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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1982)
The Democrats’ race for the roses Don Clark He’s not an anchorman for KEZI, but his name's Don Clark As a candidate for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, the only thing he's interested in reporting is his agenda for Oregon That includes a mix of government make-work projects, a four-year commission to examine higher education, and a cautious approach to the Washington Public Power Supply System He’s the chief executive of Multnomah County, and he’s been campaigning since last fall. His experience in government has been non-partisan up to now. He has been Chairman of the Multnomah County Commission since 1974, he was elected Multnomah County Commissioner 1968 and 1972 and was Multnomah County sheriff in 1962 “I have more executive experience than anyone — including the governor,” he says, puffing a pipe He wears a pin-striped suit and polka-dot tie, but his round face, balding head and angular build sparks the image of an adult Charlie Brown eager to win a political ballgame Clark politely dismisses his two key opponents — State Sen Ted Kulongoski and Lane County Commissioner Jerry Rust — and goes to bat with “executive experience" and his agenda for the governor’s office Kulongoski told Clark at least three times that he would not run for governor, but “he changed his mind, I guess,” Clark says. “I don't shop for public office.” Rust has contributed a good deal to the campaign on energy issues, Clark says, but Rust’s plans for Oregon to manufacture solar panels and other renewable energy products is unrealistic. "We don’t have the raw materials to support a Pittsburgh of the West,” Clark says “But he dreams good dreams .” The chief executive of the state’s most populous county delights to mention his achievements He reorganized the Sheriff's office in 1963 He backed the state Court Reform Act which took six years to pass He implemented the state’s largest 911 emergency telephone system. He founded "Friends of the Columbia River Gorge" and he manages 2,500 county employees in his current position. His proposed make-work programs are the Oregon Employment Corps and the Young Adult Employment Corps More than 20,000 Oregonians would have temporary work through these programs, Clark says Workers would build sewers, roads and water supply systems for the long-range goal of creating jobs “We can’t have growth unless there’s zoned land and sewers," he says Although there are more than 120,000 Oregonians out of work, the two programs would “lift some hopes,” Clark says, adding they are short-term programs and would be phased out when the economy improves. "If they sound like depression-era programs, you’re right,” he says Oregon’s educational system in its current form makes less sense, Clark says. He would create a four-year commission to analyze the “total pot" of state education funds and to recommend changes For example, more time and money could be directed to pre-kindergarten and post-doctoral programs, he says The commission would "challenge everything — ! every bloomin' sacred cow What would happen it teachers were rewarded with premium pay instead of tenure, if buildings were de-emphasized, if textbooks were rented, if community experience was required for instructors, and if teachers were held more accountable for their students? Clark says he'd like to know Current policy is "to protect tenured faculty," but the education of students is far more important than the continuation of a "club" of tenured faculty, Clark says The commission would have tour years and five percent of the state's education budget to experiment with, he says “Higher education is extremely important for Oregon’s economic recovery,” adds Clark, former associate director of criminal justice at Portland State University Because of higher education's economic value, he says, four years are needed to think through all the issues "Education is so important, we can’t do anything rash ” At least as important — if not more so — is to avoid a rash reaction to the "unmitigated disaster” of WPPSS, he says If utilities default on the WPPSS bonds (seven percent of the U S bond market) the public bond market could collapse, Clark says A bond market crash could create a domino effect, he says "We are very close to the brink of a full-blown economic collapse We need to proceed with great caution as we sort this thing out " If utilities default, "I don't think Oregon and Washington would get investment funds for at least 25 ! years,” he adds Conservation, geothermal and solar energy must be promoted to ensure an adequate supply of power without relying on nuclear plants, Clark says Multnomah County built an underground shop which features the largest government application of solar technology in the nation, i he says Government must “show by example,” Clark adds Other items on his agenda include a job development corporation to help small businesses get capital, a state housing corporation to provide for $25 million worth of new housing starts through low-interest loans, and a state health care program based on Project Health, a Multnomah County program which uses a variety of private health plans so government costs may be controlled _ _ By Ron Hunt Ted Kulongoski Four days before the primary election, Ted Kulongoski strolls into the Emerald office for an interview He's eating an ice cream cone from the EMU Baskins-Robbins. "It’s my lunch," he explains Despite weeks of a breakneck shake-hands-make-speeches-pat-backs political schedule, Kulongoski is still energetic Primary elections just aren't fun," he says. "It's hard campaigning against people you like " Although the race tor the Democratic nomination for governor is one of the most watched in an otherwise low-key primary, the political tug-of-war between Kulongoski, Multnomah County Executive Don Clark and Lane County Commissioner Jerry Rust has been polite Each of the three has limited himself from outright attack on the other and has agreed to support whomever is chosen to face the most likely Republican candidate, Gov Vic Atiyeh, in November But all three are quick to point out — nicely, of course — their differences Kulongoski centers his why-l-am-different spiel on Clark, dismissing Rust with a tew sentences, saying he and Rust have similar views but different lifestyles Clark's administrative experience has been pitted against Kulongoski's legislative record and his charisma But the Junction City senator says the ability to reconcile political enemies is more important than Clark's "puffery " Kulongoski says Clark - and his New Deal views on government work programs — is 40 years too late It s just not socially sound You can't do it It's a different culture than it was 40 years ago " A former marine and a Junction City labor lawyer, Kulongoski was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1975 He was appointed to till a vacancy in the Senate in 1977, then was elected to the four-year seat in 1978 He almost upset U S Rep Packwood, R-Ore.. in 1980 when he nabbed an unexpected 44 percent of the vote Kulongoski's slightly untidy hair brushes the collar of his white monogrammed Oxford button-down shirt The sleeves are carefully folded halfway up his forearm Quick smiles and "ain'ts" sprinkle his interview He criticizes Atiyeh for his emphasis on recruiting large out-of-state businesses, saying the large corporations Atiyeh is trying to wine and dine are being sought after by every state in the nation "It's a facade and more puffery than anything " The best way to get new business into the state is to woo small high tech firms, Kulongoski says "I know it's not classy to say this firm will hire 25 to 40 people instead of 500, but that's reality " The governor has to be "someone with a vision," who plans for long-term results but without ignoring short-term effects, Kulongoski says For instance, some people have advocated letting chemical companies locate in Oregon and, after they're settled, pass environmental laws to clean them up "That sounds like what the nuclear industry told us ' Kulongoski's emphasis will be on recruiting small out-of-state firms and helping those already in the state He says he will reshuffle the $4 million budget of the Oregon Economic Development Department and implement regional programs to aid small and medium-sized businesses In addition, he says he will create an Institute of Small Business within the higher education system to act as a clearinghouse and an independent source for data on issues like worker's compensation Quality education will help attract new businesses. Kulongoski says “The State System of Higher Education is the key element in the state's long-term economic recovery " It's going to take a "one-time major appropriation" to boost higher education — and especially faculty salaries - back to the level at which it should be "The state has to do that," he says, adding that the money should come from cutting property tax relief and from revising state income tax tables to reap some of the windfall from federal tax cuts But, he warns, higher education officials are going to have to lobby more effectively and be willing to eliminate duplication within the system Kulongoski says the Legislature should revise the current higher education funding system that relies on student hours and ignores program quality "What you basically fund is a mediocre higher education system.” The Washington Public Power Supply System should mothball two of its three nuclear power plants still being built, Kulongoski says "WPPSS ought to use the money it has to complete plant two and at least prove to us they can finish one plant " Kulongoski admits that businessmen are suspicious of his political aspirations But he says he has always treated businessmen fairly, even when he has disagreed with them “In time, people will come around,” he says, adding that businessmen are beginning to realize Atiyeh is a do-nothing governor who can't revitalize the economy Kulongoski estimates he will have to raise $400,000 to $500,000 to beat Atiyeh in the fall. "We re doing very well right now,” he says adding that the Democratic National Committee is keeping a close eye on the Oregon governor race, hoping for a Democratic victory "It isn't me They're looking at the state and how it looks in the national picture They’d like nothing better than to say on November 3, The tide is turning.' " At 3 p m an aide pokes his head into the office "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have to be in Salem by four As Kulongoski leaves the room, his aide points out a sign hanging on the window of the editor's office: "Discussion of the fate of the world in progress Please do not disturb." Kulongoski laughs "Don't I wish Don't I wish " By Sally Hodgklnson Jerry Rust Forget the polls — Jerry Rust says he 'feels” he will win the Democratic nomination for governor. He feels the same way he did when he was about to win his Lane County Commissioner’s seat in 1976 and 1980, Rust says "I'm not just hopeful. I’ve got the feeling ” But Rust agrees it’s going to take more than just a feeling to beat opponents State Sen Ted Kulongoski and Multnomah County Chief Executive Don Clark “The indications that we get right now in Portland are about 30 percent for Kulongoski, 28 percent for Clark, and I'm 15 percent," he says "That’s from two weeks ago, and on the rise from zero percent in January.” One of the biggest obstacles between himself and the nomination is Kulongoski’s avoidance of open political debate, Rust says. “Ted has been an armchair candidate,” he says. "He has removed himself from the fray It’s a strategic move on the part of the front-runner to ignore the opposition " Another problem Rust may be forced to deal with has to do with a few "black marks” on his past. Rust was hospitalized for marijuana use in 1967 at the end of his Peace Corps tour in India. He was arrested in 1970 and charged with marijuana possession. And in 1977 he was cited for driving with an expired license and having an open bottle of beer in his car. “I think some voters will respond to this, but I think most people are fair,” he says. “I don’t think anyone can say that they don’t have any black marks on their past. "My only comment is that whatever penalty I had, I paid. Life goes on, and the real issues that affect this campaign are vastly more important than something that happened years ago.” Rust is taking a tough stand on environmental and alternative energy issues when other candidates aren t, he says "I’m the only one addressing the timber industry, and I'm the only candidate who wants to stop the WPPSS (Washington Public Power Supply System) fiasco,” he says. "Even Kulongoski. who has had a fairly progressive stature with respect to nuclear energy, is tied into the Number Two plant.” Oregon shouldn’t be tied into any of the WPPSS nuclear plants. Rust says. “It's too late to save us a whole bunch of headaches and heartaches and bad debts,” Rust says. "But it's not too late to cut our losses. The point is to terminate, and I’m the only candidate that has developed a plan to do it.” Instead of developing nuclear power, Oregon should spend the money on renewable forms of energy, he says. The same amount of power would be generated for about half the cost by developing hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass (producing fuel from plants) and solar power, Rust says. "It's real obvious to me that we're either to get into the renewable age or we re not going to get into any age,” Rust says. Hydroelectric power has a bright future, Rust says. For instance, Oregon could generate one-third of the power Trojan produces simply by fitting turbines on existing flood control dams, he says. "I feel that by develojsing alternative energy, we could create vast new industries within the state. We could manufacture things like photoelectric cells and solar hot water heaters." “There is no technological problem with solar energy.” he adds. “They have been worked out. But there is a political problem. Someone has decided that we need nuclear energy to survive.” i Oregon could sell surplus energy to other states, , Rust says, adding that Oregon should establish a state agency separate from the Bonneville Power Administration. “Article 11-D (of the Oregon Constitution) shows that people have given themselves the authority to bring in these renewable products,” he says. “My idea is to create a pool of energy separate from the BPA. We could put Oregon in the power business and get people back to work at the same time." Getting Oregonians back to work would also benefit higher education, Rust says. “I will exceed your expectations with respect to my committment to higher education,” Rust says.“And I think the way I’ll do it is through my economic recovery program. My target is to get 150,000 people back to work." Rust emphasizes small business support as the road to economic recovery. He says he favors a constitutional amendment to create a state bank which would make loans to small businesses at a lower interest rates than commercial banks. It’s not going to be easy to win on the state bank issue,” Rust says. “It's going to take a Constitutional amendment.” To generate more revenue within Oregon, Rust says he favors a more progressive income tax. Instead of people with $20,000-$250,000 income paying 10 percent, he would gradually raise the tax to about 15 percent. “The tax curve hasn’t shifted since 1963,” he says. “I do know that $300 million could be produced, and it would still be a modest thing to ask from the wealthy." Oregon's state deficit was approximately $300 million this year. Rust chooses to fight as governor instead of Lane County Commissioner because the issues he deals with are statewide. "Whether it’s mental health, economic development, the timber industry, or the herbicide battles I’ve been involved in, these issues are bigger than Lane County,” he says. “I'm running because I felt these issues would not be raised had I not run. “I've got a program. I've got a message. And I care a whole bunch.” By Chris Courtnler ■ ^^g^^^^^Jntroducing New Burrito Supreme Refried Beans Sour Cream Chopped Olives All wrapped in a flour tortilla Cheddar Cheese Onions $1.50 Also Serving Homemade Cheese Enchiladas Kaleidescope A Child development center Emphasis in - emotional - social - physical - intellectual development ■tong with poattiv* aaN Image and proomtn •otviny State licensed Hours: 7:30 - 5:30 Age group: 2.5 - 5 Phone: Location: 468 N. 21st Springfield 746-2278 Home 741-1642 INFLATION FIGHTER DAILY LUNCHEON BUFFET FOR ONLY $3.45 all you can eat - includes our salad bar Monday - Friday, 11:30 -1:30 Deli Sandwiches available Restaurant Hours: 6:30 am -10 pm Poolside Dining Only At The Holiday Inn - V 225 Coburg Road. Cookie Man & Ice Cream Now open at 1744 Willamette ’til 9 p.m. every night We serve Prince Pucklers ice cream coupon Buy An Ice Cream Cone. Get A Cookie Free!!! Expires June 1, 1982 coupon Pagil
