keep Clackamas County independent from the state and not be tied in with the Metro area, as we have over this whole coronavirus,” Hieb added, emphasizing the importance of “liberty for our county.”
Ahead of the vote, Hieb earned praise from commissioners including Clackamas Chair Tootie Smith, who said he demonstrated a “fine understanding of the issues facing Clackamas County Commissioners.”
Hieb earned votes from Smith, Commissioners Sonya Fischer and Mark Shull, and Marion County Commissioner Kevin Cameron. Commissioners Martha Schrader and Paul Savas both cast their votes in favor of Carlson.
Hieb may run for an Oregon House seat this year, but he will have to run in a neighboring district due to the recent redistricting maps taking effect. HD39 will move up to Happy Valley, and Canby will be in HD51 that includes Sandy.
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