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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2016)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 Motor Voter registered 272,202 new voters this year Turnout rate exceeded expectations By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — Through November of this year, 272,202 Oregonians were registered to vote through the state’s new automatic registration program, state officials announced Monday. Of those registered through the initiative, referred to as Motor Voter, about 226,904 were registered in time to vote in November’s election and more than 97,000 of them cast a ballot. The Secretary of State’s Office said in a statement that such a turn- out rate — about 44 percent — among those automatically regis- tered exceeded the expectations of elections experts. With approximately 20 days left in her tenure, Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins was at the Capitol Monday during the Legislature’s final interim session of the year to tout the results of Motor Voter. At a press conference in Gov. Kate Brown’s office, Atkins stood Claire Withycombe/EO Media Group Gov. Kate Brown and Secretary of State Jean Atkins used bags of ha- zelnuts Monday to represent the number of new voters registered under the Motor Voter law. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, 272,202 new voters were registered under the law for the November election. behind large bags of hazelnuts, which were intended to reflect the number of new Motor Voters. “Like hazelnuts, this program is uniquely Oregon,” Atkins said. “Unlike hazelnuts, automatic voter registration can grow and expand anywhere in America.” Oregon is the first state to imple- ment such a program. Oregonians who have contact with the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Divi- sion and are legally eligible to vote are now automatically registered. They can choose a party affiliation, or remain nonaffiliated. Oregonians can opt out of registration altogether. In testimony before the Senate Rules Committee Monday, Atkins said before Motor Voter, relatively fewer eligible Oregonians were reg- istering to vote, and therefore fewer eligible Oregonians were participat- ing in elections. Atkins also expressed confidence in the state’s election process in a year when, she noted, the process itself has been under heightened scrutiny. Two cases of allegedly fraudu- lent registration have been referred to the state Department of Jus- tice, and one instance was related to Motor Voter, Atkins said during Monday’s meeting. Secretary of State-elect Dennis Richardson does not plan to make significant changes to the program, a spokesman said Monday. However, Richardson, a former state legislator from Central Point, expressed concerns about ensuring adequate funding for the program. In a statement, Richardson, the first Republican to be elected sec- retary of state in decades, said that while access to voting is “crucial to serving the public good,” he wanted to make sure there was enough money for it. “We must now work to ensure adequate funding supports the 36 counties across our state so local elections clerks can be fully success- ful on (sic) this important work,” his statement said. The program has meant addi- tional costs for county offices. Motor Voter’s additional regis- trants meant more costs for postage and temporary employees in Uma- tilla County, according to Umatilla County Clerk Kim Lindell. Between 2015 and 2016, the number of registered voters in Uma- tilla County leapt nearly 22 per- cent, according to data the Secretary of State’s Office compiled for its Wednesday presentation to the Leg- islature’s Emergency Board. The Secretary of State’s Office has calculated $5,727 in reim- bursements to Umatilla County — 15 cents for every active regis- tered voter in 2016. Lindell said the approximate cost of the election to the county was $47,168, a $7,549 increase from the 2014 general election. The Capital Bureau is a collab- oration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Larson: Funeral service will take place Friday in Seaside Continued from Page 1A “He was more than willing to reach out to anybody, whether they agreed with him or not,” Winstanley said. “He talked to people, included people — he was a marvelous mayor. The city of Seaside couldn’t have been luckier to have him and it’s certainly a great loss.” Among his accomplish- ments as mayor, Larson pointed to a skate park, a new library and the North Holladay Drive renovation, the boat ramp at Broadway Park and upgrades to city buildings. During his time as mayor, the city built four bridges to tsunami standards and the Recycling Center on Avenue S. Larson was married to the former Lois Kolden since March 1961. Flags in Seaside will be low- ered to half-staff in honor of Mayor Larson. He is also survived by sons David, Duane and daughter Lorraine and seven grandchil- dren, all of whom live in the Portland area. “Although we knew this was coming with Mayor Lar- son, it still hits you with a jolt,” City Councilor Tita Montero said. “There’s a measure of sad- ness at this Christmastime. We will miss him in this city. He was a wonderful ambassador for Seaside.” “He always cared so much about the city of Seaside,” Win- stanley said. “We were certainly honored to have served with him.” A funeral service will take place at 11:30 a.m. Friday at North Coast Family Fellow- ship, 2245 N. Wahanna in Seaside. Mayor Don Larson at a visioning ses- sion in 2013. The Daily Astorian File Photo Barber: New mayor and his wife have lived in Seaside since 2006 Continued from Page 1A That nomination was sec- onded and unanimously endorsed by councilors. Barber then took the oath of office, administered by City Manager Mark Winstanley. “I’m humbled to sit in this chair,” Barber said. “Don Lar- son served in this chair for 14 years. He not only served in this chair, but he served in this community in a way I don’t think anybody in the city of Seaside has been able to do. I’m honored to have the oppor- tunity to serve the community and with this great council.” California mayor Barber, a retired college president, foundation director and ordained minister, served as a councilor and two-term mayor in Red Bluff, Califor- nia, a position which, he said, gave him experience dealing with the public. He and his wife Jan have ‘I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve the community and with this great council.’ Jay Barber Seaside mayor lived full time in Seaside since 2006. Barber was selected in 2009 to fill the unexpired council term of the late Gary Diebolt. Barber won election for Ward 1 in 2010 and again in 2014. “I think we will be very well served with Jay,” City Councilor Tita Montero said, a sentiment echoed by coun- cilors Randy Frank, Seth Mor- risey and Dana Phillips. Among his first order of business, Barber presided over the third and final reading of an ordinance raising Seaside’s lodging tax. The increase hikes the rate from 8 percent to 10 percent and will be used to fund renovations at the Sea- side Civic and Convention Center. Johnson, who served his last meeting after his loss to Tom Horning in the Novem- ber election, was honored by councilors for 18 years of service with a plaque and remembrance. “Thank you for your excep- tional knowledge and willing- ness to give so much time in making Seaside a better place now and in the future,” Barber said in presenting the plaque to Johnson. Water: Customers are urged to share info with others who drink city water Continued from Page 1A The violation was tied to the construction of the Spur 14 water source from a creek that produces the cleanest water in the Bear Creek watershed, the city’s water supply. The project was supposed to be completed in October, according to the Public Works Department, but has been pushed back to December. The city has been using the Main Lake water source during the project, because the Mid- dle Lake source had to be taken offline. Middle Lake typically has the best water in the fall and early winter. The city used a higher than normal amount of chlorine this fall to treat organic matter in the Main Lake water. The interaction between the chlo- rine and the organic matter pro- duces what are known as disin- fection byproducts, which are contaminants. In November, the city exceeded the maximum con- taminant level for the quarter, readings that pushed an annual average in one category — haloacetic acids 5 — above the threshold for the year. The stan- dard for HAA5 is 0.060 milli- grams to liter, and the city was at 0.062 milligrams to liter. The city is now using Mid- dle Lake water, so public works officials believe disinfection byproduct levels will drop back to acceptable concentrations. According to a draft of the notification letter, people who drink water in excess of the maximum contaminant level for many years may have an increased risk of cancer. Customers are urged to share the information with oth- ers who drink city water but may not receive the notification letter, such as people in apart- ments, nursing homes, schools and businesses. At Astoria Parks & Recreation The New Year is all about YOU! Sign up between December 15 - January 15 for automatic monthly withrawal to get ONE MONTH FREE in the New Year! Plus $ 10 off each month with package pricing! THAT’S A SAVINGS OF $ 50 TO $ 100 * Aquatic Center Pass Pass includes: youth/senior$40 adult $50 family $70 Unlimited swims, unlimited use of fi tness room at AAC, express check-in, free locker, free towel use. Recreation Center Pass youth/senior$40 adult $50 family $70 Pass includes: Unlimited fi tness classes at the ARC, express check-in Land & Water Pass youth/senior$60 adult $70 family $90 Pass includes: Unlimited swims, unlimited use of fi tness room at AAC, unlimited water exercise classes, unlimited fi tness classes at ARC, express check-in, free locker, free towel use. VALID ON NEW AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL MEMBERSHIPS (ACH) OF ONE YEAR PAID IN FULL. OFFER VALID DECEMBER 15 - JANUARY 15. PRORATED PAYMENT FOR MONTH OF PURCHASE REQUIRED. FREE MONTH STARTING IN FEBRUARY. MONTH TO MONTH PASSES ARE $10 MORE EACH MONTH. NOT AVAILABLE FOR CURRENT OR PREVIOUS ACH CUSTOMERS. 12/7/2016 www.astoriaparks.com #astoriaparks
