Now that Andy Olson is at work in Salem as the new representative for House District 15, what is his three-term Republican predecessor doing?

Betsy Close, reached at home in Albany this week, said she is taking the opportunity to write.

"It's something I think I have a gift for," she said.

The majority of writing Close has been doing is for political newsletters.

She is also following with interest the legislative session that got under way Monday.

In the Nov. 2 election, Close lost to Democratic incumbent Bill Bradbury for secretary of state.

Since the election, Close has been focusing her time on her family. Because of a change in her husband Christopher's job, he has moved to Southern Oregon and the family has plans to join him later. For now, Close is focusing her attention on the needs of her children: a daughter in college, a son in high school and a son in middle school. The family is currently living in two places because she didn't want to uproot her children in the middle of the school year.

Because the impending move would have made her ineligible for another term in District 15, Close felt the statewide race was an opportunity to continue in public service.

Despite the loss to Bradbury, Close doesn't regret her decision to run for secretary of state.

"I was very honored to have the Republican nomination," she said. "I really enjoyed running for it."

Close said she learned that it takes a lot of time and money for a candidate to get statewide name recognition. If she chooses to run again, she would start earlier to raise the money needed, she said.

Close doesn't have any short-term political aspirations, but is keeping her options open.

"I enjoy being in the political realm and I think I've been successful at it," she said. "I'll probably be looking at my options as the years go by."

Close is proud of her accomplishments in office and especially of a bill in 2001 that delayed electric power deregulation. She feels it averted a California-style crisis that could have happened in Oregon if electric power had been deregulated.

For new Rep. Andy Olson, this year will be a learning session, Close predicted.

"There is so much to learn," she said. "I felt like in six years that I was just getting to the point that I knew the system."

Close hopes that the Legislature will create a reasonable, fair and prudent budget.

"They need to hold their reins tight because we have an economic problem," she said. "It's really important that they manage their money wisely."