Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2000)
Higher turnout comes by mail ■The exclusively-by-mail election sees the largest voter response in eight years By Darren Freeman Oregon Daily Emerald The secretary of state’s office es timated late Tuesday night that about 47 percent of Oregon regis tered voters cast their ballots in this year’s primary election, which was Oregon’s first state and presidential primary election to be exclusively vote-by-mail. That figure is up from the paltry 37 percent turnout in this Novem ber’s special election and the highest turnout since the 1992 primary, in which 49.1 percent of registered voters weighed in. Annette Newingham, Lane County chief elections officer, said the turnout was encouraging for a primary election. “We don’t get 70-80 percent turnout in primary elections,” she said. Elections experts say voter turnout always varies depending upon voters’ emotional attach ments to candidates and issues on the ballot, but they also notice a decline in voting due to dimin ished confidence in government and elected officials. College-aged voters have signif icantly retreated from the polls — only about 8 percent of registered Oregon voters aged 19-25 voted in the May 1998 biennial primary election. “I’ve heard from students that they don’t feel they are represent ed and that they don’t have a lot of respect for our elected offi cials,” ASUO State Affairs Coor dinator Arlie Adkins said. The ASUO and several other state and local organizations have been striving to boost voter regis tration and participation on cam pus and throughout Oregon, and such efforts have been successful this year, according to the secre tary of state’s office. Adkins said the ASUO’s cam paign was “a little more low-key” than expected because many can didates didn’t face significant op position and most issues on the ballot wouldn’t have lent them selves well to debates on campus. Nonetheless, the ASUO regis tered roughly 400 students in the past few months. The bulk of the registrations occurred May 1 when the ASUO invited a hand ful of Oregon politicians — in cluding U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, and state Rep. Vic ki Walker, D-Eugene — to help flag down students near the EMU Amphitheater and compel them to register. Adkins said the ASUO will ac celerate its registration campaign in the months leading into the No vember general election. Statewide, organizations such as Student Vote 2000 and the sec retary of state’s office contributed to the relatively high turnout by encouraging students and their parents to cast their ballots, said Amy Cody, aid to the secretary of state. The so called “double majority” rule, passed by voters in 1996 and 1997 to require at least a 50 per cent voter turnout to pass certain property tax measures, also con tributed to increased turnout as vested interests, such as school districts, have compelled Orego nians to vote, Cody said. Though critics of vote-by-mail, such as state Rep. Tony Corcoran, D-Cottage Grove, say a hybrid of vote-by-mail and polling places would increase turnout, elections officials say polling in Lane Coun ty would cost at least $175,000 to staff and do little to boost turnout. Results continued from page 1 Retired English teacher and in cumbent of the City Council seat for Ward 2 Betty Taylor led her race with 58.3 percent of the vote. “I had a good record and I had a good campaign,” Taylor said. “I will [continue to] work for the rights of ordinary people for the environment.” Bobby Green Sr., a current Lane County commissioner, led the race for county commissioner for North Lane County Position 4 over Kitty Piercy with 55.2 per cent of the vote, and Lane County District Attorney Doug Har cleroad had 67.7 percent of the vote to seemingly keep his posi tion. Sharon Branstiter secured the Democratic nomination for state representative of District 4, while Alan Brown, who ran unopposed within his party, is now the Re publican candidate. Democrat Vicki Walker also ran unopposed and was able to secure the spot of state representative of the 41st district. Apparently emerging victori ous from the various races were the two Eugene ballot measures aimed at schools, 20-33 and 20 28. Measure 20-33, with 60.1 per cent of the votes in favor, allows for the building of two new schools in the Bethel School dis trict while expanding two others to accommodate continuing en rollment growth. Measure 20-28, with 61.4 per cent of voters supporting it, im poses a local serial option tax levy to maintain the current level of funding in the 4J school district. Voter turnout as of 7:30 p.m. Tues day was 53.5 percent, ensuring the successful results would count. Falling short was Eugene Ballot Measures 20-31, which would have authorized the construction of new facilities for both the po lice and fire departments. Torrey said that he was disap pointed that Eugene’s Ballot Mea sure 20-31 to fund the construc tion of new police and fire department facilities failed. "If I was a voter, I would have voted for both [the school meas ures and Measure 20-31] because I believe in teaching kids to read before the third grade,” Torrey said. Passing with 51.6 percent of the vote, Eugene Ballot Measure 20 30 will allow the Eugene Water and Electric Board to expand into telecommunications activities. o Local positions Local measures M Mayor JimTorrey (71.2%) Mayor of Eugene since 1996, Torrey attended the Universi ty and worked irvreal estate and media services. He has outspokenly advocated pro viding more recreational serv ices for children, improving Bonny Bettman (57.3%) Bonny Bettman attended the University and holds a nurs ing degree from Lane Com munity College. A veteran community activist, Bettman hopes to protect environ men tal concerns, create a city center downtown and strengthen a sense of community in neighborhoods. City Council Ward 2 Betty Taylor (58.3%) BettyTayfor, a University graduate, has served on the Eugene City Council since 1997 and has been a stalwart supporter of environmental concerns. She also advocates revitalizing downtown, creat ing a downtown youth center and reducing the city’s dependence on property tax es. Lane County Board of Commisioners Bobby Green Sr. (55.2%) Bobby Green Sr., a University graduate, has served on the Lane County Board of Com missioners since 1995and has served on the Eugene City Cou ncil. He su pports add ress mg tramc problems proactively, encouraging eco nomic growth without sacrificing Eugene's green lands and creating social service programs for trou bled youths to help prevent crime. District Attorney Doug Harcleroad (67.7%) Doug Harcleroad, the current District Attorney for Lane County, graduated from the University of Iowa and the University of Oregon Law School. He has worked exten Isiveiy on services tor victims, including creation of the Child Advocacy Center, development of the Vic tim Services program and assistance in founding the Domestic Violence Council. Measure 20-28 Passing (61.4% yes) Measure would authorize a local option serial tax levy that wouldbe used to maintain current levels of funding in the 4j school district. Measure 20-29 Failing (50.4% no) Amends the Eugene City Charter to allow city coun cilors to be paid $1t00Q a month and mayors $1,500. The elected officials would also gain access to the city’s retirement and insurance plans. Measure 20-30 Passing (51.6% yes) Amends the Eugene Water and Electric Board’s char ter to allow the public utility to consider becoming a telecommunications provider. Measure 20-31 Failing (53.4% no) Would authorize a $36.6 million tax levy to build new downtown police and fire stationsand replace the current facility, which has been deemed seismically unsafe. Measure 20-33 Passing (6o.i%yes) Would authorize a $27.5 million bond measure to build two new schools in the Bethel school district and expand current school buildings. ** I guess everyone's still partying and they forgot to vote. Lazar Makyadath former candidate for mayor
