Two meetings are set over the next three days that will determine who will succeed Cliff Bentz as Oregon State Senator for District 30.  Bentz’s resignation to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by the retiring Greg Walden became effective on Thursday.  Republican Party officials from eleven counties, including Wasco, will meet in John Day tomorrow to nominate candidates.  Bentz is a Republican, and under state law the party of the departing legislator picks at least three candidates.  Two people have publicly thrown their hat into the ring:  The Dalles City Councilor Rod Runyon and current Oregon State Representative Lynn Findley of Vale.  County Commissioners will then gather in Ontario on Monday to pick the new senator.  The Commissioner vote is weighted so each county gets one vote for every 1,000 registered voters.  The majority of the votes in this case come from Deschutes, Wasco, Malheur, Jefferson, and Baker counties.