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Page 2 Portland Observer May 13, 1982
Candidates vie for District 18 legislative position
Robert Boyer
Bob Boyer is president o f the In
land Boatm en’s Union, the A.
Philip Randolph Institute, and has
been active in youth work, educa
tion, voter registration and the
NAACP. He is employed at Water
ways Terminal.
What new sources o f revenue
would you support? How would
you balance the budget?
“ I would like to see a restructur
ing o f taxes so that income taxes are
graduated—so people who make
more money and corporations that
have higher p ro fits , pay m ore.”
There should be a fair and equitable
tax structure. He would support a
lottery if it were designated for edu
cation or a specific human resource
program.
To balance the budget, programs
should be designed according to the
dollars available.
Do you fa v o r p u b lic u tility dis
tricts?
Boyer favored PUDs prior to the
WPPS problem . “ The cost o f
power in Clark County was one-half
that in Oregon, yet we use the same
Ed Leek_____
Ed Leek is fo rm e r chairm an o f
the Northeast Coalition o f Neigh
borhood Associations, is active in
neighborhood associations and the
Democratic Party. He is a re ta il
clerk.
What new sources o f revenue
would you support? How would
you balance the budget?
I would start out with a graduated
income tax. “ The maximum is now
at $10,000; everyone with earnings
above that pays the same percent
age. A graduated corporate tax
could decrease taxed for 80 per cent
o f the businesses. You raise more
money by collecting more from the
larger companies.
“ Iam opposed to a sales tax or an
increase in property tax.”
Leek would eliminate the 30 per
cent property tax relief and replace
it with a “ super-HARP” —tax relief
based on income. Property tax relief
now goes to people with $200,000
houses. “ If they can't afford to pay
taxes on $200,000 houses then they
shouldn’ t have $200,000 house ”
Do you fa v o r p ublic u tility dis
tricts?
“ I was an initiator o f the current
petition making the Public Utilities
Commission elective.” Generally in
favor o f PUDs and active in the
drive for PUDs in the past, Leek has
some concerns aobut the cost o f
buyouts o f private u tilities at this
time and how that would affect
rates.
Do you fa vo r the fa ir share con
cept fo r state employees ?
“ Yes. They should pay if they get
the benefits.”
Should public employees have the
s
power source. But with PUDs fund
ing WPPS the cost is skyrocketing. I
would have to reassess to ensure
that buying out the private utilities
would not raise the rate.” I f the cost
to the ratepayers over a period o f
time would be less—and if the econ
omy can handle the buyouts— he
would favor PUDs.
Do you fa v o r the fa ir share con
cept f o r state employees?
A ll people share in the benefits.
When the union goes out on strike
and the fair share people d o n 't, it
causes bad feelings. The union is the
bargaining u nit—the person wants
the benefits but w ill not go on
strike. Boyer prefers a closed shop,
where if there is a strike, all go out
on strike.
Should public employees have the
right to strike?
Public employees—if they have a
union contract—should have a right
to strike. He supports binding arbi
tration for police, fire and teachers.
H ow would you reorganize the
state system o f higher education to
economize yet provide quality edu
cation?
Boyer would look at the entire
system. I f there is any way possible
he would like to see departments
condensed to stop duplication. “ We
don’t have the money to finance ev
erything, but we should see which
programs have the best return for
the money. I don’ t see a need to
close schools—there are areas o f the
state that have specific needs and
should have their schools.”
What committees would you like
to serve on? What are some issues
you would address?
Boyer would prefer Labor and
Ways and Means. In the Labor
Committee he would deal with the
need to d iversify industry. Each
county should have a bureau to as
sist w ith economic development.
There is a need for trained people
and research resources to deal with
the problems of the economy.
Ways and Means deals w ith the
state’ s finances. “ I would seek
funds fo r tra in ing , consolidating
funds in the state and local bud
gets.”
What are the major problems f o r
the people o f D istric t 18 and how
would you address them?
Unemploymen’ is the major prob
lem. As education chairman o f the
Inland Boatmen’s Union Boyer pro
posed a tugboat school and has at
tempted to steer the union to
sources o f funding. He designed a
youth development corps to train
young people in housing rehabilita
tion trades.
Another serious problem is lack
o f home ownership. A state bank or
some other type o f funding is need
ed to enable people to buy or lease.
Home ownership brings community
pride.
Small businesses in the area need
help to stabilize and grow. There is a
need fo r more small businesses to
prevent dependence on one indus
try. He would like to see more com
mercial development on Union Ave
nue-restaurants and supermarkets.
Who would you consult on pend
ing legislation? How would you
keep in touch with yo ur constitu
ents?
Boyer would form a network o f
neighborhood associations, organi
zations, churches and other organi
zations. He would stay in contact
with the people, listening first.
What is your opinion on the crime
problem?
Boyer believes the crime statistics
arc somewhat distorted. The neigh
borhood crime watch and the locks
program help. He would rather
spend money for prevention with
teenagers than for prisons.
What do you think o f the Tub-
man decision and the Black United
Front's tactics?
“ The Board should stay with
their original decision—E lio t.” As
long as the BUF is non-violent he
w ill support them. He recognizes
that the BUF’s tactics brought medi
ation. “ D iffe re nt organizations
have to take different approaches,
in this case confrontation was the
method that worked.”
right to strike?
Leek supports the right o f public
employees to strike with the excep
tion o f public safety employees—
prison guards, police. These areas
should be covered by binding arbi
tration.
H ow would you reorganize the
state system o f higher education to
economize yet provide quality edu
cation?
“ I would take a hard look at the
kost benefit o f all the colleges and
close two schools The effect o f
closing a cnlleuc in r lie economy of
that city is a iradc-ntl Government
can't be m the business of Droviding
facilities soleh to provide jobs.”
Iieve property taxes.
What is your opinion on the crime
problem?
"C rim e is related to jobs. People
have to have incomes. There is pres
sure to consume and compete.”
There are no effective sanctions.
The prison bond measure is fo r
more maximum security, they do
need to be removed tem porarily.
Leek advocates restitution centers,
halfway houses, forest camps and
other alternatives to prison.
There is a need to retrain and re
habilitate prisoners. “ The cost for
society in the long run fo r ware
housing prisoners is astronomical.”
Who would you consult on pend
M hat Corn mi i lees would you like
ing legislation? H ow would you
to serve on? H hut are som" issues
keep in touch with yo u r constitu
you would address?
ents?
Aging and Minority Affairs, hu
“ One o f the failuers o f represen
man resources, labor.
tatives in the past has been keeping
Leek said he could get the South
in touch. This district needs a regu
African divestment bill through the
lar breakfast meeting like others,
Legislature. “ W ally [Priestley) —
during the session and between ses
and I love him —just doesn’ t have
sions.” There is also a need to have
the skills to get the b ill through I
a regular group o f people willing to
can draw together a pressure group,
act as advisors in various areas.
a coalition o f the minority and reli
There is also a need for polling.
gious com m unities, and it would
What do you think o f the Tub-
pass.”
man decision and the Black United
The Martin Luther King holiday
Front tactics?
is another issue he would push. Also
“ The decision was fore-ordained
im proving Project Independence,
after the School Board elections—
which helps senior citizens remain in
when Bauman and Newhall lost. I
their own homes.
have little hope that it w ill be re
Holding the line on human service
versed. It is one o f a series of contin
program is all that is possible—
uing insults. It was pereptuated by
“ how to hold on to what we have.”
insensitive, seemingly uncaring
What are the major problems f o r
people.”
the people o f D is tric t 18 and how
Leek is “ uncomfortable with the
would you address them?
separatist nature o f the Front. I
The m ajor problems are unem
have always been an integrationist.
ployment and property taxes. “ We
People used to move away from my
need public jo b creation p ro
wife and I at BUF meetings.” He
grams.” Leek supports Don Clark’s questions whether the Front repre
proposal to use the unemployment
sents the community as a whole—
trust fund to create w ork. WPA
“ They take up issues that are o f
programs—“ lots o f buildings are
concern to the community, but there
needed, lots o f services. Rivergate
is a diversion o f opinions. The BUF
needs roads and sewers.” These
is not the black community.”
could be built through a WPA-type
The tactics of the Front "are hard
progrs
for me to deal with. I am not com
T h e .. is a need fo r training fo r
fortable with confrontation but I
long-term employment. Leek would
have used and understand the tactic.
like to improve the apprenticeship
The School Board would have
programs. The economic develop
washed its hands o f the whole affair
ment program should be redesigned
if the Front had not acted.”
so it will be used properly to create
“ Some type o f confrontation was
jobs.
necessary but I ’ m not sure this type
There is a need to move away
was necessary. A combined fro n t
from property taxes. There is no re
could have been put together that
lation between property taxes and
could have found enough people to
income or services received. There is
make them reconsider—through
a need to provide more of the educa
marches, dem onstrations, pres
tion budget from income taxes to re
sure.”
4
Vesia Loving-
What new sources o f revenue do
you support? How would you bal
ance the state budget?
“ I would like to see more industry
in the country whether this is from
overseas or local. There should be
more manufacturing to create jobs
and bring taxes. Low interest rates
would also encourage new compa
nies.”
Do you think the state should use
its option to obtain and sell electric
power? What is y o u r opinio n o f
public utility districts?
“ 1 feel that public utilities might
be more beneficial. The u tilitie s
have a m onopoly and i f they had
com petition the rates would go
down.”
Do you fa v o r the fa ir share con
cept f o r State employees?
"N o t necessarily. I did belong to
a union but now now; 1 don’ t feel
that unions are necessary. Not
everyone can a ffo rd to pay dues.
People’s situations vary.”
Should public employees have the
right to strike?
“ Yes, definitely." Everyone who
is not satisfied with conditions on
their jo b should have the right to
strike.
H ow would you reorganize the
state system o f higher education to
economize yet provide quality edu
cation?
“ In the Portland Public Schools
there are too many chiefs. After the
administrators are paid there is very
little le ft fo r the students and
teachers; it is not necessary to have
fo u r or five superintendents. The
administration costs too much.”
What committees would you like
to serve on? What are some o f the
issues you would address?
M rs. L o v :ng would prefer the
Education and Human Resources
committees. “ I am concerned about
senior citizens a lot; they need care
whether it is in a nursing home or in
their own home.
“ We need protection fo r low-
income people. They should have a
right to medical care. It might mean
more taxes but no one should go
without medical care.”
What are the major problems f o r
the people o f D is tric t and how
would you address them ?
“ Jobs are the real problem. The
m a jo rity o f our people are out o f
jobs. We would have a better neigh
borhood if there was employment."
There is also a need fo r economic
development and low-income
housing.
Who would you consult regarding
legislative decisions? How would
you keep in touch with your consti
tuents?
“ I would make myself available:
wherever I went I would be avail
able.” She would also send commu
nications to organizations and per
sons regarding issues coming before
the legislature.
What is your opinion on the crime
problem?
“ I am concerned about crimes
against senior citizens. The only way
to stop crime is through jobs and
education.” Ms. Loving would like
to see a system to eliminate drugs
and is interested to determine why
girls get into prostitution and how
this can be prevented. “ Prostitution
is a social problem that has plagued
me; it brings a negative image to the
community."
Unemployed persons have prob
lems because they are not eligible
for welfare if they are employable.
This forces them in to crime and
prostitution.
Mrs. Loving would advocate for
vocational training fo r children of
welfare families to teach skills and
the work ethic.
What do you think o f the Tub-
man issue and the BUF tactics?
“ When we asked for Eliot we did
it because we felt it was better; we
had looked at everything and felt it
was least disruptive. It is also a neu
tral area—both black and white par
ents will send their children there."
The Boise decision was a racist
tecision, she believes. "They have
been tryin g to close Boise fo r 12
years; I have fought fo r 12 years.
The C ity's comprehensive plan has
designated the area from the Colis
eum to Killingsworth Avenue as in
d ustrial. It was stopped by Boise
school. Then we stopped the free
ways and they weren't built.
“ W hite parents would not send
their children Boise and after a few
years we w o u ld n ’ t have a school.
Other organizations joined the fight
a
Vesia Loving is a teacher's aide at
Boise Elementary School. She « ac
tive in the Black United Front, Van
couver A venue Baptist Church, and
is concerned with education and po
lice problems.
because it was rig h t. . . ”
“ I am a member o f the Front. As
a C hristian, if I felt it was doing
something that was not right I
w o uldn't be part o f it. The Front
was organized because it more or
less meets the needs; it is not run by
one person—each is a part o f the de
cision making.
This was the first demonstration
o f this type and it was right. After
four years o f patience, no method is
too strong. The Front is what
brought the change in a ttitu d e —it
brought them face to face with the
problem.
“ I feel good about the part I've
played in changing things.”
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