Rep.-Elect Zika named to housing committee

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek announced that House District 53 Representative-Elect Jack Zika of Redmond has been appointed to the critical Human Services and Housing Committee.

Zika’s district, which encompasses Redmond, a portion of Bend and parts of rural Deschutes County, has suffered from rapidly increasing housing prices. Zika was elected last month to succeed retiring state Rep. Gene Whisnant of Sunriver

“Being assigned to the Human Services and Housing Committee was my top priority heading into the upcoming legislative session,” Zika said in a news release Thursday. “There is no more pressing issue for Central Oregon than our high housing prices.

“I look forward to working on the committee to create an environment in which more affordable housing can be built in Central Oregon. I want to shift more control and decision-making to Central Oregon so that we are not hamstrung by one-size-fits-all policies from the Valley.”

Zika is a departing member of the Redmond Planning Commission, which makes decisions about local housing policies, and is a real estate broker.

Kotek also appointed Zika to the Energy and Environment Committee and the Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committees.

“The Energy and Environment Committee has jurisdiction over many important regulatory bills affecting Central Oregon, including cap and trade. I look forward to using my position on this committee to work to prevent regulations that drive up the cost of living for Central Oregonians,” Zika said. “And I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to help Central Oregon’s veterans on the Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committees.”

The 2019 session of the Oregon legislature begins on Tuesday, Jan. 22.