State Rep. Knute Buehler, R-Bend, is something of an anomaly. A Republican lawmaker from a district in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by slightly more than 5,000, he won his first race for the Legislature, in 2014, by about 4,500 votes. That margin speaks to the moderate approach he promised to bring to politics, an approach he has no plans to change.

He should be returned to the Legislature to build upon the record he’s created over the last two years.

Buehler, 52, is opposed by Gena Goodman-Campbell, 32. Buehler is an orthopedic surgeon, a 1986 graduate of Oregon State University and that school’s first Rhodes Scholar. He’s also one of only two physicians in the Legislature.

Goodman-Campbell grew up in Portland, attended Colorado College and now works at the Oregon Natural Desert Association as its wilderness coordinator for Central Oregon. Her largest campaign contributors are House Democrats and public unions in the state, and her stand on a variety of issues from education to taxes reflect their views on those same subjects.

We believe the citizens of Bend deserve a more thoughtful approach, and Buehler has already demonstrated he can deliver it. In fact, his two legislative sessions trace a path that defies party labels.

Thus, despite his membership in the GOP, he worked successfully in 2015 to assure that the women of Oregon can get contraception quickly and without hassle from the local pharmacy. He also opposed the Legislature’s low-carbon fuel standards bill, which was a top priority of Democrats. Also, he’s been an advocate for the development of Oregon State University-Cascades.

His independence makes Buehler an especially good legislator, even when we disagree with him, as we did on this year’s energy bill, which he supported.

Looking ahead, Buehler’s background as a physician will be especially useful in 2017, when lawmakers do the inevitable tinkering with the state’s Coordinated Care Organizations, which have changed the way the Oregon Health Plan delivers care to the state’s poorest residents. He will advocate for better integration of mental and physical health services in that process.

Elsewhere, he hopes to establish special education savings accounts for Oregon’s youngest citizens to be used for post-high education and training, a move he and others say will help improve the state’s appalling high school graduation rate.

In just two years Knute Buehler has proven himself as a lawmaker. He’s bright, independent and thoughtful, and he wants to continue representing House District 54. He should be allowed to do so.