The 53rd House District is about as odd-looking a legislative district as it gets in Oregon.

On a map, it looks like a squashed doughnut, with the city of Bend as the hole. Most of Bend has its own House district, the 54th. The 53rd takes in a small chunk of city, but sprawls out in all directions to take in the more Republican-friendly suburbs and towns. It stretches from Redmond in the north to Sunriver in the south. Much of the western acreage is in the Deschutes National Forest.

Two Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to replace the 53rd District’s incumbent, Rep. Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver, who is retiring.

Jack Zika, a Realtor and local planning commissioner, is from Redmond.

Ben Schimmoller, who describes himself as a “grassroots activist,” lives in the portion of Bend that’s in the district.

Whichever candidate wins the Republican primary inherits an electoral advantage over their Democratic opponent. As of the beginning of the month, there are 18,102 registered Republicans in the 53rd District, almost 4,000 more than there are Democrats.

Because the primary is closed, only registered Republicans can vote on the GOP nominee. The candidate who wins goes to the General Election, where all 52,945 registered voters in the district can cast a ballot.

The Bulletin asked each candidate the same four questions. Here are their answers:

Question 1: Gov. Kate Brown says she will sign legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature to disconnect the Oregon tax code from the federal tax code so that a portion of the tax cut passed by the Republican-controlled Congress would not be replicated on state returns. Proponents of the law said it would create a $250 million hole in the state budget. Opponents said it amounts to a $250 million tax increase. How would you have voted?

Schimmoller: No. I trust Oregonians with their money more than I trust government with it. Oregon has seen increased revenue of 40 percent in the past 11 years; Oregon has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

Zika: No. I own a small business. Central Oregon’s economy is largely based on small business. Reducing the high state-tax burden on small businesses will help grow our economy and create jobs.

Question 2: For the past two sessions of the Legislature, a group of Bend-area homeowners and some environmental groups have tried to have a law passed to ban a bridge across the Deschutes River on the border between the 53rd and 54th Districts. Both times, the legislation has stalled in committee. Rep. Whisnant supported the bridge ban, but the Bend Park & Recreation District opposed it. Would you submit a bill for a bridge ban, or support legislation for a ban submitted by another lawmaker?

Schimmoller: Undecided. First and foremost, the State of Oregon and all local jurisdictions must follow federal law whether they like it or not. I suspect the bridge violates federal waterway legislation. I also favor limited government and am opposed to government bureaucrats making decisions that ignore strong and diverse opposition. These are the issues I would need to see addressed before being able to support or oppose legislation regarding the bridge.

Zika: No. I oppose a bridge ban, and so would not introduce one. I believe in local control of most issues. I oppose environmental groups from the Valley trying to undermine our community’s decisions as a way to push forward their extreme agendas.

Question 3: What one issue would you champion if you are elected?

Schimmoller: Veterans. I am deeply concerned about Oregon’s veterans. The challenges they face are a reflection of the struggles in our community. They struggle with mental illness, financially instability, inadequate medical care and homelessness. This is not the time to cut funding for veterans as Governor Brown and the Legislature did last year. We can and must do better for these incredible men and women who sacrificed for our freedom.

Zika: Government waste. Oregon has gotten sickeningly good at costly boondoggles: Cover Oregon, Medicaid and energy tax credit scandals have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. I will hold agencies accountable and vote to withhold funding from agencies that fail to safeguard taxpayer funds.

Question 4: Why are you a better choice to represent House District 53 than your opponent?

Schimmoller: I represent the grassroots of the Republican Party. I’ve worked tirelessly on countless political issues and several political campaigns. I am part of the leadership team for Deschutes County Republicans. My opponent is inexperienced in the Republican Party. We need a conservative nominee that understands Republican primary voters and their concerns. I am endorsed by Oregon Right to Life PAC, Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Henderson, and former county Republican chairman Bob Perry.

Zika: I have more life experience. I’m a small business owner, a father, a Redmond planning commissioner and a community volunteer. My opponent is very young and says he’s employed as a “grassroots activist.” We need less activism and more smart decision-making. I know what it means to have a real job, own a business and own a home. I know what it means to have kids in a school system that is being drowned in PERS costs. These life experiences will help me to better advocate for Central Oregon in Salem. I am endorsed by Oregon Right to Life as well as AG PAC, an organization supporting a healthy agriculture and forestry based economy in Oregon. I am endorsed by Bend Mayor Casey Roats and Bend City Councilor Justin Livingston, and Redmond City Councilors Jay Patrick and Tory Allman.

Coming Monday: The Democratic candidates for the 53rd District

— Reporter: 541-525-5280, gwarner@bendbulletin.com