Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2006)
including Goldschmidt’s friend and politi- cal ally, Kulongoski. Walker also rocked state politics by calling for, and getting some, reform of the state lottery, SAIF (state workers’ com- pensation insurance), Portland General Electric, and the Oregon Investment Council. The R-G described her as a “blunt-talking politician who relishes tak- ing on powerful institutions.” Walker is one of the more active mem- bers of the Legislature, crafting, backing and often passing dozens of bills on every- thing from crib safety to removing OHSU’s immunity from malpractice law- suits. She worked especially hard to ban the use of dangerous wired glass in schools. But Walker has also appeared allied with big business at times. She backed Liberty Mutual’s failed ballot measure to eliminate SAIF, the corporation’s chief competitor for worker’s compensation insurance. Almost all the state’s newspa- pers opposed the measure. Walker recent- ly praised SAIF for reforming its use of public money for lobbyists and for becom- the money we currently have in the educa- tion budget” for his testing and kinder- garten proposals, but hasn’t said which existing education programs he would cut to fund his ideas. One thing Torrey refused to cut to fund education is corporate tax breaks. As mayor of Eugene, Torrey was a leading advocate of tax breaks and taxpayer subsi- dies for Hynix and developers. Such enter- prise zone tax breaks and subsidies through urban renewal have cost state school funding millions of dollars, critics charge. Torrey successfully backed addi- tional tax breaks for Hynix, which received $50 million in tax breaks, even when the corporation was creating no new jobs. Torrey’s strong support for Hynix (then called Hyundai) stretches back to his first years in the mayor’s office. In 1997, Citizens for Public Accountability accused Torrey of ethics and meetings law viola- tions for voting for Hynix tax breaks and giveaways while profiting from a land sale near the corporation, and for meeting in secret with Hynix executives to discuss tax Vicki Walker has touted her Democratic affiliation, but she’s perhaps best known as a party maverick. 11TH ANNUAL CHOWDER, BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL SEPT 22-24, • FLORENCE EVENTS CENTER 715 QUINCE ST, FLORENCE, OR VIP $20 good all three days & collector beer glass L I V E M U S I C , C H O W D E R C O O K - O F F , M I C R O B R E W S ! MUSIC SCHEDULE: Friday, Sept 22, adm. $7 5-7:30pm Kush 8-11pm Henry Cooper Band Saturday, Sept 23, adm. $10 11am-12:45pm Walker T. Ryan 1-2:45pm Barbara Healy 3:15-5:15pm JC Rico & Music Alliance 5:30-7:30pm Eric Hatcher & The Worker Bees 8-11pm Alan Iglesias & Crossfire (Stevie Ray Vaughn Tribute) Sunday, Sept 24, adm. $6 11am-1pm Jukebox Kings 1:30-4pm Oregon Coast Lab Band PRESENTED BY FLORENCE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR INFO CALL 541-997-3128 OR LOGON FLORENCECHAMBER.COM 16 SEPTEMBER 21, 2006 ing more open and accountable. Walker has perfect voting records with NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon and Planned Parenthood, but the Christian Coalition and the National Rifle Association gave her low ratings. Walker has received high ratings and endorsements from most of the state’s largest labor unions and from the ACLU. But business interest lobbyists for AOI and developers have given her low ratings. The Oregon League of Conservation Voters gave Walker a 92 per- cent voting record. Torrey doesn’t have a legislative voting record with these groups and is more of a political blank slate, dodging position questions at his debate with Walker and refusing to answer a questionnaire from the non-partisan Project Vote Smart. SCHOOLS Both candidates have smothered them- selves in children in campaign ads and claim to be the pro-kids and education candidate. Walker has a record of fighting for more school funding in the Legislature, where she said Torrey’s fellow Republicans have blocked many funding measures. She has been given top ratings from the state’s leading groups pushing for better school funding — Oregon Stand for Children, the Oregon Education Association and Oregon Federation of Teachers. Torrey has called for all-day kinder- gartens and yearly state standardized tests of children. But when asked at the forum how he will pay for that, he offers no new money. Torrey said he would “prioritize breaks. Torrey denied any wrongdoing, and a recall effort failed. Walker said she has worked to increase the efficiency of educational spending and gave the example of her support of a bill to redirect more money from educational service districts into the classroom. She said she would also support repealing the corporate kicker tax break to increase school funding. “We give away a lot of money in tax breaks,” she said. If Torrey wins, many believe he will use the Senate seat as a stepping stone for higher office. He recently toured all 36 Oregon counties while considering a run for secretary of state or governor before instead choosing the Senate race. The race appears up for grabs now. Walker has the advantage of more Democrats in the district, but north Eugene was a stronghold for Torrey when he was mayor and a north Eugene coun- cilor. Walker has strong backing from unions, but Torrey has enjoyed the strong backing of The Register-Guard, which showered the pro-developer mayor with glowing coverage and endorsements for two terms. But Torrey, first elected mayor when he outspent his challenger 5-1 with developer donations, has never faced a race as tough as this one. Walker has a reputation as a strong campaigner. In 2000 she faced anoth- er former Eugene mayor, Republican Jeff Miller, who had similar big backing from developer and timber interests and claims to non-partisanship. She beat him. ew The City Club of Eugene is hosting a debate between Walker and Torrey at 11:50 am on Friday, Sept. 29 at the Eugene Hilton.
