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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1982)
Register now Harold Williams H arold Williams is a labor negoti- ator and fo rm e r a ffirm ative action officer f o r the Stale. H e is involved in the N A A C P , a n d B ethel A M E Church. W hat new sources o f revenue do you support? H o w would you bal ance the state budget? " I am looking at (ax incentives to established businesses who will hire in the area. Oregon is depressed be cause o f unemployment. There will be no assistance fro m the federal governm ent so the state must f ill that role.” W illiam s would favor building a structure so all econom ic grants com ing to the state would go to the m o il depressed areas to entice business to put people to work. The budget would be balanced if the cuts were spread across all agencies. Now cuts are usually made at the expense o f human ser vices. “ We need to look at priorities in the whole structure o f go vern m e n t.” The tax structure needs to be revamped. W hat is y o u r o p inion o f pub lic utility districts? The whole structure and a lig n ment o f utilities should be studied. I f there is a lower rate with PU D s, Williams would support them. D o you fa v o r the f a ir share con cept f o r state employees? ‘ ‘ I f they get the benefits they should pay.” Should public employees have the right to strike? “ D e fin ite ly they should have a right to strike. A strike by public employees has the same impact as private employees. It is wrong to as sume that the adverse effects o f a strike by public employees is d iffe r ent than those created by a strike of private employees.” H o w w ould you reo rg an ize the slate system o f higher education to economize yet provide quality edu cation? W illiam s would look at the skill areas needed for the fu tu re . “ W e have to steal concepts from the ju nior colleges— we need to move away from the elitist attitudes and be more in tune with reality.” “ A cadem ic freedom is not enough” — the schools are taking too much money. We have to see where people go to w o rk— about types o f em p lo ym en t— and m ake the c o l leges more productive. What Committees would you like to serve on? W hat are the m ain issues you w ould address in these Committees? Land Use and Economic D evel opment because they have an impact on fu tu re g ro w th . M o re money should go to the departm ent o f economic developm ent to a ttra c t business— they haven’t put enough money into this. He is also interested in human re sources. “ I w ould w ant to make sure that no person has to suffer be cause o f not having the basics o f life. We need to prived more money so people can live w ith d ig n ity .” The adm inistration o f funds in hu man resourses is often dehumaniz ing. T o have food people must go through this when there should be resources to help. “ We need to have a system with humaneness.” What are the m ajor problems f o r the people o f D is tric t 18? W hat would you do? “ The number one problem is eco nomics— the 20 per cent plus unem ployment.” We need to attract busi ness to put people to work. Image is another problem . “ It is a positive community but a negative approach is given. W e never see the 95 per cent who are the successes.” Who would you consull regularly regarding legislative decisions? H o w would you keep in touch with your constituents. ? “ I would like to see an ongoing com m unity body made up o f the churches, business, etc., to touch bases monthly and have a continued voice to m ake sure w hat we are doing has insight. This would need to be continuous. “ I would talk w ith people who are involved in the particular issue.” What is you r opinion on crime in the area? “ I would approach it from two sides— not put more people in jail. I would get social groups involved, look at black on black crime, make sure law-enforcement is not negative and causing things to happen. How the police relate to the community is very important.” What is your opinion o f the Tub- man decision? D o you support the B U F ’s tactics? “ The School Board made the promise; it can’t be changed just be cause two School Board members change.” As fo r the B U F , “ I re spect the results, you c an ’ t argue with that. Because o f their actions the Board is reassessing. The b o t tom line is the result. People are working together who haven’t spok en fo ra long tim e.” Roger Troen_ Roger Troen ‘s m ajor interest is in the rights o f dom estic a n im als— dogs and cats. H e is active in related organizations. H e is a p rin te r by profession. W hat new sources o f revenue w ould you support? H o w w ould you balance the budget? ‘ ‘ N o ta x ,” Troen said. " I am a L ib ertarian-D em ocrat.” State ser vices would have to curtailed. The fire departments would have to be m aintained; leg alizatio n o f drugs w ould have an im pact on crim e, lowering the incidence o f burglaries, so the police would not have to be expanded. “ I can’ t understand how people so alienate themselves that they c an ’ t go to fa m ily or friends fo r help. I ’ve swallowed my pride and maintained control with my family; I try to have friend s. I f I have a problem I don’t want to have to rely on someone down in M edford. Peo ple need to look after themselves.” Troen explains that because gov ernm ent has taken the c itizen s ’ money through taxes it would be ne cessary to continue social programs for the poor for some time, to phase them out gradually. Ultim ately the poor would be assisted voluntarily. “ People are better than the p o liti cians make them out to be.” D o you fa v o r p u b lic u tility dis tricts? “ W e have in 11-D in the consti tution to provide funding for public power and I think it should be put in to e ffe c t.” H e is in fav o r o f P U D s: “ H yd ro power belongs to the people.” D o you fa v o r the f a i r share con cept f o r state employees? “ I f I wanted union help, I would jo in . T o force people to pay union dues is w ro n g .” As to people who reap the benefits o f union activity and do not pay, “ Let the union people call them freeloaders." I f the workers arc getting better wages be cause o f union organizing, and still do not want to jo in , they will have to put up with the scorn o f the union members. The employer, the employees and the union should w ork out their problems together. “ Em ployers are not th e ir own boss.. . . I developed a skill, decide what to charge for it, and sell it at that p ric e .. . . People have the same opportunity; they arc not restricted from the libraries. I see kids in school w hile some others were out p la y ing.” I f people are not satisfied with their w o rkin g conditions they should go elsewhere. Should public employees have the right to strike? Society. " T h e people still have not been told the truth about what hap pens out there.” The consciousness o f the media is low . Tro en would aggressively push for expanded con sciousness about the plight and the rights o f domesticated animals. What are the m ajor problems f o r the people o f D is tric t 18 and how would you address them? The m ajor problem is the lack o f home ownership. I f everyone who wants to own a home could obtain one, the d istrict w ould not be as drab as it is. There is a lack o f color, a flatness. “ The district has tremen dous potential. It is close to down town, access is good, but there is a lack o f sense o f community. Neigh borhoods are very important.” Who would you consult on pend ing legislation? H o w w ould you keep in touch with y o u r constitu ents? " I would talk to all o f the Liber ta ria n s .” H e w ould seek advice from the other candidates since they are the n atu ral leadership. H e be lieves they w ould want to be in volved. BTiar is you r opinion on the crime problem? Legalization o f drugs would d i minish crim e. U nem ploym ent causes much crime. “ I am basically for creating jobs— having the type o f education that would allow peo ple creativity in finding jobs for sat isfaction not just for money.” He advocates no more prisons be cause prisons create criminals. The state should o ffe r trea tm en t, not punishment. W hat do y o u think o f the Tub- man decision and the Black United Front's tactics? The Tubman decision was wrong. They are talking money. It causes other spin-offs that could cost a lot more in the long run. The School Board should have honored its com m itm en t. “ They want to m anipu late, not be manipulated. They are out o f touch.” The Black United Front: “ I love th e m .” They are very imaginative and it w o rk s — i t ’ s w o rkin g now. They w o u ld n ’ t have gotten media tion w ithout the disruptions. The fact that has been overlooked is that “ the School Board disrupted the lives o f all those kids.” Seattle and San Francisco. Legislators should have local o f fices in the community— staffed by senior citizens— where people can give suggestions and file complaints. Backstrom would consult people at Portland State University, com munity organizations, and the net work o f close associates he has es tablished throughout the country. What are the m ajor problems f o r the people o f D is tric t 18. W hat would you do? Backstrom considers the m ajor problems to be housing, crime, eco nomic recovery. His goal would be to bring new business to the are to provide employment. What is your opinion on the crime problem? Crim e is compounded by lack o f jobs and m oney. P ro v id in g jobs w ould do much to a lleviate the crime problem. Who would you consult on pend ing leg islatio n ? H o w w ould you keep in touch with y o u r constitu ents? W hat do you think o f the Tub- man decision and the Black United F ro n t‘s tactics? Backstrom considers the School Board change o f plans to be wrong. He does not think the fact that two new members joined the Board to be a valid reason for changing the deci sion. “ W hen Congress makes a treaty it is upheld even a fte r the members o f Congress change. I think a prom ise w hould be like a treaty— it should be kept.” The B U F is providing leadership and direction in the Black com mu nity and he supports them w hole heartedly. “ Public employees should have a right to strike and the state should have the right to fire them .” H o w w ould y o u reo rg an ize the state system o f higher education to econom ize y e t p ro v id e q u a lity education? T ro en w ould abolish a ll public schools, including the colleges and universities. He favors a system where anyone who wants to teach could set up a class and find students. The increase in the level o f education “ would be p h en o m e n a l.” D iffe re n t classes would teach different things; there w ould be an exchange o f ideas. “ M inds w ould expand on every level.” Troen believes this w ill happen automatically. “ The people are at a point where they won’t be told what to d o ." What Committees would you like to serve on? W hat are some issues you would address? Troen would choose the commit tee on environm ent and would spend much o f his time speaking on behalf o f animals— especially dogs and cats. Thousands o f cats and dogs are killed annually— strays and animals turned over to the Humane vote on May 18th Elect a man who la EXPERIENCED to the Court of Appeals JUDGE WALKER In a recent statewide JU D IC IA L PERFORMANCE SURVEY lawyers rated Judge Walker very high in • • • • Analytical Ability Open Mindedness Common Sense & Practicality Legal Knowledge £L Pd for by the C o m m ltlM to elect Judge Walker to the Court of Appeals re-elect Gretchen Kofbury state representative democrat ~ A Proven Record Paid for by: Gretchen Kafoury for State Representative Committee, Anne Kelly Feeney, Treasurer, 1508 N E Stanton, Portland, or 97212 Walter Backström (E d ito r's note: M r. B ackstrom d id not p ro vid e a photograph f o r this interview./ W hat new sources o f revenue w ould you support? H o w w ould you balance the budget? Backstrom would support a grad uated income tax to ensure that persons on the upper end o f the in come scale pay their share o f taxes. He also supports a graduated cor porate income tax. Backstrom supports and would work for the designation o f N o rth east P o rtla n d as an “ enterprise zone.” Under the Reagan adminis tra tio n ’ s plan enterprise zones would offer (ax benefits and a relax ation o f federal regulations on em ployers within the zone. D o you fa v o r p u b lic u tility dis tricts? “ Yes, if cost effective.” D o you fa v o r the f a ir share con cept f o r state employees? “ Yes, one fo r all and all fo r one.” Should public employees have the right to strike? “ Yes." H o w w ould you reorganize the state system o f higher education to economize yet provide quality edu cation? Backstrom would support a com mission to look at the colleges and universities to see where there is du plication o f programs. In order to economize it might be necessary to see if particular programs should be located at one school and other pro grams at another. He would support closing schools if their programs du plicate and are available elsewhere. What committees would you like to serve on? Backstrom would select the trade, judiciary and labor committees. He would work for a 10 per cent set- aside to ensure that m inority firms get a share o f state contracts. He would advocate for an enter prise zone and would seek economic funding to bring jobs to the area. He advocates modernization o f the Port o f P ortland to compete with (Charles Stoudamlre and Rose Qangle were feetured In our May 6th Issue. I J Because we're all in this together. Paid lor by Committee to Re elect Margaret Strachan
