LET TERS
VAL’S VALUES
I am proudly casting my vote for Val
Hoyle, a pragmatic progressive running
for Oregon secretary of state.
Under Val’s leadership as Oregon’s
house majority leader, we got expanded sick
leave coverage, we closed a giant loophole
that used to allow people to purchase guns
without having a background check and
we passed a clean fuels bill. She led all this
while successfully representing a rural,
blue-collar district.
This last point is critical — this isn’t
just about who can win the primary, but
who can win this important statewide
office. I know Rep. Hoyle to be smart,
dedicated and strategic. She shares many
of my values and I trust her to have the
health of our families and our state’s long-
term future always at the center of her
focus. Please join me in voting for Val
Hoyle for Oregon secretary of state.
Dawn Lesley
Eugene
SEMPLE FOR EUGENE
I enthusiastically endorse Emily Semple
for Eugene City Council. Emily has spent
barely a minute begging for campaign
contributions. Instead, she has spent all of
her time and energy actually listening to
her future constituents. She possesses the
humility to listen with an open mind and
the courage to take a stand. I have carried
her brochures and signs and witnessed her
great respect for her neighbors in Ward 1.
Emily Semple’s short platform is
concrete and meaningful. In my opinion,
it reflects the consensus in Ward 1. This
contrasts starkly with the typical stew
of self-aggrandizing, vague generalities
served up by politicians.
Elect Emily — she will represent you
instead of lecturing you.
Paul Nicholson
Former Eugene city councilor
Eugene
YES FOR EXTENSION
I’m writing to urge you to vote “yes”
for Ballot Measure 20-239. Why? Because
Lane County needs extension programs.
4-H, extension’s flagship program,
teaches young people leadership, problem
solving and how to be a productive
community member. Today, 4-H is only
available to those who can afford the $100
registration fee per club member. As an
extension master gardener, I routinely help
others grow their own food and garden
sustainably.
Master food preservers literally save
lives by providing accurate advice on
food safety and preservation. Both these
programs continue to exist only because of
the generosity of volunteers. Meanwhile,
vital extension services in forestry,
commercial agriculture and small farms
are scarce or non-existent due to lack of
funding.
Only 1.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed
property value would stabilize these and
Open House!
Saturday, May 21st
10am—12pm
LCC Main Campus
Buildings 24, 25 & 26
Reggio inspired, high quality
preschool education for the
entire community!
NAEYC accredited & the highest rating by
Oregon’s Quality Rating Improvement System!
4
May 12, 2016 • eugeneweekly.com
other high-priority programs. Isn’t it worth
paying a few extra dollars a year to make
4-H more accessible and restore services in
forestry, small woodlands, commercial ag,
small farms, gardening, food preservation,
food pantries and nutrition education?
Vote “yes” on 20-239. You will be
doing yourself and Lane County a favor.
Leigh Rieder
President, Lane County Master
Gardners Association
Creswell
NO ON HOYLE
I am surprised and dismayed at Eugene
Weekly’s endorsement of Val Hoyle for
secretary of state.
Hoyle showed her real colors when she
not only supported but was the co-sponsor
for Oregon House Bill 2666. This bill
was cunningly designed to make it nearly
impossible for citizens of this state to fight
against the gravel industries converting
Oregon’s most productive farmland into
gravel pits.
Many of these gravel companies are
owned by the Irish-based CRH building
materials conglomerate. Hoyle’s sponsorship
of a bill that so clearly supported this special
interest’s short-term exploitation over the
long term security of locally sourced food
shows who she supports. Hoyle has already
shown what she will do if she becomes one
of the only three members of the Oregon
State Land Board.
I am supporting Brad Avakian for
secretary of state. Please do not vote for
Val Hoyle!
Jon Williams
Eugene
SKOV FOR THE JOB
It is encouraging that all of the Ward
1 city council candidates this year are
talking about homelessness, and several
are talking about broader housing issues.
But so far, Joshua Skov is the only
candidate to offer a detailed strategy
that addresses housing affordability and
homelessness.
Skov’s housing affordability strategy
takes an integrated approach, addressing
homelessness, provision of affordable
and workforce housing, land use and
more. In particular, his strategy uses
renter protections and new financing
tools enabled by the state Legislature that
would contribute to funding low-income
housing. To learn more about his strategies
for affordable housing and homelessness,
check out joshuaskov.com/housing.
The Ward 1 candidates all share
wonderful progressive values. But we need
someone who understands policy and will
solve problems with innovative solutions.
Joshua Skov is the only candidate who
has demonstrated this ability through his
extensive civic service and community
involvement.
As a renter in the Friendly
area neighborhood who one day hopes
to own a home here in Eugene, this is an