Congressional Meet and Greet with Representative-Elect Cliff Bentz (OR-02-R)

Cliff Bentz was elected to represent the 2nd congressional district of Oregon in the November 2020 election. Oregon’s 2nd congressional district is one of the largest as it consist of all of Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Wheeler counties, and part of eastern Josephine county, including some of the Grants Pass area.

Mr. Bentz was born in Salem, Oregon, and was raised on ranches in the eastern Oregon communities of Fields and Drewsey. He received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Oregon State College, and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1977. After law school, he was a law associate with the Ontario law firm Yturri Rose, and was made a partner of the firm. He specializes in agricultural, water, and real property law. 

In 2008, Mr. Bentz was appointed by county commissioners in House District 60 to replace Tom Butler in the Oregon House of Representatives following Butler’s resignation. He defeated Tim K. Smith in the Republican primary in May 2008, and then was unopposed in the 2008 general election. In 2010, Representative Bentz won another term, and was unopposed in both the primary and general election. On January 8, 2018, he was sworn in as state senator to replace Ted Ferrioli. Bentz resigned his seat in the Oregon House at the time and was appointed to the senate seat. 

Mr. Bentz and his wife Lindsay, a veterinarian, live in Ontario, Oregon and have two children.