-Candidates for governor -
Victor Atiyeh
Atiyeh:
Oregon
is going
to grow,
question
is how
Republican gubernatorial
candidate Victor Atiyeh has been
speaking during his campaign
about the issues facing Oregon
in general terms rather than in
specifics, because he feels this is
the best way for voters to tell,
"what a person is like".
The 16-year veteran of the
Oregon Legislature sees the major
issues as hard to define, but he
cited the economy and a "sense
of restlessness" stemming from
overcrowded conditions as im
portant areas of concern. Atiyeh
labeled his attitude toward growth
in Oregon as realistic, saying
"Oregon is going to grow - the
question is how."
Atiyeh is a proponent of land use
planning, having sponsored
"open space" legislation and SB
100, a land use planning bill that
"probably wouldn't have passed if
I hadn't supported it." He said
growth must be encouraged to
spread evenly, using the im
provement of Coos Bay's tran
sportation system as an example
of how this might be ac
complished.
Regarding the energy crisis and
its effects, Atiyeh said there needs
to be a realization of the problem
by the people, and that Senator
Mark Hatfield's concept of net
energy is one that should be
considered; that is, how much
energy it takes to make energy.
He said there is no question we
will run out of fossil fuels even
tually, but added that substitutes
will be found, using trees as an
example of a renewable resource
that could be used to meet the
energy needs of the future.
Atiyeh does not support a
moratorium on the construction
of nuclear power plants. He sees
nuclear power plants as an interim
source of energy to be used until
alternate power sources can be
developed. Oregonians are lucky,
he said, in that they have both
hydroelectric power and
geothermal power potential. He
is especially interested in the
development of geothermal
power.
The 51-year-old state senator
wants to see an emphasis on
"basic education" in Oregon
schools, with a focus on reading
and writing skills. He does not
favor an unrestricted curriculum
at the grade school level, but feels
restrictions should gradually
lessen as the student approaches
college.
When asked about the
University's current controversy
concerning the EMU's serving of
non-UFW lettuce, Atiyeh said he
agreed with President Clark's
view that colleges should not
become involved in political issues
of this nature. As to who would
deal with the problem if he were
governor, Atiyeh said, "I'm
willing, at the present time, to
leave that decision with the in
stitution and the State Board (of
Higher Education)."
Brad Lemley
No interview
We were not able to contact
these candidates for an interview:
Leonard Baxter (Dem.), Pauline
Smith (Dem.), William Patrick(
Dem.), Johnny Woods (Dem.),
Frank Heisler (Rep.), William
Jolley (Rep.)and John Smet
s(Rep.).
Myers: a \maverick moderate'
One of the aspirants in the
Republican gubenrnatorial
primary is Clay Myers. He is
presently secretary of state, a
position he has held for seven
years. Dapper, astute and per
petually flashing a campaign
smile, Myers is well acquainted
with the workings of state
government.
Discussing his quest for the top
spot in Salem, Myers promised he
would adhere closely to the
policies of Gov. Tom McCall. A
close friend of the governor's
since they worked together on
civil rights and reapportionment
back in the late 1940's, Myers said
his election would mean the
continuation of environmental
protection and other gains
registered by the McCall ad
ministration.
The secretary of state viewed the
energy crisis as an issue of
paramount importance. He
predicted no easing of fuel
shortages and feared the federal
government was being overly
optimistic about the gasoline
pinch. He stressed the need to
increase hydro-electric output.
"One way this could be ac
complished," he said "is to in
crease generative power on the
Columbia dam system." And
whereas he believes that nuclear
power is only a "short term
solution while we await the final
energy solution," he was not
averse to building nuclear power
plants "in isolated areas where
you can turn a sage brush desert
into a veritable Garden of Eden."
He cited a clean environment as
a fundamental aspect of the
Oregon lifestyle. At the same time
he pointed out the need to attract
new industry to provide jobs for
the state's residents. "In order to
maintain the fine standard of
living in Oregon, we must achive
the proper balance between
environmental protection and
economic development," he said.
Clay Myers can be described as
a "maverick moderate.” He
frequently alluded to his bi
partisan voting record. He has the
distinction of being the first
Republican secretary of state to
be endorsed by the AFL-CIO. He
also declared he has received
contributions from both labor and
business interests, though he
flatty stated he has never ac
cepted a donation of more than
one thousand dollars. So far this
year ms average campaign gift
has been $40 and he has disclosed
all his financial records for public
scrutiny.
Myers termed this independent
behavior and disassociation from
the political norms “Oregon
Republicanism." He called it
"progressive, forward look
ing, problem solving and
instrumental in promoting the
most innovative legislation in the
country." Part of being an Oregon
Republican is keeping a lengthy
Oregon's statewide reforms.
Clay Myers finds himself in the
dubious position of being im
plicated in somewhat of a
scandal. The controversy stems
from his dismissal of Jack
Thompson, his elections
assistant, for accepting voters'
pamphlet information after the
deadline, and then back-dating
late material. In response,
Thompson has accused Myers of
the same type of behavior. Myers
emphatically denied any
Clay Myers
distance trom wasnington, u.u.
And because of this disjunction
Myers feels Watergate will have
little effect on elections in Oregon.
Despite his effort to project a
liberal, open-handed image,
Myers spouted a good share of
the old Free Enterprise
Republican party dogma. He
expressed skepticism of federal
programs and suggested that
other states might emulate
wrongdoing and stated that this
case is "totally different" from
any of the allegations Thompson
is flinging back at him. Myers
conceded that the Thompson
affair has hurt him. He says,
however, he had no real choice. "I
couldn't worry about the political
considerations," he said. "You
can only do what you think is
right."
( Continued on Page 19)
COURTRIGHT SAYS..
■ #
Darwin Courtnght
• That government should serve the people not control them.
• That elected officials should listen to the people they represent
and oct accordingly.
• That the people that own the land must hove more choice in
how that land will be used.
• That necessary service can be provided without an increase in
taxes.
• That Industry and Government can work hand in hand to solve
the unemployment problems in Lane County.
• That I am the most Qualified Candidate for Commissioner with
nearly 10 years of proven ability.
• That the people of Lone County are ready for a return to real
istic county government of, by, and for the people.
□ VOTE COURTRIGHT
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER
COURTRIGHT
FOR COUNTY
COMMISSIONER