Health Options Digest
March 14, 2004
Amended March 24, 2004
Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES)
In This Issue
From the Editor
Week in Review
This past week, the Springfield City Council tentatively approved PeaceHealth's master plan for a new hospital at Gateway. Their approval is subject to the decision of the Court of Appeals, which is expected to rule in April or May.
LTD is looking to cut service and fare discounts in response to tight funds.
Supporters want to grab more state money to build the West Eugene Parkway, but funds are tight there, too. Money is also tight for repairing existing streets and highways. But there is money to repair or replace failing bridges.
Former Republican U.S. Senator Bob Packwood urged Oregon Republicans to reach out to the center.
Although Oregonians can still take a $50 income tax credit per person ($100 per married couple) for political campaign contributions, they can no longer do it with the short form -- only with the more complicated long form.
Democracy in Springfield? The mayor and three incumbent city councilors will run unopposed in the May primary election. The only contested seat is the one recently vacated by Ward 6 Councilor Tim Malloy.
Democracy in Eugene? Most races are contested, but not too contested. Several candidates have dropped out of races, presumably to avoid splitting the vote between similar candidates.
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Looking Ahead
Both Springfield and Eugene will be in court this week.
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments over the Land Use Board of Appeals' (LUBA) ruling on Springfield's approval of the PeaceHealth plan amendments. While the courtroom drama will pale compared to a Perry Mason murder trial, those in the know will be watching closely for hints from the court.
On Thursday, LUBA will hear oral arguments over Eugene's approval of zoning changes to allow a hospital just about anywhere.
Transportation funding is a hot topic.
On Wednesday, LTD will hold a public hearing about both cutting service and cutting fare discounts. (We keep wondering when we will see all the money that BRT is supposed to be saving.)
Meanwhile, Springfield will be talking about the Pioneer Parkway Extension, which is supposed to be Phase 2 of BRT.
The Eugene City Council is on an extended spring break. With so much sunshine, taking a spring break sounds like a good plan. Besides, the attorneys and judges won't figure it all out until April at the earliest.
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Rob Zako, Editor
343-5201
rzako@efn.org
Calendar
Monday, March 15 -- Springfield City Council
Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield
Contact: Amy Sowa, City Manager's Office, 726-3700
6:00 p.m., Work Session, Jesse Maine Room
1. Springfield Inventory of Natural Resource Sites.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Design.
7:00 p.m., Regular Meeting, Council Meeting Room
Public Hearings
1. Supplemental Budget Resolution.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Design.
3. Proposed Amendment to the 2003 One-Year Action Plan, Regarding Additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects in the Downtown Revitalization Area.
Correspondence and Petitions
1. Correspondence from Peter W. Roberts, 2366 Washington Street, Eugene, OR 97405, Regarding Changing the Namesake of Lane County.
2. Correspondence from Lane County Commissioner Bobby Green Regarding a Commercial and Industrial Land Survey. [Please see attached staff report.]
3. Correspondence from Pat Hocken, Chair of LTD BRT Steering Committee, Regarding BRT Lanes on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.
4. Correspondence from Hillary Wylie, President, LTD Board of Directors, Regarding Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway Right of Way and Undergrounding Power Poles.
Ordinances
1. Metropolitan Plan Update -- Jo. No. LRP 2003-00014.
Business from the City Council
1. Committee Appointments
a. Museum Committee Appointments.
2. Business from Council
a. Committee Reports
b. Other Business
i. Mayor/Council Committee Assignments.
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Tuesday, March 16 -- Court of Appeals
Supreme Court Bldg., 1163 State St., Salem, (503) 986-5555
9:00 a.m., Oral Arguments, Supreme Court Courtroom, 3rd Floor
Judge Walt Edmonds, Judge Robert Wollheim, and Judge David Schuman presiding.
Before a 3-judge panel of the Court of Appeals, attorneys for Springfield, PeaceHealth, the League of Oregon Cities, the Jaquas, CHOICES and 1000 Friends of Oregon will argue the legal merits of LUBA's recent ruling in the case of Jaqua v. City of Springfield (PeaceHealth). Expect the judges to interrupt the attorneys frequently with a peppering of questions. If you are interested in going to observe, contact Rob, 343-5201, to arrange carpooling.
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Tuesday, March 16 -- Springfield Planning Commission
Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, 726-3753
6:00 p.m., Work Session, Jesse Maine Room
1. Request for Vacation of a Portion of Laura Street Public Right-Of-Way LRP2003-00030 -- The City of Springfield Public Works Department is requesting the vacation of approximately 203 feet by 30 feet of Laura Street right-of-way because Laura Street is proposed to be realigned and the current right-of-way will no longer be required.
7:00 p.m., Regular Session, City Council Chambers
Legislative Public Hearing
1. Request for Vacation of a Portion of Laura Street Public Right-Of-Way LRP2003-00030 -- The City of Springfield Public Works Department is requesting the vacation of approximately 203 feet by 30 feet of Laura Street right-of-way because Laura Street is proposed to be realigned and the current right-of-way will no longer be required.
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(regular session agenda...)
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Wednesday, March 17 -- Lane County Board of Commissioners
Public Service Bldg., 125 East 8th Ave., Eugene, 682-4203
9:00 a.m., Regular Meeting, Commissioners' Conference Room
8. Public Works
a. First Reading and Setting Second Reading and Public Hearing: Ordinance PA 1198: In the Matter of Adopting Criteria for Determining Significant Goal 5 Riparian or Wildlife Habitat Sites Within the Eugene Urban Growth Area; Adopting an Updated Goal 5 Inventory for the Eugene Urban Growth Area; and Adopting a Severability Clause (Second Reading & Public Hearing: March 31, 2004, 1:30 pm).
b. Third Reading and Deliberation: Ordinance PA 1197: In the Matter of Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) to Adopt as Part of Periodic Review Metro Plan Housekeeping Revisions: a New Metro Plan Chapter III-C: Environmental Resources Element; a New Metro Plan Diagram; and Adopting Savings and Severability Clauses.
c. Third Reading and Deliberation: Ordinance No. 5-04: In the Matter of Amending Lane Code Chapter 16 to Adopt Riparian Protection Regulations to Implement Goal 5 Outside the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan (Metro Plan) Urban Growth Boundary and Within the Metro Plan Boundary.
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Wednesday, March 17 -- LTD Board of Directors
3500 E. 17th Ave., Eugene (off Glenwood Blvd in Glenwood), 682-6100
5:30 p.m., Work Session, LTD Board Room
6:30 p.m., Regular Session, LTD Board Room
8. Audience Participation
9. Items for Action at this Meeting
A. Consent Calendar
B. FY 2004-05 Service Proposal
C. FY 2004-05 Pricing Plan Public Hearing
D. Public Relations Plan
(agenda...)
(proposed service reductions...)
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Thursday, March 18 -- Land Use Board of Appeals
Public Utility Commission Bldg., 550 Capitol St. NE, Salem, (503) 373-1265
9:00 a.m., Oral Arguments, Small Hearing Room, 2nd Floor
Attorneys for Friends of Eugene, et al. and the City of Eugene will argue the legality of Eugene's decision to allow hospital development in most parts of the city.
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PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth Project Moves Forward
By Jodi Unruh
KVAL | March 8, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- The Springfield City Council gave its thumbs up Monday night to PeaceHealth's master plan for its new hospital, pending a few changes. The city staff is now drawing up paperwork to support the councilors decision to tentatively approve the RiverBend master plan.
In a four to one vote, the council agreed with almost all of the planning commissions suggestions for the master plan, except for two areas. The council compromised with PeaceHealth by agreeing to zone almost 29 acres of land "mixed used commercial". The council also agreed to give PeaceHealth more time to build its parking structure so it could anticipate its parking needs.
But the City of Springfield and PeaceHealth are still waiting for a court of appeals decision on an unprecedented traffic ruling for the project. Both parties are appealing the State Land Use Board of Appeals ruling that expanded traffic control must be in place before PeaceHealth would be allowed to build a new hospital. (more...)
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PeaceHealth Master Plan Receives Tentative Approval
| KEZI | March 8, 2004, 11:50 p.m. |
Springfield City Councilors call it an exciting day for their city, after giving tentative approval to PeaceHealth's Riverbend Master Plan. PeaceHealth can now take the next step toward building a new Springfield hospital. Monday night Springfield City Councilors voted four to one, approving the Riverbend Master Plan.
Before shovels can be turned, a couple of things still need to happen. Monday's approval gives PeaceHealth the chance to concentrate on the Land Use Board of Appeals issues it's dealing with. One of those appeals could require a traffic study to be done, but PeaceHealth is confident it can demonstrate the transportation requirements rather than doing a formal study. The hospital says Monday night's tentative approval is a giant step forward. "We're prepared to meet all of the transportation requirements with a remand or without. So at least on this first round, we think we can meet the requirements regardless of what the court does," said Alan Yordy of PeaceHealth.
PeaceHealth should have a clearer idea of what more could be expected by May. Meanwhile, Springfield City Councilors say this is an exciting day for their city. The council will be asked for official approval of the last details of the Master Plan, pending the LUBA appeal. Councilors say it was a fair weighing of public and private need. (more...)
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Springfield Approves Hospital Plan
| KEZI | March 9, 2004, 11:50 a.m. |
Peacehealth can now take the next step toward building a new Springfield hospital.
Monday night Springfield city councilors voted four to one, approving the Riverbend master plan.
A couple of things still need to happen.
As one city councilor put it, no shovels will be turned quite yet.
This approval does however give Peacehealth the chance to concentrate on the land use board of appeals issues its dealing with.
One of those appeals could require a traffic study to be done.
Peacehealth however is confident it can demonstrate the transportation requirements rather than doing a formal study.
The hospital says the tentative approval is a giant step forward.
Now it will be up to the courts to decide whether further studies need to be done. (more...)
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Springfield OKs hospital plan
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 9, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- PeaceHealth's proposed Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend received another key approval on Monday night, but a legal challenge must be resolved before building begins.
City councilors approved the master plan for the $400 million project by a 4-1 vote, with the understanding that they will wait for an Oregon Court of Appeals ruling before they give the project final approval. Councilor Dave Ralston cast the dissenting vote.
The Oregon Court of Appeals on March 16 is to hear arguments in an appeal that, among other things, claims that the city made errors in evaluating the traffic impacts from the project. A ruling is not expected until April or May, at the earliest.
Still, Monday night's vote gave PeaceHealth executives another needed green light for the project. (more...)
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PeaceHealth claims victory
By Jaime Sherman
The Springfield News | March 10, 2004 |
PeaceHealth officials are triumphant following city council action to allow construction of a regional medical center in the Gateway area.
Councilors voted 4-1 Monday night to permit PeaceHealth to build its $400 million hospital between Game Farm Road and the McKenzie River. Councilor Dave Ralston cast the lone dissenting vote without comment.
Hospital spokesman Brian Terrett told The News the council's decision is gratifying for the people involved in creating and refining the master hospital plan.
"For us it is a victory. It's a victory in the sense that we were able to come to the position where our needs are being met and we don't feel like the needs of the city of Springfield and the community have been compromised," Terrett said. "So it's a perfect balance."
Councilors cast their votes, which will be finalized with ordinances in late spring, before 50 people and with little discussion after 45 minutes of PeaceHealth and city staff reports.
The final master plan includes multiple conditions of development that have been approved by hospital and city staff and adds language to delay construction of a road through three residential properties on Deadmond Ferry Road. (more...)
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Mixed Loyalties
The convoluted case of the amicus brief.
By Ted Taylor
Eugene Weekly | March 11, 2004 |
PeaceHealth's planned move to north Springfield is considered potentially damaging to Eugene. Eugene could lose a major regional medical center and thousands of family wage jobs, local street repairs could be delayed for decades, and it could cost Eugene millions to establish a new, smaller hospital in the city center. And yet Eugene City Attorney Glenn Klein has written a legal brief that is seen as supporting PeaceHealth's move.
Is it a conflict of interest? Not according to the city attorney, city staff or Oregon's vague ethics rules. But some city councilors and local land-use activists are outraged anyway, and say the problem illustrates why Eugene needs its own in-house city attorney rather than a private lawyer who can also represent anyone he wants. (more...)
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Slant: Eugene City Attorney
| Eugene Weekly | March 11, 2004 |
Our news story this week on the city attorney and his amicus brief on behalf of PeaceHealth raises all kinds of issues, some old and some new, but all related. What's wrong with our city charter that creates a powerful city manager and allows our private city attorney to represent our best interests one minute, then turn around and facilitate competing interests the next minute? And who's really running the city when our assistant city manager is meeting with our city attorney to talk about intervening on statewide policy issues? And what does it mean for Eugene to lose a major medical center to Springfield? How do we calculate the cost of lost jobs, lost medical services, lost opportunities and lost prestige, not to mention lost street and road funding that will be sucked out of Eugene to accommodate a huge, sprawling development in Springfield? ODOT and LCDC dropped the ball in this court case, but fortunately we have 1000 Friends of Oregon, CHOICES and the Jaqua family fighting for Eugene's (and Springfield's) best interests.
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McKenzie-Willamette/Triad
Letter: Use Highway 99 site for hospital
| By Valerie Ambers, Cheshire | March 8, 2004 |
I have been following information of where McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center wants to eventually locate like many others in this area. The Delta Highway proposed site was scary. Hopefully, that has been dropped. Between the fender-benders and heavy traffic, it was only convenient for the staff and brokers selling said property.
The Eugene Water & Electric Board location is not much better. Here they want to locate right in the middle of heavy traffic in the morning and late afternoon hours, with lack of space for the future. They would be spending an enormous amount of money on a very inconvenient location for the major part of the public who would be using and paying for the facilities. As far as being in the general area of the courthouse, all I can see there is competing for parking space.
At one time a location on Highway 99 North was proposed. That would seem more logical. It is convenient for the people who would be eventually using hospital service, has easy access to the airport and room for future expansion. Even in heavier traffic, vehicles on Highway 99N still move compared to downtown or the Delta Highway.
With all this in mind, whoever is consulting the Triad people backing this project has short-range vision for the present and future on only 27 acres in a traffic bottleneck.
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Letter: Charge Triad full price for move
| By Ed Kemp, Walterville | March 13, 2004 |
I appreciate the coverage of the financial impact of a possible move by EWEB to accommodate a hospital in downtown Eugene.
The newspaper reported March 4 that EWEB estimates it will cost more than $49 million to buy property, build facilities and move from its current location. In fact, it would probably cost a good deal more given the uncertainties often associated with such construction projects.
Repayment of the outstanding $11 million mortgage shouldn't be a factor, because EWEB would pay it back from a mortgage on its new facility in the same way a homeowner takes out a new loan in part to repay the balance on an old loan when moving to a new house.
But EWEB staff suggest that, by borrowing an additional $11 million to enable Triad to pay just $38 million, "ratepayers would not have to pay for the new facility." That's hogwash! Whether we pay cash up front or pay back a loan over time, we pay.
If EWEB takes a penny less than the $49 million cost of moving from its current headquarters, the difference will amount to a direct (and involuntary) subsidy to the hospital by those of us who have no choice but to pay EWEB's already extortionate rates.
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Cost of Health Care
Settlement wins patients' release
| The Register-Guard | March 9, 2004 |
Almost 70 mentally ill patients who have been stranded in Oregon State Hospital because of a shortage of support programs in local communities will be released as the result of a settlement in a 3-year-old lawsuit.
The state will spend $1.5 million to create 75 new spots in community programs, with an emphasis on placing mentally ill patients with special needs, such as severe health problems, brain injury, or a history of drug or sexual abuse, said Kathy Wilde, a lawyer for the Oregon Advocacy Center.
The settlement also will free up state hospital space for patients who are being held in expensive private psychiatric hospitals awaiting vacancy in the state hospital. Private psychiatric beds cost $600 to $800 per day, Wilde noted. (more...)
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Nearby Developments
Courthouse site's sale should close next week
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | March 11, 2004 |
Sometime next week, the city of Eugene and the federal General Services Administration will close the deal on the 4.5-acre property that will become the site of the new Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse.
The city and the GSA signed transaction agreements Tuesday, calling for the federal government to pay Eugene $3.85 million for the property near Eighth Avenue and Mill Street.
The city has spent $4.1 million to acquire the old Agripac cannery site from the Chiquita Corp., and another $1.6 million to buy the parcel occupied by Autocraft, an automobile body repair and painting business, said Mike Sullivan, the city's community development manager. The city also paid $550,000 to help Autocraft move, he said. The total outlay will have been $6.25 million.
In the process, the city took possession of about 6.5 acres. With 4.5 acres going to the GSA, the city is left with about two acres of surplus land east of the future courthouse site. The city will put that land on the market to help cover its costs, Sullivan said. (more...)
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Resident develops Friendly plan
By Sherri Buri McDonald
The Register-Guard | March 11, 2004 |
Mel Bankoff, founder of salsa maker Emerald Valley Kitchen, is thinking about trying his hand at real estate development in his own south Eugene neighborhood.
Bankoff will meet with city development officials later this month to discuss his idea to build a roughly 27,000-square-foot, two-story multiuse development at the southwest corner of 27th Avenue and Friendly Street. The project would include stores, offices, apartments, a restaurant and a neighborhood center. (more...)
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Council votes to review city toxics law
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 11, 2004 |
The push for a review of Eugene's Toxics Right-To-Know law sparked sharp exchanges on the City Council on Wednesday, with a minority of councilors fearing a move may be afoot to scuttle the controversial hazardous-chemical reporting law.
Councilors engaged in the verbal fireworks as they considered whether to change the rate structure that pays for the reporting program, approved eight years ago by city voters. (more...)
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Group Ranks Portland Tops for Containing Sprawl
| The Associated Press | March 10, 2004, 11:45 a.m. |
PORTLAND -- Portland ranks the best of the biggest cities in the Northwest for containing urban sprawl, according to a new report.
Seattle-based Northwest Environment Watch ranked Portland ahead of Seattle, Eugene, Spokane (Washington) and Boise (Idaho).
But the group ranked two Canadian cities, Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, ahead of Portland for containing sprawl.
Urban sprawl was just one of seven categories that Northwest Environment Watch listed on its "Cascadia Scorecard," released today to rank the region for health care, economy, population, energy, forests and pollution.
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Portland Behind Vancouver B.C. in Controlling Sprawl, Study Finds
| The Associated Press | March 12, 2004, 8:55 a.m. |
PORTLAND -- Oregon scored well on a quality-of-life gauge released this month for success in slowing urban sprawl, but did less well in the areas of poverty and energy consumption.
The Seattle-based Northwest Environment Watch released its first "Cascadia Scorecard" to track seven factors that affect how people live and how well they care for the environment.
Researchers considered nearly 1,000 indicators before whittling the list to seven, said Alan Durning, the nonprofit group's executive director. He said he wanted to craft a meaningful snapshot of the region's success and chart measurable progress. (more...)
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Transportation
LTD's New Flyers roll out this week
By Christopher Stollar
The Springfield News | March 12, 2004 |
They're 60 feet long and over 40,000 pounds.
"The first time I saw them, I was scared," said Cindy Reed, a sophomore at Lane Community College.
Lane Transit District's five New Flyer buses have hit the streets, and students are glad to be sitting. The 60-foot articulated buses can carry 105 passengers, compared to 70 people on a 40-foot bus. (more...)
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Last stop ahead for discount fares on LTD buses
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | March 12, 2004 |
The cost of riding the bus may be about to jump for some.
Three-month bus passes, special rates for some disabled riders and the "Fastpass" used by many students and staff at Lane Community College could be on the Lane Transit District's chopping block as the agency looks for ways to increase revenue to offset rapidly rising operating costs.
LTD spokesman Andy Vobora said Thursday that LTD's proposed changes to discounted fares could go into effect as soon as July 1, if the transit district decides to take that route. The LTD board will hold a public hearing next week to hear rider reaction.
Cutting back on the use of discounted fares could result in additional income of $500,000 annually, assuming that riders shift to other, costlier fare options instead of abandoning the buses altogether, Vobora said.
Neither the cash rate of $1.25 per ride nor the $35 price of a monthly pass would be raised as part of the proposed changes, he said. (more...)
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Funding woes likely to delay West Parkway
By Diane Dietz
The Register-Guard | March 12, 2004 |
A shortage of cash is likely to push completion of the West Eugene Parkway back until 2011 -- or, maybe, far later.
More than two years after Eugene voters backed the project, the normal process for funding state roads has failed to produce nearly enough money to build the full 5.8-mile $129 million project during this decade.
Although state and local officials say the parkway is a priority, it's nowhere on their short list for certain funding or -- even -- the dream list officials shopped around during a lobbying trip to Congress last week. (more...)
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Road Repair Priority List
By Pat McGillivray
KVAL | March 11, 2004 |
EUGENE -- Tests are now being done to determine which Eugene roads should be repaired. It is more than an eyeball-look at cracked streets. And in some cases the worst roads will not be first on the list. (more...)
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Money For Bridges
By Jodi Unruh
KVAL | March 8, 2004 |
EUGENE -- Oregon is about to undergo the most expensive bridge repair project since World War Two.
The state is pumping a lot of cash into the project. Six of the spans slated for work are in Lane County.
The state is giving the city of Eugene a $800,000 grant to fix some cracks underneath the Ferry Street Bridge.
Lane County will receive almost $5,000,000 for the five bridges on its list that need fixing.
The Sharps Creek Bridge just southeast of Cottage Grove is on the list. Traffic there is currently down to one lane because it can no longer handle the excess weight. Repairs to that bridge will cost about $1,000,000.
Under the Oregon Transportation Investment Act the state has increased motor carrier and vehicle registration fees to finance about $300,000,000 in bond money for repairs all over the state. (more...)
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County bridge repairs get green light
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | March 8, 2004 |
Five ailing bridges in rural Lane County will be rebuilt next year at a price tag of $4.8 million, with money allocated under the Oregon Transportation Investment Act passed by the state Legislature in 2003. (more...)
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ODOT plans to straighten out I-5's Myrtle Creek curves
| The Associated Press | March 8, 2004 |
MYRTLE CREEK -- The Oregon Department of Transportation hopes to finally eliminate the Myrtle Creek curves, considered one of the most dangerous sections of Interstate 5.
The agency plans to bypass the curves by cutting a chunk out of the adjacent rock mountain; boring through the rock to create a tunnel is another option. (more...)
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State News
Moderate Republicans step softly on social issues
By Charles Beggs
The Associated Press | March 8, 2004 |
SEASIDE -- Oregon Republicans wound up their 40th annual Dorchester Conference on Sunday after dodging chances to take strong stands on hot-button social issues for fear of emphasizing splits in the GOP in an election year.
Dorchester founder and former Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood told participants they should go on record urging the state Republican Party to scrap its anti-abortion platform plank.
The resolution passed 86-58, but 212 conferees declined to vote after state Republican Chairman Kevin Mannix urged them not to take a stand on the divisive issue. (more...)
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Dorchester founder Packwood reflects on its almost 40 years
| The Gazette Times | March 8, 2004 |
SEASIDE -- Bob Packwood's political offspring -- the Republicans' Dorchester Conference -- has grown into middle age, and he complains it has become too conservative.
The 71-year-old former Republican U.S. senator founded the conference as a state legislator. This year's meeting was the 40th. The first meeting in 1965 was held at the Dorchester House, a small Lincoln City hotel.
Packwood saw a need for a forum for moderate to liberal Republicans after the crushing defeat of conservative Republican U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater by Democratic President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Dorchester spokesman Jim Haynes says the event -- which isn't an official Republican Party gathering -- now is believed to be the oldest continuous grassroots political meeting in the nation involving either major party. (more...)
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Editorial: Packwood's party: Ex-senator diagnoses GOP's problems
| The Register-Guard | March 11, 2004 |
When Bob Packwood organized the first Dorchester Conference 40 years ago, the Oregon Republican Party was coming into a period of dominance. Today, for the first time in a century, Democrats hold a monopoly on statewide offices from the governorship on down. Packwood returned to the conference in Seaside last week to tell his party what went wrong: Republicans have alienated people in the political center, particularly on the issue of abortion.
Packwood's analysis is too facile -- moderate Oregonians care about many issues besides abortion -- but the former U.S. senator's readings of the political landscape deserve attention. Next to Mark Hatfield, he was the state's most successful politician of his generation. He was elected to the U.S. Senate five times. He resigned in the middle of his fifth term -- a fact that eclipsed his reputation for political skill. (more...)
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Elections
Tax Credit Dropped
| The Associated Press | March 14, 2004, 12:10 p.m. |
SALEM -- Oregonians who use the state's short form to file their 2003 tax returns will no longer be able to get a tax break for political donations.
The state Department of Revenue dropped the political tax credit from this year's short form to make room for other information.
The tax credit enables people to get $1 back on their taxes for every $1 they contribute to Oregon political campaigns. Individuals can get as much as $50 back. Couples can get $100 back.
The decision to drop the political credit from the short form is drawing complaints from political groups on all sides.
The whole point of the political contribution tax credit is to give a broader voice to ordinary Oregonians in campaigns, said Andi Miller, executive director of Common Cause of Oregon. (more...)
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Ward 6 council seat attracts a crowd
By Jaime Sherman
The Springfield News | March 10, 2004 |
Campaign signs will soon dot lawns in Thurston.
Four people -- a teacher, bank manager, sheriff's deputy and library projects manager -- are campaigning for a single seat on Springfield City Council.
Political newcomers David Jacobson, Debbie Davis, Joe Pishioneri and Debi Baker have filed for the Ward 6 vacancy left by Tim Malloy, who is moving to Bellevue, Wash., to take a job with PeaceHealth's corporate office. Malloy's stint on council was short, having taken over when Lyle Hatfield died of cancer in early 2003.
The Ward 6 position is the only contested race in Springfield. Mayor Sid Leiken and councilors Anne Ballew, Christine Lundberg and Dave Ralston will run unopposed in the May Primary Election. (more...)
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Springfield City Beat: Everyone must be happy
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | March 13, 2004 |
The mayor of Springfield and three incumbent city councilors will run unopposed in the May primary election. The only contested council race will be to replace Councilor Tim Malloy, who resigned last month to move to Washington state.
Filing for his Ward 6 seat, representing Thurston, were Debi Baker, a projects manager and former chairwoman of the Lane ESD Handicapped Children Advisory Council; Deborah J. Davis, a branch manager at U.S. Bank; David Jacobson, a teacher; and Joe Pishioneri, a Lane County deputy sheriff.
Running unopposed will be Mayor Sid Leiken; Ward 1 Councilor Christine Lundberg; Ward 3 Councilor Anne Ballew; and Ward 4 Councilor Dave Ralston. All positions are for four-year terms except Lundberg's. She's filling out the term of former Councilor Stu Burge and will face re-election in 2006.
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Commentary: Do we want to be Appalachia with fir trees?
| By Joe Miller, Marcola | March 12, 2004 |
I'm confused! I've seen a couple of guest opinions from the current appointed commissioner of District 5 in which he talks about the importance of maintaining a "rural lifestyle" and I am a little concerned. Part of the rural lifestyle is open spaces, a sense of small community, a slower pace, and people who value the land and surrounding areas. This is clear, but here's my confusion:
Maintaining our current "rural lifestyle" is to say we keep a below average quality of life! "Keep Don" means keeping a complacent force in action that maintains higher unemployment, lack of community-based family wage jobs, limited access to social and human services, marginal public safety, poor public transportation and other key services.
Preservation of stagnation and failure to demonstrate initiative have become the measure of government we've experienced in the rural communities. "Keep" that "lifestyle?" No thanks. (more...)
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Candidates quit city, state races
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 12, 2004 |
The field of contestants in Eugene's primary election narrowed Thursday, as a candidate for mayor and another for City Council said they were pulling the plug on their campaigns. In Salem, a state House contender also pulled out.
James "Izzy" Whetstine, mayoral candidate since 1992, said he will withdraw as a candidate mainly because he did not want to take votes from Kitty Piercy in the race against Nancy Nathanson and three lesser known candidates.
In the Ward 7 City Council race, community activist and fund-raising consultant Michael Carrigan dropped out of the contest against incumbent Scott Meisner and Andrea Ortiz, a Bethel School District board member.
Friday is the deadline for candidates to pull out of the May 18 election. Candidates can withdraw later, but their names will appear on the ballot. (more...)
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Torrey puts drive to serve in neutral
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 11, 2004 |
You can take the man out of political office, but you can't take politics out of the man.
Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey recently abandoned plans to run for Oregon secretary of state, after deciding earlier not to run again for mayor. But Torrey says he hasn't given up on the idea someday of seeking public office again, applying for an appointed post, or staying involved in public life in some other way. (more...)
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Slant: Mayor Torrey
| Eugene Weekly | March 11, 2004 |
Looks like Mayor Torrey is going to become Citizen Torrey for the foreseeable future. Torrey's a personable guy with good intentions, and he's been a strong advocate for education. But we're not sad to see him go. His tie-splitting votes on development and other land-use issues have contributed to a lowering of quality of life in Eugene, and for many of us, that will be Torrey's legacy. What will be our next mayor's legacy? It won't be guesswork. Our two leading candidates both have clear voting records over time on a broad range of issues.
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Carrigan Drops Out
By Aria Seligmann
Eugene Weekly | March 11, 2004 |
Progressive candidate Michael Carrigan decided this week to drop out of the Ward 7 City Council race. He says dropping out was a "difficult decision," as people he knows and trusted encouraged him to challenge Scott Meisner, while others asked him to drop out and support Andrea Ortiz.
"After serious soul searching and serious discussion with Andrea, I've decided only one candidate should take on Meisner. That should be Andrea," says Carrigan, adding that Ortiz is a strong progressive and a strong supporter of the environment.
Carrigan says what matters is getting a progressive elected instead of Meisner, and the race is about that. "I'm making the best decision for Ward 7 and Eugene as a whole," he says, adding, "I'm planning on putting in a lot of time and energy in getting Andrea elected.
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Candidate filing day passes with few surprises
By David Steves
The Register-Guard | March 10, 2004 |
In an era when candidates start raising money and are trying to win over voters months before Election Day, few surprises surfaced on Tuesday's candidate filing day.
Even so, hundreds of people crowded onto the floor of the state House of Representatives to gaze up at a giant reader board to see who will be running in the May primary and -- if they win their parties' respective nominations -- the November general elections.
Among area candidates, only Rep. Terry Beyer, D-Springfield, ended up without an opponent -- Democrat or Republican. (more...)
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Candidates quit city, state races
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 12, 2004 |
The field of contestants in Eugene's primary election narrowed Thursday, as a candidate for mayor and another for City Council said they were pulling the plug on their campaigns. In Salem, a state House contender also pulled out.
James "Izzy" Whetstine, mayoral candidate since 1992, said he will withdraw as a candidate mainly because he did not want to take votes from Kitty Piercy in the race against Nancy Nathanson and three lesser known candidates.
In the Ward 7 City Council race, community activist and fund-raising consultant Michael Carrigan dropped out of the contest against incumbent Scott Meisner and Andrea Ortiz, a Bethel School District board member.
Friday is the deadline for candidates to pull out of the May 18 election. Candidates can withdraw later, but their names will appear on the ballot. (more...)
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Commentary: Non-partisan Legislature is Oregon's only answer
| By Sen. Charlie Ringo, D-Beaverton | March 10, 2004 |
I knew something was wrong an hour after I was sworn in.
All 60 representatives had just taken an oath to work for the people of the state of Oregon, yet when it came time to elect the Speaker of the House, 33 Republicans voted for one person and 27 Democrats voted for another. Not one representative, including me, was willing to breach party loyalty.
Equally sobering, the two contenders for Speaker had just spent a year raising money for their party's candidates running for the Legislature. Their strength was their political prowess, not their policy expertise.
That's when I began to think this process needs to change. (more...)
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Other News
County Beat: Former commissioner stays in the limelight
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | March 12, 2004 |
Tom Lininger stepped away from local politics last August. Or did he?
Lininger quit his job on the Lane County Board of Commissioners eight months ago, after just eight months in office, to take a faculty position at the University of Oregon's law school. But since then, he's kept a relatively high profile on issues important to his former constituents, including the proposed power plant near Coburg, the Bradford quarry project outside Creswell and the election campaign of his successor, Don Hampton, who'll be on the May 18 primary election ballot along with five challengers.
On the power plant issue, Lininger, with financial help from others, went so far as to buy space in The Register-Guard for a large display ad in which he criticized the project.
Much as he likes his new job at the UO, Lininger says he still wants to work on behalf of east Lane County residents in his spare time. (more...)
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Changes afoot inside
| The Register-Guard | March 8, 2004 |
Effective today, The Register-Guard's technology page has moved to a new home: the Sunday Business section. It appears on Page F3. The technology page previously appeared in the Tuesday Business section.
Also, as part of a reorganization of how stocks and mutual fund data are listed in the paper, the Sunday Business section now contains only the expanded listings of mutual funds. The expanded listings include the weekly change in the fund price, plus the annual and three-year price changes. The listings appear on Pages F5 and F6.
WEB EDITOR'S NOTE: The published versions of the stock and mutual funds are available only in the print edition of The Register-Guard.
The newspaper has moved the expanded weekly presentation of New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq stocks from Sunday to the Saturday Business section.
Questions? Contact business editor Christian Wihtol at 338-2381 or cwihtol@guardnet.com.
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Slant: Register-Guard
| Eugene Weekly | March 11, 2004 |
We've been stealthily probing our buddies down at the R-G to leak us some hints about what's the buzz in the newsroom, but they are keeping mum. We think the R-G owes its readers the courtesy of outlining the new pecking order. Who ya gonna call with questions, complaints and story ideas? Titles have changed on the website and it looks like management is trying the trendy "team" approach once again, and feature writers are now also knocking out hard news. Margaret Haberman is no longer city editor and Executive Editor Jim Godbold is now working under Jackman Wilson on the editorial pages. Who's covering the environment?
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