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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1978)
Six bid for labor, school positions By LESLIE RATLEY Of the Emerald Every four years the governor’s race receives much attention in Oregon, but voters are also asked to decide on two other state-wide races — superintendent of public instruction and labor commissioner. Three people have currently filed to run for superin tendent of public instruction, which is a non-partisan of ' State Sen. Fred Heard of Klamath Falls and Ruth McFarland, a biological sciences instructor at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, are challeng ing incumbent Verne Duncan, Milwaukie, for the position that supervises educational decisions from kin dergarten to community colleges. According to reports all three candidates stressed the need for more emphasis on learning basic skills in the primary levels so people will be prepared for a vocation or higher education. Heard criticized the incumbent for not providing enough coordination between districts and letting the communities “drift." He cited the controversial minimum graduation re quirements for high schools, saying "The state mandate is in a shambles, there is no effort to find programs that are good and spread the ideas around to other schools.' In response Duncan felt "the state shouldn t be die tatorial. I think the districts should run their own show. We just hand down general rules, but we do make an effort to coordinate the programs, and I think the coordination is fantastic. Oregon is way ahead of other states. Duncan felt the charges leveled at him were just “political rhetoric." Duncan said neitner ot nis two up^nems wuu.u Hua, ify for a position as a principal — an experience he feels is vital for properly fulfilling the duties of the office. He em phasized that everyday he deals with situations where he draws on his experiences as a principal, as well as service in various other county positions. However, Heard feels uniquely qualified for the posi tion due to his “vast experience in all levels of committee work in the Legislature.” McFarland was not available for comment. In the race for labor commissioner, two Republicans and a Democrat have currently filed. Democrat W.R. Shuck and Republican Emery Hun toon were unavailable for comment, but Republican John Smets expressed great concern the State Accident In surance Fund (SAIF, workman’s compensation). He said the fund is not managed properly adding the attitude taken is one of "Well, the money’s there, so why not use it?” Smets emphasized the need to protect manufactur ers from “rip-offs” from SAIF. He said every time a claim is made the insurance rates increase, affecting business by either putting them out of business or driving their prices up — causing higher consumer costs. He also stressed the importance of developing summer jobs for city and farm children. He said “Kids ought to be allowed to work in the fields during the summer to keep them out of mischief.” Incumbent to seek District 39 re-election By TOM JACKSON ‘ , Of the Emerald State Rep. Grattan Kerans, D-Eugene, Tuesday announced he will seek re-election to the Oregon House District 39 seat, and he also announced a plan to ease Oregon taxpayer’s burden by about $75 million annually. Kerans, 37, revealed a plan to allow taxpayers to deduct up to $400 from their taxable income to n= combat the effects of inflation. Citing a legislative surplus in general fund money that was used during the 1977 legislative ses sion for increases in the state’s Homeowner-Renter Relief Pro gram and a new elderly weatheriza tion tax credit, Kerans said the surplus is obtained by the state taxing people for more money be cause of cost of living pay in creases. 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If you are a senior of high academic standing and are interested in a career as a Lawyer’s Assistant, we’d like to meet you. Contact your placement office for an interview with our representative. We will visit your campus on: Thursday, April 6 The Institute for Paralegal Training 235 South 17th Street. Philadelphia. Pennsylvania 19103 (215) 732-6600 Operated by Para-Legal, Inc available to Oregonians at all in come levels. “We’ve been getting tax re venue in this way for years,” Ke rans said, “and it’s nice to have. But it just isn't fair.” Kerens’ plan would make the tax deduction dependent on the Portland Consumer Price Index (CPI). According to Kerens, the proposal would add two lines to the state tax form allowing voters to subtract their total taxable in come by whatever is the increase in the Portland CPI. “Each of us in the labor force gets increases to keep up with in lation," Kerans said. “That in crease leaves you exactly even as ar as purchasing power is con cerned.” Because the state taxes the in crease in pay, the taxpayer can't <eep up with inflation Kerans, a two-term legislator, added. “It’s doubley bad when you’re not quite keeping up with inflation and still being taxed," he said. Kerans said a Republican plan to use the budget surpluses caused by inflation to fund school finance plans is “a rank piece of political chicanery and is the most transparent sham I’ve ever seen.” Kerans, the owner ot a tugene publishing company, said his proposal would force the legisla ture to “have a tighter budget.'' Citing his legislative record in property tax relief, school support, energy conservation, criminal jus tice, senior citizen legislation and government accountability, Ke rans said, “I believe an examina tion of my record and the ap proach I will be taking on the is sues recommend me for re election. Kerans is the only democrat who has yet filed for the office. ‘Public utility’ threatens PP&L By KATHLEEN MONJE Of the Emerald County residents started a campaign to replace Pacific Power and Light (PP&L) with a publicly owned utility company Tuesday. The Committee for an Emerald People’s Utility District (CEPUD) hopes to collect enough petition signatures to get a citizens’ initia tive on the November 1978 gen eral election ballot. They plan to circulate petitions in eight separate areas of the county now served by PP&L — Cottage Grove, Creswell, Veneta, Coburg, Junction City, Lowell and Dexter, and two rural areas. “We know we’ll have tremend ous opposition from PP&L," says Douglas Still, Cottage Grove CEPUD member. “We expect quite a fight from them, but we think we can win.” Still says a recent Supreme Court ruling that no industry or pri vate utility has preferential rights over a public utility to cheaper federal power encouraged the committee to make its petition drive. Richard Eymann, CEPUD co chairer says “Reallocation of the cheap federal hydropower is the top priority of the U.S. government 150 OFF PER POUND with this coupon Fresh roasted coffee, accessories, tea. Come in for a sample ON US 24th & Hilyard 344-0221 tor tne KaciTic Norinwesi. we should have the same priority, be cause if we are going to have pub lic power in Oregon, the time is now or never.” A CEPUD statement said the Oregon Department of Energy concluded that an Emerald public utility district was feasible after hearings held in 1976. The de partment also said power for such a district would be available from the federal hydroelectric system by 1983, if not before. “PP&L rates are already 50 percent higher than public utility rates, and they will continue to rise as more thermal power is used,” Still says. Petitions are available in the University Survival Center, which is supporting the effort. “Public utilities are definitely the way we have to go in this state,” says Janet Gillaspie, Survival Center director. “The large corporate com panies don’t have the best in terests of their customers at heart,” Gillaspie says. “Public utilities put decisions back in the people’s hands.” PSYCHIC Advises on business, love & personal direction. Jamil PO Box 10154 Eugene, Oregon 97401 Phone anytime. 342 2210 484 2441 V_ __J
