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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1984)
The race for attorney general Frohnmayer, Cook clash on role of office By Thomas Henderson Of the Emerald For a campaign grabbing few headlines, the race for attorney general is sparking plenty of heat — at least between Democrat Vern Cook and in cumbent Republican Dave Frohnmayer. Cook, a former state senator, is building his campaign around a brass knuckles attack on Frohnmayer’s record, charg ing that the attorney general has been derelict in his official duties. Frohnmayer, dismissing Cook’s charges as ridiculous election year rhetoric, is stick ing by a record he says is its own defense. .The candidates clash on prac tically every front, but nowhere more sharply than on the issue of ballot measures and the at torney general’s role in their preparation. The fair and understandable wording of ballot measures is one of the attorney general’s most important functions, Cook said. Yet, 28 ballot titles prepared by Frohnmayer’s of fice were challenged in the Oregon Supreme Court and 23 of them were judged unfair, misleading and insufficient, he said. “That’s the worst record an (Oregon) attorney general has ever had in regard to ballot titles,” Cook said. Calling challenges to ballot titles the oldest political game in the book, Frohnmayer said anyone who believes reviewing ballot titles is the major respon sibility of the attorney general should introduce legislation to abolish the office. Besides, he added, most peo ple know how they will vote on measures before going to the polls. “1 trust the voters more than my opponent,” he said. Cook rejects such arguments. "When I hear him say things like that it just makes my blood curdle.” he said, charging that Frohnmayer is merely ra tionalizing a disrespect for the initiative process. Elected to the state House of Representatives in 1956. Cook has logged 24 years in the Legislature. He was elected to the state Senate in 1960 where he served until he was unseated by fellow' Democrat Ruth McFarland in the 1980 primary. Dave Frohnmayer A 1952 graduate of the University’s law school. Cook was the youngest legislator in Oregon history when he entered state politics. During his legislative career, he served on the House Local Government Committee and was chair of the Senate Judiciary, Revenue, Natural Resources, and Military Affairs committees. Frohnmayer did his undergraduate work at Harvard University and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford before receiv ing his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967. He taught law at the Universi ty law school from 1971 to 1981 and served as special counsel to the University’s president from 1971 to 1979. He served three terms in the state House of Representatives before being elected attorney general in 1980. • The attorney general’s office represents Oregon in all legal proceedings in which the state is involved or has an interest. The office also provides legal counsel to all state departments, boards and commissions. • • It also provides written legal opinions when requested by the governor, state agencies or the Legislature. However, the at torney general is prohibited by law from rendering opinions to anyone else. This last duty, along with the attorney general's responsibili ty for ballot titles, is a major sore point between Cook and Frohnmayer. Cook says the attorney general should be the lawyer of the people, issuing formal opi nions and taking court action in the event of official illegality. This, he said, is the attorney general’s right and duty under common law. Frohnmayer, on the other hand, said the letter of the w'rit ten law prohibits the attorney general from issuing opinions unless asked. The role of the at torney general, he argues, is defined by statutory, not com mon, law. Vern Cook Citing several questionable official acts (including the state’s handling of Kajneeshee voter registration in Wasco County) he said went un challenged by Frohnmayer, Cook added that the incum bent's attitude "is the same as a sheriff watching a bank robbery in progress and doing nothing but watch the robbers haul off the loot because the bank presi dent did not ask him to do his duty." Frohnmayer said he rejects Cook’s charge that as attorney general he has served the bureaucracy instead of the people. He said he represented Orego nians by challenging an Internal Revenue Service ruling that would have denied federal tax credits for energy conservation to Oregon veterans. He added that he has also fought the oil companies when they threaten ed to overcharge Oregonians. In addition. Frohnmayer said he has vigorously enforced the law, seeking to modify insanity as a criminal defense. He says he has cracked down on illegal drugs, untaxed gambling and large-scale hijacking. Frohnmayer said he supports Ballot Measure 8. the "victims' rights” initiative that would revise at least 19 criminal laws concerning police powers, trials, evidence and sentencing, but he opposes Ballot Measures 6 and 7. which whould reinstate the death penalty. Calling Frohnmayer a "hang ’em high attorney general,” Cook said his opponent's sup port of Measure 8 exemplifies his "prosecutor's frame of mind.” "(Frohnmayer) doesn't have any respect for the Oregon Con stitution," he said. WE NEED A CHANGE! ...Eugene is the FOURTH fastest shrinking city in the nation! Abandoned homes and empty stores testify to the county’s anti business, no-growth image. We can send a signal that we are determined to change this image by electing TONIE NATHAN. ...TONIE’s opponent is a leader of the no growth movement. In 1977 he PERSONAL LY sued to stop a high-tech, clean industry from locating in Eugene. We lost 1000 potential jobs and the story of the suit was spread nationwide. In July of this year, speaking during a commissioners' meeting, he reaffirmed his no-growth, anti business views. ...TONIE’s opponent received a 51% negative (or poor) rating from residents who participated in a comprehensive in dependent study conducted by the polling firm of Bardsley & Haslacher, Inc. (R-G, 5/25/84). It’s time for a change. TONIE NATHAN IS A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER TONIE NATHAN is intellectually inquir ing, suspicious of power, independent of mind, and willing to work for her ideals. It is no wonder that she is perceived by peo ple of all backgrounds as an inspiring and persuasive leader. As the first woman on the Board of Com missioners in years, she will bring a wide range of new perceptions, sensitivity, and fresh ideas to county government. Work ing in harmony with the other commis sioners, TONIE can provide the vigor and enthusiasm needed to pull the county out of its present doldrums. As county commissioner, TONIE NATHAN will be a change for the better. VOTE FOR A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER R 1 TONIE NATHAN Efficient - Creative - Dedicated for County Commissioner s V (A nonpartisan office) Paid for by the Comm, to Elect Tonie Nathan Bere Lindley, Treat., P.O. Box 10152, Eugene, Or., 97440 TONIE NATHAN ON THE ISSUES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION We need non-polluting industries that will provide a new source of jobs and stable economic base and we need to encourage expansion of existing local businesses. We need to work cooperatively with the University of Oregon, our number one employer, and the timber industry, the foundation of our economy, to help them through rough times. COUNTY SERVICE... We must end excessive waiting for permits, information and licenses. We must reschedule county hours to better service the public. ADMINISTRATION... We must have a strong professional ad ministrator who can provide the consistent managerial direction necessary for stable government. COST CUTTING... We should support a charter amendment to reduce the Board of County Commis sioners to three persons elected-at-large. I?save t^le county approximately $100,000 and eliminate political in fighting. We should review all county services an nually. Any agencies not needed should be eliminated. We should consolidate services wherever possible. SOCIAL SERVICES... We must provide alternatives to jail over crowding. We must communicate more ef fectively with the needy and be more flexi ble with our help. environment... We do not have to sacrifice our good living environment to obtain a good working en vironment. We can and will maintain our high quality of life.