LA GRANDE — Mike Nelson of Elgin has filed to run for the Oregon House District 58 seat.

Nelson, a Republican and Union County businessman, is the fourth candidate to file for the position. All are seeking to succeed Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove, who announced late last year he would not run for re-election. Barreto is completing his sixth-year as the House District 58 representative.

Nelson has lived in Union County for the past five years after moving here from California. He said the political climate in California has become too liberal for his liking, and the state’s business taxes are getting too high.

“California used to be a good place to live and raise children,” he said. “As I see it, Oregon is about 10 years behind California, and if we don’t act now, it will be another California.”

Nelson said he has a juris doctorate from University of Northern California LP School of Law and an associate of arts degree from Sierra College in Rocklin, California, and he attended the police academy at San Joaquin Delta College and the California State University of Sacramento.

Nelson works in the timber industry as a transportation specialist. He said he has seen a seen the decline in mill activity and is bothered that natural resources are not perceived to be as important as they once were. He laments Oregon is restricting access to natural resources, which the region’s economy needs.

Nelson said he is a supporter of Timber Unity, the movement opposed to Oregon’s climate change legislation.

The candidate and his fiancée are parents and foster parents, and he said he sees the need for more resources for our future generations.

“This area is a great place to raise our children. However, the government needs to step back and let parents raise their children,” Nelson said. “They have their best interests at heart.”

The candidate said he has a lot of respect for Barreto, stating that Barreto “made positive change and got out. I look forward to continuing advancing positive change for our area.”

Nelson faces Bobby Levy, a farmer and business owner from Echo in the Republican primary. Two Democrats seek their party’s nomination: Nolan Bylenga, a Portland State University student from Pendleton, and Barbara Wright of Pendleton, a merchandiser and veterans advocate.

The filing deadline for Oregon’s May 19 primary is March 10.