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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
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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