strong majority — we expanded it.
We won by staying true to our values,
like standing up for working families and
making sure that women aren’t left behind.
Democratic candidates for the House
withstood a volley of ugly, dishonest
attacks from their opponents and stayed
focused on fighting for the things that
matter most to Oregon families.
For me, the big takeaway from last
night’s [Nov. 4] results is this: Voters in
these House races rejected the politics
of fear and negativity. Voters said no to
outlandish, often racially charged attacks,
and they discarded the outright falsehoods
in our opponents’ ads.
But voters needed something to vote
for, and I’m proud to say that House
Democrats ran our campaigns on a clear
vision of a future economy in which every
working family has a shot at prosperity.
This is what made the difference.
We couldn’t have succeeded in this
election without the dedication of our many
volunteers, who put in countless hours
knocking on doors and making phone calls
in support of candidates they believe in. In
the last five days alone, we knocked on more
than 50,000 doors in key races to make sure
that voters turned in their ballots.
We’ve got a lot of work to do in the next
legislative session, and we look forward to
advancing an agenda that improves the
lives of all Oregonians.
Rep. Val Hoyle
Majority leader
DEFEND STUDENTS,
TEACHERS
All movements for fairness and justice
need those leaders who are the first ones
to go out front. Jesse Hagopian has been
such a leader in the struggle against the
overuse/misuse of high-stakes testing.
He was instrumental in organizing
the unanimous test boycott last year at
Garfield High School in Seattle. That
brave action by students, parents, teachers
and community members resonated across
the U.S.
We have the wonderful opportunity
to have Jesse Hagopian in Eugene at 7
pm Thursday, Nov. 13, at First Christian
Church, 11th and Oak.
Come join us in learning from Hagopian
as he talks about the Seattle boycott and
the many, many actions being taken across
the U.S. in mobilizing to defend students,
parents and teachers. Jesse Hagopian is
inspirational, articulate and brave.
Please consider making the most of
this opportunity and please consider
bringing students with you. They are the
ones most directly impacted by the testing
madness. Ultimately, the fight to reclaim
public education is a civil rights issue that
affects us all.
Roscoe Caron
Eugene
STUPID DUI CATEGORY
So everyone should “calm down” about
the shameful “Best DUI Lawyer” category
in the Best Of Eugene ballot? Would you
say that to someone whose loved one was
killed by a drunk driver?
You wrote, “We were pointing out that
drinking categories are among our most
popular, and if you are going to drink, you
need to be safe and legal.”
False DUI convictions are rare. If you
need a DUI lawyer, it is already too late.
You have gone ahead and committed a
dangerous and illegal act. And given
your logic, there ought to also be a vote
for “Best Date Rapist Lawyer” — because
date categories are “among our most
popular,” and if you are going on a date,
“you need to be safe and legal.”
Contrary to what you imply, drinking
does not inevitably lead to drunk driving.
In countries where the lawmakers have
recognized the true seriousness of the
offence and accordingly mandate severe
penalties, the incidence of drunk driving
is much lower. For instance, the Finns will
drink you under the table every time, but
most would never think of driving while
under the influence.
It goes without saying that drunk driving
kills thousands of innocent people every
year. This will continue until society stops
treating it as a generally harmless and
unavoidable side effect of having a good
time. Instead of trying to defend a stupid
and indefensible decision, you should have
removed the category and apologized.
A.P. Volkonsky
Eugene
CIVIL RIGHTS ATTACKED
Unknown thugs spent election night
making a mockery of the democratic
process by smashing the countless "No
Industrial Pisgah" signs along Seavey
Loop, causing over $1,000 in damages
and destroying the very symbol of the
residents’ unity against an expansion of
Springfield’s urban growth boundary that
would place an industrial zone near Mount
Pisgah.
Red, green or blue, pro or con, this
was an attack on the very foundation of
American values: the right to petition the
government. Preventing citizens from
exercising their First Amendment rights
is not a prank — in this case it might
be considered a Class C felony criminal
mischief in the first degree with a penalty
of up to five years in state prison and fines
reaching $125,000.
Let’s show the world that such
vandalism will never be tolerated in our
community. Tax-deductible donations
to pay for replacement signs can be sent
to LandWatch Lane County, P.O. Box
5347, Eugene 97405 with the memo: No
Industrial Pisgah.
Charles Stewart
Seavey Loop Road
PERSONAL AGENDAS
I know the election is over but I can’t
help but comment on the recent letter to
the editor [10/30] in which EPUD Director
Penny Jordan endorsed Director Patti
Chappel. I have to seriously question the
credibility of any public figure who would
endorse a director with Chappel’s track
record.
Unfortunately, I have long witnessed
the unhealthy alliance that exists between
Director Chappel, Jordan and Kevin
Parrish that plagues the EPUD board. For
example, Jordan wrote emails to other
directors begging them to vote in favor
Humorist, author, and NPR
contributor David Sedaris
returns to the
Hult Center
Next Thursday
November 20th • 8PM
Tickets start at $29
Student Tickets at $15
Hurry limited quantity.
Discount available with ID (2 per ID)
Hultcenter.org
UO ticket office
541.682.5000
eugeneweekly.com • November 13, 2014
5