Bernard Daly - Politics

Politics

Daly, a lifelong Democrat, was active in Oregon politics for almost thirty years and was elected to numerous offices. In 1892, he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives representing Lake, Klamath, and Crook counties. (At that time, Crook County covered all of central Oregon including what is now Deschutes and Jefferson counties.) The Oregonian's Handbook, published in 1894, noted that Daly was elected by a "most flattering majority." Despite the fact that Republicans dominated the legislature, Daly quickly became one of its most respected members, well known for his support of education. He was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1896. During his tenure in the legislature, Daly earned a reputation as one of the Democratic Party’s most progressive leaders. In 1897, he was the Democratic Party’s nominee for an open United States Senate seat, but the Republican-controlled legislature selected Republican Joseph Simon. He ran for Congress in 1900, but was defeated in a close race by Thomas H. Tongue.

Though Lake County was a Republican stronghold, Daly was easily elected County Judge in 1902, a position he continued to hold until his death in 1920. During his tenure as Lake County’s chief executive, the county built a new court house in 1909 using tax revenue from land left by the defunct Oregon Central Military Wagon Road Company. In 1916, Lake County became the first county in eastern Oregon to issue bonds for highway construction. When the bonds failed to sell as expected, Daly bought the remaining bonds himself. Since the bonds paid six percent interest, it was a good investment as well as a savvy political move.