Eugene weekly., October 20, 2016, Page 19, Image 19

60000000000007
Civics Lessons
WHY DON‘T
YOU
RUN FOR OFFICE?
Having Project-Related Conflict or Difference of
Interpretation With a Client or Contractor?
Here is How Project Counseling Services Can Help
We help resolve different points of view through mediation and open
discussion between contractors & clients or just between clients.
While we provide a neutral ground for conflict resolution, our services are
most valuable before a project begins. A plan review will give the client focus
& clear understanding of what they are getting. This will keep the project on
track and may prevent costly schedule delays!
Our goal is to assure clients they are getting a project as planned while
keeping contractors moving forward.
For a FREE, Introductory Meeting, Call 541-521-1178
“Let’s Talk About How We Can Help!”
Project Counseling Services, LLC | 2361 Hilyard St., Eugene
BY CAMILLA MORTENSEN
Tickets: FRIDAY $2 | SATURDAY FREE • Tickets available at the door, Noon Friday
W
hile a couple local positions were hard-fought races in the pri-
mary election in May — the Eugene mayor’s race and the Ward
1 City Council seat, for example — there were also a lot of can-
didates running unopposed here in Lane County. Eugene City
Council Seats 1, 7 and 8 had no opposition, and neither did Ward
6 in Springfield. The South Eugene Lane County Commission seat was unopposed.
Sometimes a candidate is unopposed because he or she is just that good, and con-
stituents are happy. Other times it’s hard to say if it’s apathy in the community, lack
of funds to run or simply because the average voter doesn’t know how to run. Many
voters in the county don’t realize that under Oregon law, for both nonpartisan coun-
ty and city elections, if a candidate gets 50 percent of the vote plus one — a majority
— then that candidate essentially wins because only that name goes on the ballot in
the November election. Write-ins are allowed, but basically, if you want to run for
the City Council in November, you needed to have started planning and campaigning
for the May primary.
For a healthy democracy to function and
to ensure key matters are addressed, having
a couple candidates debating and discuss-
ing local issues and having their votes and
stances questioned is essential.
Jilliane Schoene is the executive direc-
tor of Emerge Oregon, a nonprofit dedicat-
ed to helping Democratic women run for
office, get elected and seek higher office.
She says part of Emerge’s broader mission
is to “flood the political market with
Democratic women.” And she says one of
the first things Emerge asks women to do
as they prep to run for office is to visit local
government websites and look for positions
on local boards and commissions.
These positions include spots on plan-
in almost a decade.
ning and oversight commissions, budget
committees, diversity and mental health
boards, to name a few. “We want women
around every public policy and political
table in the state," Schoene says. “I would
encourage all citizens to do it.”
Serving on these boards and committees
is a really great background, she says, not only as a precursor to running for office,
but for figuring out what sort of political areas you are interested in.
Schoene says Oregon has one of the more accessible legislatures in the country,
and some people start off with higher state office. Others start on a local level or on
a board of education. Several Lane County commissioners, including Pete Sorenson
and Jay Bozievich, got their starts on the Lane Community College board.
Sorenson served in the state Senate before the term limits at the time led him to
run for County Commission. Mayor Kitty Piercy also served in the Legislature
before moving to city politics. Former mayor Jim Torrey, Schoene points out, is now
on the 4J school board.
Outside of Multnomah County, Schoene says that county commissions are the
hardest places to run women in Oregon. There has not been a woman on the Lane
County Board of Commissioners in almost 10 years.
Thinking about running for office? Go to goo.gl/VRGpHx to apply to city of
Eugene boards and commissions and goo.gl/yhsj2U to see what Lane County advi-
sory committees are open. Interested in learning more about Emerge and its training
program? Email Jillian Schoene at jillian@emergeor.org.
47TH ANNUAL EUGENE
SKI
SWAP
OCTOBER 28-29
™
Lane County Fairgrounds | Exhibition Halls 1 & 2
Bring in Your Consignments:
Thursday (10/27) 9AM-9PM and Friday (10/28) 9AM-4PM
Attend the Sale:
Friday (10/28) 5PM-9PM
Saturday (10/29) 9AM-5PM
Check online for consignment details & rules.
Sponsored by
Eugene Ski Swap Inc. to Benefi t: Santiam Pass Ski Patrol,
Willamette Pass Ski Patrol & Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol
www.eugeneskiswap.org • http://www.facebook.com/eugeneskiswap
THERE HAS
NOT BEEN
A WOMAN
ON THE
LANE COUNTY
COMMISSION
eugeneweekly.com • October 20, 2016
19