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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1978)
opinion_ ours. Race not a close choice Return Weaver for third term in Congress Sizeable, out-of-state political aid and a misleading often erroneous media campaign by the opponent of Rep. Jim Weaver have made the Fourth Congressional District race too close to call in the eyes of some observers. But not for us. Weaver, a two-term incumbent, remains far the better candidate, despite his opponent’s efforts to portray him as a free-spending extremist out of touch with his constituents’ needs. During his four years in Congress, Weaver has estab lished a record of limiting federal expenditures and balanc ing the often conflicting viewpoints that exist in his district. His effective support for rational timber-management policies that ensure rather than threaten the long-term prosperity of an industry vital to Oregon’s economy has not meant a decreased concern for environmental needs. The inclusion of such gems as French Pete Creek in expanded wilderness areas has come largely through Weaver s ef forts. Weaver also has indicated a belief in the need for diversity in energy sources end argued on behalf of con sumer interests in the future of the Northwest's electrical America has a competitive society. That competi tiveness reflects itself in the election process, battle analogies abound in stories about campaigns. It’s an image that fits well with most people’s impression of politics and an image that becomes negative when the conflicts get dirty. Consider House District 39 where Republican Gary Wright is challenging Democratic incumbent Grattan Kerans. The race is a repeat of two years ago, but this time Wright is better financed. Unfortunately, he hasn’t al ways used that money fairly. Wright’s latest campaign flyer is, to quote Kerans, “innuendo, distortion and out right smears.” Charges like Wright’s have no place in a fair elec tion and tactics like his prompt dismissal of politics as a game played only by dishonest, unscrupulous people. His list of complaints takes Keran’s statements out of context, recalls quotes more than 10 years old and creates impressions that are simply untrue. Wright should apologize to voters in District 39, Kerans and all Oregonians. The flyer was bush league and the punch it threw, aimed real low. In District 43, the race hasn’t been dirty, just surpris yours ing. The Republican candidate, Larry Campbell, has raised almost 30,000 bucks by Oct. 8. Why anyone would spend that much seeking a job where a two-year term pays less than half that isn’t dear, but that price tag, puts service in the Legislature beyond my means. As the cost of elections goes up, rich folks get more control over who represents us. One effort to reduce that advantage is the dollar check-off. Approved by the 1977 Legislature (even though voters rejected public financing in 1976), the plan allows taxpayers to earmark one dollar of their taxes for either the Republican or Democratic party. As of late Sep tember, the check-off had generated about $80,000 for the Republicans and a little over twice that for the Democrats. But legislation creating the plan expires in 1981 unless the Legislature renews it. There will be attempts to do that during the next session, however, the plan is opposed by Portland Democrat Blaine Whipple, chairer of a Senate committee that will deal with such efforts. The Democratic party tried to assure Whipple’s support of the plan by tying a $221 contribution from check-off funds to Whipple’s support of the extension. A dumb move to try and blackmail someone with $221. power system. His opponent Jerry Lausmann, on the other hand, has adopted a narrow, conservative position on most issues, including support of the death penalty and opposition to governmental aid to low-income women for abortions. But perhaps his most glaring failure on current issues is an ill-advised support for Ballot Measure 6, a heavy-handed effort at preferential tax relief. The race may be close but the differences are large. We urge your vote for Jim Weaver. Hatfield remains senatorial choice As the last payment of our political debt for his opposition to the Vietnam War, we suggest voters return Mark Hatfield to the U.S. Senate. While the Republican Senator is more conserva tive than desirable, especially in the area of social services, he has progressive attitudes abou t develop ing alternative energy resources such as solar power. As the ranking minority member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, we believe Hat field can help move the nation toward developing domestic, renewable energy resources. Hatfield raises few other issues in his candidacy for re-election. In fact, voters may be surprised to see Hatfield’s name popping up on the ballot next week. After 30 years of holding Oregon elective offices as U.S. Senator, governor and in various state legis lative positions, Hatfield can rely on his 95-percent name recognition among voters to carry him through an election. His opponent relies on noise-making. In a recent editorial interview with the Emerald, State Sen. Vem Cook, D-Portland, let loose with a flamboyant, insensitive style he hopes will break a “conspiracy of silence" that is disrupting his campa ing. Among Ns less astute comments: “...Predictions that our petroleum reserves are running low are a mammoth hoax. We have enough gas and oil to last a thousand and one years. “...We should eliminate all special fishing and hunting rights for Indians.'’ Considering the tenor and content of Sen. Cook’s responses we don’t find silence or Mark Hat field that poor an alternative. greg wasson tabled indefinitely Fadeley discusses efforts Nonchalant about re-election I am not, despite a re cent report here. But trying to buy votes with media is not my choice of how to proceed, instead I am spending my energies trying to do the job well. Some examples of that may be in order. On October 12 a subcommittee of the Emergency Board coted to dump a project to improve the facilities of the School of Education on this campus. By working all afternoon and past 10 p.m. that night I was abie, with valuable help from others concerned, to turn that around. On October 3 the full membership of the Emergency board overruled the subcommittee by a vote of 9 to 3. On October 19 Eugene and Springfield taxpayers heard the good news that their real property tax rates are going down by more than three dollars and seventeen cents. Both rates are decreasing more than 10 percent compared with last year and despite inflation. A major reason for the decrease is a substantial in crease in state appropriations for basic school support to public schools, which I handled directly. During my tenure on the Ways and Means Committee we have increased renter and homeowner tax relief to low income persons sevenfold. In fact, renters were not in cluded in this program until after I joined this committee. My opponent criticizes me as a spender. I think these things should have been done. How about you? Edward Fadeley 260 Sunset Drive Page 4 Keep Bylund in office I am writing to urge aR who care about keeping Oregon and Lane County liveable to vote for Ken Byfund for tax assessor. One of the things that makes this area attractive and unique is its tradition of electing outspoken, honest, independent men and women to political office. Let’s keep that tradition alive and retain Ken Bylund, who will represent everyone in Lane County and not just real estate interests and land speculators. By doing away with tax loopholes and favors tor corpo rations and wealthy indh/iduals Ken Byfund has made our tax • system fairer. He wants to do even more. But his opponent would replace our e/ecfedservant of the people with an appointed tool of special interests. An appointed tax as sessor would not have to answer to the public, but only to those who appointed him or her. Keep Lane County liveable. Keep special interests out of the tax assessor’s office. RE-ELECT KEN BYLUND. David Lerman graduate, sociology Election apathy decried Another ASUO elections campaign has begun and who knows about it? There should be no surprise that five SUAB positions remain open — the surprise is that 23 people knew about the elections and filed. Of these, 21 remain unknown as no candidates list has been published or posted. For the five school days that filing was open, only two ads were placed in the Emerald. One was a classified ad; the other ad ran the last day of filing. Two short articles were printed concerning the election. There were no posters posted on campus that I know of. Dubar's comment, "People don’t know about it” (refer ring to SUAB, Oct. 17) brings up some questions: If people don’t know about SUAB or the ASUO elec tions, why not and whose fault is it? Barbara Selby senior, general science letters policy The Emerald will accept and try to print all letters and opinion columns containing fair comment on ideas and topics of concern or interest to the Univer sity community. Letters and opinions will be run on a first-come, first-served basis Both letters and opin ion columns must be typewritten, using 65 character margins, and should be triple-spaced. Letters and opinions must be signed and the author's field of study (or faculty status) noted. Tuesday, October 31, 1978
