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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2004)
An independent newspaper www.dailyemerald.com Thursday, July 8, 2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 106, Issue 6 Kerry chooses Edwards for ticket Democrats hope Edwards' Southern blue-collar background will appeal to voters RON FOURNIER AP POLITICAL WRITER WASHINGTON — John Kerry chose John Edwards for the Democratic ticket to put the South in play, ease President Bush's grip on rural America and counter his own stuffy, rich-guy image with blue collar voters. Nobody, not even the Demo crat's advisers, are certain it will work. But the Republicans in the White House are worried. John Kerry Presidential candidate John Edwards Vice Presidential candidate "Dick Cheney can be president," Presi dent Bush snapped Wednesday, suggesting that Edwards cannot. The Republican incumbent also vowed that he will win Edwards' home state and the rest of the South "because the peo ple understand that we share values," and Bush's allies at the Republican National Committee argued that the De mocratic ticket will falter because Edwards is a "disingenuous, unaccom plished liberal." While the GOP response reflected Bush's concern about the freshly minted Democratic team, it also underscored how Kerry's decision and strategy could back fire. By emphasizing the campaign skills and demographic pluses that Edwards brings to the ticket, Kerry has opened him self to criticism that he put political expe diency above presidential fitness. "If they think the vice president is such a big deal with voters, then you have to ask the second question," said Bush strategist Matthew Dowd. "If it's so important, aren't voters going to weigh whether he can hold the office of the presidency?" Edwards, 51, is an accomplished trial lawyer who won his first elective office in 1998 when he captured a U.S. Senate seat. Kerry promotes his running mate's values, vision, optimism, up-from-the-bootstraps biography and political skills — with an occasional mention of Edwards' legislative record, including membership on the Sen ate Intelligence Committee. A Democratic rationale for picking Ed wards starts with North Carolina and its 15 Please see KERRY, page 5 i i * *> [ Plans for the new plaza at Hayward Field include extensive landscaping, brickwork and a columned entrance. Courtesy Hayward on track A plan to modernize Hayward Field would showcase sports achievements andfeature a plaza and new entrance BEN BROWN NEWS REPORTER A proposed plaza at Hayward Field is one step closer to becoming reality after a July 1 Campus Planning Committee meeting. The committee approved a plan that would create Hayward Plaza — an entrance to the field that will showcase many of the University's sports accomplishments — by spring 2005. The plaza will replace the current parking lot on East 15 th Avenue and Agate Street. The design will include extensive landscaping, brick work and a columned entrance. Planners haven't yet drafted the display of past accomplish ments, but Athletic Director Bill Moos will appoint a committee this summer to create a design, Associate Athletic Director Steve McBride said. Architect Larry Gilbert proposed a signpost with arrows that point in the direction of other prestigious tracks around the country. The Athletic Department has wanted to improve and modernize Hayward Field fora longtime. "It's been a long-standing goal of the Athletic Please see HAYWARD, page 5 Ortiz to join Eugene City Council Lauren Winter Freelance Photographer Newly elected City Councilor Andrea Ortiz listens to the concerns of citizens on Tuesday evening at the Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting held at the Eugene Public Library. Andrea Ortiz endeavors to represent minorities' perspectives and Eugene's diversity OM1E DRAWHORN NEWS REPORTER People get into politics for a variety of reasons. Some seek personal gain or power. Others want to help change the world. Andrea Ortiz says she's one of the latter, that she sees politics as community or public service. "I wanted to be involved in the conversation of what our city is going to look like in the future," she said. Ortiz, who defeated incumbent Scott Meisner in the Ward 5 City Council race May 18, will begin her four-year term in January. Those who know her describe her as open, thoughtful, warm and business-minded. "She operates from the heart," Ward 3 City Councilor David Kelly said. Ortiz has lived in Eugene nearly 30 years and has been active in the community: She previously served on the Bethel School Board, volun teered for the Eugene Human Rights Commission, and has been in volved with police issues. Ortiz said her reasons for running for a City Council seat parallel those for mnning for the school board. "1 didn't see anyone who reflected my views and my positions or who looked like me," Ortiz said. "1 felt like Eugene needed to have rep resentation from every walk of life and every ethnic background." Bethel School Board member Keith Anderson said Ortiz added a dif ferent perspective to the board. She made a point to represent minori ties in the school district, where they were underrepresented, he said. This is a very important issue to Ortiz, and she plans to continue pur suing it as city councilor, she said. Ortiz wants to make sure all services have representation Please see ORTIZ, page 5
