MEDFORD (AP) - Jackson County Commissioner C.W. Smith is a Republican, but he's not anxious for another visit from President Bush.

Bush campaigned in Southern Oregon two years ago, and the county is still dealing with the costs.

Law enforcement agencies racked up more than $260,000 for extra manpower and overtime because of visits from Bush and other politicians. And just recently, county officials were told that $20,000 was needed to hire a firm to handle a lawsuit stemming from the president's visit to Jacksonville.

“I'm not inclined in the future to have presidential visits,” Smith said. “It's expensive for local governments and creates a significant and substantial liability.”

During a presidential visit on Oct. 14, 2004, police clashed with protesters, leading to a class action lawsuit against Jackson County and Jacksonville. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Medford by the American Civil Liberties Union, alleges the U.S. Secret Service and local and state police acted with unnecessary violence and discrimination when clearing Jacksonville streets for the visit.

To prepare for the legal challenge, the county last week hired Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, which has offices around the country.

Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said his city has hired Eugene attorney Robert Franz to handle the lawsuit. He said the cost is being borne by the city's insurance carrier, but he's concerned that premiums will go up.

Towe said Bush's visit generated a positive buzz in Jacksonville, but it cost the four-man police department $2,000. Towe said he would like the federal government to reimburse small cities for the cost of these campaign stops, paying possibly 50 percent of expenses. He said preparation for the presidential visit, which he learned about only six days in advance, consumed all his attention.

“Is it something I would want to do again? No,” he said.