Eugene weekly., May 10, 2012, Page 6, Image 6

letters
TO THE EDITOR
NO FAULT TO BE FOUND
Does a record of quality service
mean anything anymore when we judge
candidates for election? Apparently not
to our local daily newspaper, which has
denied endorsement for two of the fi nest
incumbent candidates we ever have known:
County Commissioner Peter Sorenson and
City Councilor Betty Taylor.
Everyone is entitled to a political
opinion. None has greater impact than a
publication with many regular readers.
We deserve to be alerted by our papers if
an incumbent deserves to be ousted. But
there is nothing faulty about performances
of Sorenson and Taylor, who have served
with integrity and distinction. We should
honor them, and be grateful for their
continued high level of performance for
the public good.
I cannot judge their opponents, but
know that what they would do in offi ce
is just conjecture. What Taylor’s and
Sorenson’s independence and commitment
to the electorate have proven to us is a
matter of record that should earn them re-
election while we ignore the fat cats.
George Beres
Eugene
KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES
On May 15, voters in Eugene Wards 1
and 8 will elect a new EWEB commissioner.
We should elect Steve Mital.
As a customer-owned utility, EWEB’s
purpose is to represent community
priorities related to the management
and delivery of water and electricity
to our community. Mital, director of
sustainability for UO, offers over a decade
of experience in working on environmental
issues and with local government, utilities,
and a broad range of local businesses and
community groups.
Steve’s knowledge of natural resource
and energy issues positions him well to
address issues for EWEB. Furthermore,
Steve’s demonstrated experience in
issues related to sustainability, renewable
energy and community engagement
offers critically important perspectives
to EWEB. This unique combination of
knowledge and experience is why Steve
has the endorsement of Mayor Kitty Piercy
and the R-G, among others. I look forward
to voting for Steve and to the valuable
contributions he will bring to EWEB.
Kathy Lynn
Eugene
INSANE DESTRUCTION
We must re-elect Rob Handy and Pete
Sorenson as Lane County commissioners.
If we lose these dedicated and brave men,
I fear for the health of our water, air,
farm and forest lands. Both Handy and
Sorenson speak for the majority of citizens
who understand in order to have long-
term employment we need to sustainably
manage our forests and farmlands. When
candidates take money from mining and
logging interests, they typically vote for
destructive operations, without considering
long-term effects.
Oregon Humanities Center
O
20
2
011-12 Kritikos Professor in the Humanities
I live in Dexter where we are
witnessing this plunder fi rst hand. Our
beloved historic Parvin Butte has been
scalped and blasted. Lost Creek, which
runs along the base of Parvin Butte, could
be permanently damaged enough to kill
the salmon that live there. We must think
out of the box for our fi nancial challenges.
Independent studies have shown investing
in green technology creates thousands of
more jobs than the “business as usual”
methods. It is imperative that we change
how we treat our precious resources in
order to have a healthy future — and time
is running out. Destroying the last of our
wildlands is an insane way to generate
revenue.
Pamela Driscoll
Dexter
LOSS OF PUBLIC TRUST
I’m voting for Andy Stahl for county
commissioner because he is an effective,
progressive leader. Andy supports open,
transparent government.
In 2009, Pete Sorenson was chair of
the Board of Commissioners with a 3-2
progressive majority. That year, the “book
club” was formed to hide the identity of
budget committee members who met in
secret to line up votes for commissioners’
aides. The board was dealing with
huge budget cuts at the time, including
eliminating jail beds and deputies. Despite
being the senior commissioner, Pete lost
sight of the big picture.
As chair, Pete should have never
allowed the “book club” to meet privately.
He should have followed the advice
of county counsel and required that
workgroup to meet in public. Consider,
if the current majority of board members
created a workgroup that met in secret, the
progressive members would cry foul.
The “book club” resulted in the board
losing public trust and credibility. Many
believe that is why Jerry Rust lost the West
Lane commissioner’s race and why we
now have a 3-2 conservative majority on
the Board of Commissioners.
Andy was raised in south Eugene
and has always promoted the values we
cherish. He has been a stalwart advocate
for the environment for over 30 years,
helping to save more than 8 million acres
of old growth. Andy served on a school
board and volunteers as an advocate for
foster children.
Vote for Stahl. He is endorsed by nine
Lane County Democratic state legislators.
Sen. Floyd Prozanski
District 4
LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and
will print as many as space allows, with priority given to
timely local issues. Please limit length to 200 words, keep
submissions to once a month, and include your address
and phone number for our files. Email to letters@
eugeneweekly.com fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251
Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
Re-elect
Betty Taylor
INTEGRITY
$'HFDGHRI:DU
Andrew Bacevich
INDEPENDENCE
EXPERIENCE
author of Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
EMU Ballroom, UO campus
Followed by a book sale and signing. Free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations.
For disability accommodations contact ohc@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-3934.
View live-streaming video at: ohc.uoregon.edu
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6
MAY 10, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
฀
AFSCME
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Many Rivers Group
Democratic Party of Lane County
County Commisioner Pete Sorensen
Eugene City Councilor George Brown
Eugene City Councilor Alan Zelenka
Many Rivers Group Oregon Chapter Sierra Club
paid for by Taylor for City Council
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