Hansell will retire
By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories
SALEM – Oregon Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena) told his colleagues that this will be his last term as senator for the 29th District. He said he was announcing his decision to step down early in order to give those interested in his seat the time to plan for the May 2024 primary. Whoever is elected senator will take over the seat at the beginning of January 2025.
Hansell issued a statement regarding the decision to step down after 42 years in elected offices.
“I did not realize it at the time, but in the fall of 1981, Margaret and I made a decision that would set the course of my life for the next 42 years. Now we are making another decision that will set another course for us. I am not going to run for reelection for State Senator when this term of office ends in 2024.
“I am announcing this decision now, in order to give others in Senate District 29, who might be interested, time to decide whether or not to seek this office. Senate District 29 is the second largest district in Oregon, and I am confident there may be a number of individuals interested in running. I want to give them time to prepare, and I do not plan to endorse anyone before the May Primary in 2024.
“It has been an absolute privilege and honor to serve as an elected official, first as an Umatilla County Commissioner for 30 years, and two and half terms thus far as a State Senator, which will be 12 years when I retire. I am very grateful for my wife Margaret, my family, my friends, and the Good Lord for the opportunity to serve for over four decades.
“A previous senator who had my Capitol office left behind a written note on the bottom of one of the desk drawers, ‘Be a Statesman, not a Politician, it’s all about service.’ I agree and this I have tried to do.
“Being an elected official has given me a platform to serve others, both on the local and state level. Using government to help others provides the motivation and the joy for what I do. For example, I received as much satisfaction helping a widow lady save her chickens by having the government trapper spend some time near her home as I do serving on the Joint Semiconductor Committee tasked with bringing billions of federal dollars and thousands of jobs to Oregon. Serving as a Commissioner or Senator has given me an amazing platform to help others. After I retire, I plan to continue to help other, I just won’t have this particular platform.
“There is a time for everything, the Biblical Book of Ecclesiastes states. Now is the time I believe, to give someone else the platform and opportunity to serve in the Oregon Senate, just as the great people of Senate District 29 have enabled me to do.”
