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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1980)
Horton wins another term According to one of his pre-election sta tements, Pat Horton will begin his final term next January as Lane County voters’ choice for district attorney. Horton, who won with a 56-percent vote total to challenger Doug Melevin's 32.5 percent, has held the office since 1973, and said he thinks 10 to 12 years in the position is a "good length of time” for one person to head the department. His immediate priority for the beginning of his next four-year term will be economic, he has said, tmeraia pnoto Pat Horton (at right) because the demands on county finances will make it necessary to find funding alternatives for law enforcement in order to provide adequate levels of service. Horton, who devoted most of his campaign funds to a late-effort advertising campaign after a basically low-key contest with Melevin, listed his district attorney office prosecution priorities as violent crime, narcotics, prostitution and gam bling. He pointed to his rape-case conviction rate, which he said is the highest in the state. The incumbent countered Melevin s claim that the district attorney’s budget has increased by 300 percent — mostly in investigative staff — since Horton took office by saying that he has the finest corps of prosecuting attorneys in any Oregon county. Voters apparently thought Horton has given them their money s worth, reinstating him by 45,556 votes to Melevin’s 26,296. Besides the Melevin promise of more service for less money, the main differences between the candidates focused on plea bargaining and rehabilitation for criminals. While Horton said rehabilitation programs, except for county work-release programs, don’t work because most of those convicted are habi tual offenders, Melevin wanted regional centers to take the overcrowding burden off the state penitentiary, and increased use of the drug diversion program to lessen inmate numbers at the county level. Melevin also wanted to use plea bargaining as a tool that would bring fewer cases to trial and help keep offenders out of jail. Horton said “plea bargaining is a tool that can be abused,” and advocated a tough stand on criminal charges. Incumbent Burks takes county sheriff’s contest Incumbent David Burks cruised to an easy victory over his three challengers in the Lane County Sheriff race, wfnning with 74 percent of the vote (53,173) votes. Opposing Burks but winning little support was Deputy Sheriff Ken Larsen, with 8,288 votes, former Idaho state policeman Welton with 9,225 and Jimmy Willingham with 1,757. Burks, a 20-year veteran of the force and sheriff since 1972, will begin his third term “reflecting the will of the people by carrying out the law.” Burks said he considers the sheriff’s position an administra tive job and the budget the biggest issue for his next term. "I don't know how much will be cut yet, but I will meet with the budget committee and try to come to a balanced cut so no service will be cut more than any other,” he said. The increasing demand for law-enforcement services and the spiraling costs of energy are the most severe budgetary pressures facing his administration, he said. These pressures have a tremendous impact on the ability to maintain a desirable level of professionalism, he said. He said the jail and the civil department are the most important facets of the sheriff's office, adding that he hopes these departments will suffer only minor cuts. “The rest of the departments will have to bear the burden of the remainder of the cuts.” Burks expressed concern about the reduction of patrols in the rural areas of Lane County. Though he has opposed two-per son patrols in the past, he said he is forced to re-evaluate his position because of rising fuel prices. In the two terms he has served as sheriff, Burks has established corrections and law enforcement policies. Oversee ing the budget and personnel matters are his most important duties, he said. “I expect my employees to treat people like they would like to be treated if the tables were turned.” Oregon voters OK most ballot measures Oregon voters want roads without potholes and buses without drinks, according to voting results of the two mosl controversial statewide ballot measures. While voters resoundingly approved limiting highway anC gasoline taxes to highway maintenance and construction by passing Ballot Measure No 1, they rejected the vehicle liquor-by-the-drink measure 2. The four other ballot measure results went about as political Keepsake Registered Diamond Rings Keepsake guarantees a truly perfect diamond of fine white color and correct cut. There is no liner diamond ring. Keepsake Corner Valley River Center 484-1303 OWy 10S«f !0 00-4 Sun 11 00-ft Only ‘no' goes to vehicle liquor plan observers expected. Oregonians voted in favor of Ballot Measure 1, a constitu tional amendment that would limit the uses of gasoline and highway user taxes to highway upkeep by almost a two-to-one margin. With 82.4 percent of the 2,519 statewide precincts reporting, the vote was 336,551 yes and 209,799 no. In the past, taxes collected through gasoline sales and vehicle registration have been used to support the policing of ! highways and the maintenance | of parks and historic sites, i The measure will make man V datory what Oregon legislators have already accomplished. The 1979 Legislature allocated no highway funds to state and county police or the parks and recreation division for the 1980-81 biennium. Ballot Measure No. 2 would have allowed all passenger vehicles to serve drinks without having to serve food. With the same statewide precinct number reporting as for mea sure 1, measure 2 apparently has seen its demise. The voting was close, but the measure was going down with a vote of 245,076 yes and 291,813 no. Meet the Author! Steve Chappie, author of Rock ‘n ’ Roll is Here to Pay will be signing copies of his new novel of country lust and urban decay, DON’T MIND DYING, this Thursday, May 22, from 12 to 2 p.m. upstairs in General Books. BOOKSTORE You’re invited! 13th & Kincaid 686-4331 Open: Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 Ballot measure 2 would have allowed all passenger vehicles the privilege of serving drinks without serving food. Small-scale renewable re source projects were given a boost with the passage of Ballot Measure No. 3 by a vote of 317,886 yes and 227,553 no. The state energy department can issue bonds for solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and water resources, and cogeneration projects for up to one-half per cent of the value of the taxable property in Oregon. Small bu sinesses, cooperatives, non profit and municipal corpora tions are eligible for the loans. Ballot Measure No. 4 was proposed to equalize veteran’s benefits, and it passed with a clear mandate from Oregonians with 452,997 yes votes and 115,743 no. This measure provides a standard set of eligibility requir ements for veterans who served in the military between Sept. 15, 1940 and Dec. 31,1976. Could you use an extra $100.00 a month this term? There are lots ot ways tor a student to earn extra money But most employers require regular hours And even it your class schedule happens to fit your employer's need, midterms and finals often don't It you re healthy and reliable, in two to lour hours a week, being paid on the spot, you can earn up to $100 00 cash a month! Easily on a flexible schedule to accommodate you Become a blood/plasma donor Once or twice a week, visit the nearby Hyland Donor Center Donating plasma is simple and safe In fact, the donation process, called plasmapheresis, removes from blood the only element n needs - the plasma Other whole blood elements, the red cells, are relumed to you Want to know more? Need that cash now? For appointment call S83-3B53 HYLAND PLASMA DONOR CENTER 1001 WILLAMETTE ST. TELEPHONE: 683-3953 -- Organize a Plasma Doner Program In your club or group and receive up to $90.00 e month for each member plus bonuses ’ Ballot Measure No. 5 will continue the state tax-reduction program adopted by the 1979 Legislature with the passage of HB 2540 and HB2186. Measure 5 won by a landslide with 505,283 yes votes statewide, and only 51,402 no votes. The measure will contin ue to limit property assessment increases to a statewide aver age of 5 percent. Taxpayers will continue to receive state sur plus in excess of 2 percent. Ballot Measure No.6 will bring about a technical change of ar ticle Xl-I of the Oregon Consti tution, providing a definition of multi-family housing for the low-income elderly. The article had no such definition when it was added to the constitution in 1978. Such housing now in cludes cooperatives, con dominiums, mobile home parks and other retirement facilities. The state is now able to issue bonds for financing the con struction of these structures if they are for the low-income el derly. The measure was passing with a vote of 425,140 yes to 111,768 no.
