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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1982)
Page 4 Portland Observer May 13.1982 0 * House District 18: Bob Boyer EDITORIAL/OPINION 0 * Governor: Don Clark Candidates fo r the Democratic gubernatorial nom ination are running exciting, aggressive and entertaining campaigns. Ted K u lon goski, state senator fro m Ju n ctio n C ity ; Jerry Rust, Lane C o . c o m m is s io n e r fro m Eugene, and D o n C la r k , M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty E x e c u tiv e , have w ithout exception given voters an electoral treat these past few weeks— ideas, bombast and theat rics. A fte r a careful reading o f their respective programs fo r the state, we d o n ’ t hesitate to re commend D on C la rk as the D em ocratic n o m i nee fo r governor. C la r k has been c r itic iz e d f o r la c k o f c h a ris m a , b u ll-h e a d e d n e s s and f o r b e in g unexciting. But C la rk has come out punching re c e n tly , w ith cre a tive plans fo r a state -w ide health care program , a housing co rp o ra tio n to reduce home loan rates and encourage housing s ta rts ; a ffir m a tiv e a c tio n g u id e lin e s fo r the state, and an E m p lo ym e n t C orps to produce 15,000 needed jo bs, among othes. K u lo n g o s k i is lo n g on charm and s h o rt on concrete ideas; he is more fo rm than substance. A lth o u g h a strong state senator and frie n d o f la b o r, he has w a ffle d on issues he p re vio usly found non-negotiable: log exports, nuclear pow er, and plant closure legislation, which he now says w ould be a federal issue. Rust is focu sin g on energy, tim b e r, a state bank and re fo rm in g the tax structure. He has good ideas b u t is la c k in g the experience and depth o f knowledge needed to make an effective a d m in is tra to r o f state governm ent. He is also not well-known outside his home area, although this cam paign should help give h im statewide recognition. C la rk , too, is not as w e ll-kno w n th ro u g h o u t the state as is Kulongoski. But we believe his sol id experience as a M u ltnom ah C ounty com m is sioner, county sh e riff and county executive and his track record in producing and implementing innovative program s, such as Project H ealth in M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty , p o in t up his p o te n tia l to lead Oregon out o f its economic doldrum s. W e p re fe r substance, n o t fo rm . W e re c ommend a vote fo r Don C lark. ^Superintendent of public Instruction: Rod Monroe This position is o f extreme im portance to the fu tu re o f O regon and its citizens. F u n d in g o f public schools, the educational level, the rate o f d ro p o u ts — one o f the highest in the n a tio n — the near absence o f vocational training are all se rious problems that need strong leadership. O nly a well educated and highly motivated population can raise the sta n d a rd o f liv in g and face the challenges o f the future. Incum bent superintendent Vern Duncan has not dem onstrated strong leadership. A lth o u g h a man w ith strong academic credentials, he has not provided forceful leadership w ith the legisla ture or w ith the local school districts. The State S uperintendent has m uch pow er in e n fo rc in g regulations, elim inating discrim ination, protect ing m in o rity com m unities, ensuring the proper use o f funds, but Duncan has not exercised this power. B ill K e n d ric k , superintendent o f the Salem P ublic Schools, is an effective school adm in is tratio n. He has raised the academic level in the Salem schools and gives attention to basics. Rod M o n ro e , a P o rtlan d legislator, is also a fo rm e r teacher and college in stru cto r. He has served tw o terms in the House and currently is a m em ber o f the Senate. He has served on the education and revenue committees, where he has researched and voted on school funding issues. M o n ro e has pledged to supplem ent and en hance the m in o rity presence in the state system o f education, to strengthen program s fo r non- English speaking students, to use the powers o f the o ffice to eliminate discrim ination— including w ith h o ld in g o f fu n d s i f necessary. He also w o u ld s u p p o rt in n o v a tiv e e d u c a tio n a l p r o gram s, in c lu d in g v o c a tio n a l e d u c a tio n th a t w ould m otivate students to complete their high school educations. We believe the educational system in Oregon needs a strong hand and a strong voice i f it is to su rvive. W e th e re fo re recom m end a vote fo r Rod M onroe. 0^ 0 ^ Governor: Victor Atiyeh We supp ort G o ve rn o r V ic to r A tiy e h on the Republican prim ary fo r he is running practically unopposed. A tiy e h is in o ffic e at a tim e when new directio ns and th ru st m ust be in itia te d to overcome deficits fro m the federal governm ent and state resources. M a n y o f the program s he has tried to carry out in Salem have not been ac cepted by the Legislature so he must keep trying to p ro vid e leadership and new directio ns w ith peopple who do not always keep abreast o f the changes in government. 0^ U.S. Representative, 1st District: Les AuCoin Les A ucoin is the best choice fo r U.S. Repre sentative in O re g o n ’ s 1st D is tric t. D u rin g his three terms, he has tried to protect the state’s re sources and jobs and can be relied upon to do his best in a fourth term. 0^ U.S. Rep., 3rd District: Ron Wyden Ron Wyden has shown what a first term con gressman can do and should be returned to the H ouse o f R epresentatives. H e has ke p t his promise o f m aintaining close contact w ith con stituents and has fought fo r the rights o f seniors, poor and ignored. We believe he should be re elected. Si Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association U.S. Rep, 5th District: Dave McTeague As the state’ s newest congressional d is tric t, the 5th takes in parts o f C lackam as, M a rio n , Y a m h ill, P o lk and B e nto n c o u n tie s, am ong others. F or such a diverse area, we th in k Dave McTeague w o u ld be the voters’ best choice fo r U.S. Representative. A lthough he faces s tiff opposition from State Senator R u th M c F a rla n d , in a d d itio n to fo u r other candidates, we th in k his lifelong residency in , and ded icatio n to , the d is tric t and his p ro gressive and innovative ideas make him a good choice fo r the 5th D istrict. 0 < MSD Executive Officer: Gretchen Benett Gretchen Benett seeks to replace Rick G ustaf son as o ffic e r o f the tro u b le d M e tro p o lita n Service D istrict and deserves the chance. D uring h e r c a m p a ig n has stressed p u b lic in v o lv e m ent in M S D decision m a kin g — a p o in t upon which Gustafson can only be termed weak. The accounting problems M S D has suffered, as well as questions about the feasibility and de s ir a b ility o f the huge $262 m illio n garbage b u rn in g p la n t proposed fo r O regon C ity , call G usta fso n ’ s leadership o f the tri-c o u n ty p la n ning agency in to question. Benett has p u t fo rth good ideas fo r opening up M S D to p a rticip ation fro m the citizens who are its rig h tfu l boss. She should be given an op p o rtunity to implement them. Portland Observer House D istrict 18 was created by the Oregon Legislature, d urin g the redistricting process, to m a x im iz e the p o s s ib ility o f e le ctin g a b la ck re p re s e n ta tiv e . A lth o u g h the d is tr ic t is n o t m a jo rity black it provides the o n ly p o ssib ility fo r a m in o rity c o m m u n ity to elect a m in o rity representative. C h o s in g a c a n d id a te fr o m a m o n g those running is extrem ely d iffic u lt — some are well q u a lifie d , some are lo n g -tim e activists, some are friends. W e fir m ly believe that this p o sitio n should be h e ld by a b la c k p e rso n . T h e a d d itio n a l c rite ria we have set is that this person should have been active in the c o m m u n ity fo r some tim e; should have the interest in and concern fo r the people o f the d is tric t as evidenced by past service; should have the stam ina to w o rk nearly 24 hours a day fo r six m onths in service to the d is tr ic t; sh o u ld adhere to progressive ideals and should have played an active role in the struggle to create this district. W e are very impressed w ith the d e d icatio n and de vo tio n that Vesia L o vin g has given the p e o p le , and e s p e c ia lly the c h ild r e n , o f the area. W e also a p p re c ia te H a ro ld W illia m s ’ knowledge o f state governm ent. 0 * City Commissioner, Position No. 2: Joe Uris Joe U ris is the clear choice fo r city com m is sioner in the position tw o race. A form er PSU student body president and anti-w ar activist, he has since focused on educational pursuits, earn ing a Ph.D . in urban studies and teaching classes at C lackam as C o m m u n ity C ollege. A lth o u g h U ris does not have previous experience as an elected o ffic ia l, we believe he w ill provid e the “ breath o f fresh a ir” in C ity H a ll he promises in his campaign slogan. It is badly needed. Incum bent M ildred Schwab has held the seat fo r nine years and has enjoyed landslide reelec- tions. There is no question she is popular among some city residents, but we believe her record to be m ore one o f rhetoric than action. She c r iti cizes M ayor Ivancie but ends up voting w ith him more often than not, and she has a bad habit o f speaking in favor o f a good idea and then fin d ing som ething unpalatable about i t — enabling her to vote against it in the end. The Police Re view C om m ittee is a good example o f this. We also believe Schwab’s desire to see the A rts Cen ter through to com pletion is hardly enough rea son to reelect her. U ris ’ ideas fo r electing P o rt «.ommissioners and PD C board members, as well as in stitutin g representative d is tric ts fo r c ity co m m issio n members and elim inating the m ayor’s role o f as signing bureaus to them are creative and w ould help sweep out the old-style politica l machinery that fo r too long has stifled city government. We recom m end Joe U ris fo r c ity co m m issio n e r position 2. 0 * City Commissioner Position 3: Strachan We think Margaret Strachan has done a com mendable jo b on the city com m ission since her election in 1981 and recommend giving her a sec ond term . H er concern fo r the disadvantaged and willingness to forge coalitions in order to see projects through make her a valuable member o f the commission. Strachan has said she w ill w ork on correcting housing code vio latio ns, refo rm the c ity ’ s c iv il service system and cut waste in the city budget i f reelected. Her only opponent, Paul Freeman o f the So c ia lis t W o rke rs P a rty , wants to see the police disbanded and representatives o f local com m u nities elected as replacements. He does not favor the existing plan fo r a Police Review C o m m it tee, saying it is powerless as currently set up. A l though an articulate and obviously th o u g h tfu l candidate, we fin d Freeman unrealistic and lack ing the broader base o f support Strachan enjoys. Let’s keep the progressive m a jo rity on the city commission and reelect Margaret Strachan. 0 * House District 19: Gretchen Kafoury House District 19 may well be one o f the clos est races in this year’s election. Redistricting to provide a “ m in o rity ” district placed tw o incum bents in D istrict 19. A lthough these tw o legisla tors have some surface s im ila ritie s — bo th are w om en, b o th are lib e ra l dem ocrats, both are wives and m others— there are significant d iffe r ences. G retchen K a fo u ry has a long record o f ac com plishm ent in the O regon legislature where she is respected fo r her dedication to principle— her a b ility to take a firm stand. A lthough her in terests and experiences are broad her p rim a ry concerns are w ith c iv il and hum an rights, laws protecting women and children, child care, hu man services and urban problems. Jane Cease’ s m a jo r legislative interests have been transportation, agriculture, and land use— im portant issues but not as vital to the constitu ents in these d if f ic u lt tim es. M s. Cease has earned the re p u ta tio n o f a sm ooth le g isla to r, w illing to compromise and trade votes as the sit uation requires. A n o th e r issue— close to h o m e — seals o u r preference fo r K afoury. During the long struggle over re d is tric tin g , when the people o f A lb in a fought fo r a d istrict to include their “ com m u n ity o f interest” that could p o te n tia lly elect a black legislator, Gretchen K a fo u ry was one o f the early supporters. W hile others were fightin g to save th e ir o w n p o s itio n s she s u p p o rte d a m in o rity d is tric t and pledged that i f a d is tric t were created and her residence ended up w ith in that d istrict she w ould not seek reelection. She was w illing to sacrifice her own career in the i n terest o f the black com m unity. Jane Cease, along w ith Tom M ason, led the fight to keep the com m unity divided. Her oppo sition was said to be based in the e ffo rt to retain a sizeable segment o f dem ocratic voters in her own d istrict to ensure her reelection. The fig h t was b itte r but M s. Cease’ s e ffo rts were unsuc cessful. We urge your vote fo r Gretchen K afoury. 0 * House District 31: Jim Hill Jim H ill o f Salem is seeking election to the House o f Representatives. H ill, a black man, is m aking his m ark in Salem. A lawyer, H ill served as a Hearings O fficer in the State D e p a rtm e n t o f Revenue fo r three years, hearing citizen appeals o f property and in come tax assessments. As an Oregon Assistant A tto rn e y General he specialized in public u tility re g u lations, c rim in a l la w , a n ti-tru s t e n fo rce ments and w o rkm an’s compensation. Aside from his law degree he has an M .A . in business adm inistration and a B .A . in econom ics. H ill would add intelligence, credibility and re sponsibility to the State Legislature. Subscribe todayl Receive your Observer by mail. Only $10 per year siATsgaiAi The P o rtland Observer (U S P S 969 680I is published every Thursday by Erne Publishing Company, Inc . 2201 North Killings worth, Portland, Oregon 97217, Post Office Box 3137, Portland. Oregon 97208 Second class postage paid at Portland, Oregon O u r choice is Bob Boyer. Boyer has spent m a n y, m any hours o f v o lu n ta ry service in a w id e v a rie ty o f areas — c h ild care and edu cation, un io n a ctivitie s, voter re g istra tio n and education, etc. He is not a fra id to take a sta n d and speak o u t and he has s u p p o rte d com m u nity organizations such as the B U F and N A A C P . He a c tive ly p a rtic ip a te d in fo ru m s and h e a rin g s and lo b b ie d to in s u re the fo rm a tio n o f the d istrict. B o ye r was in te re s te d en o u g h in th e le g isla tive process to take tim e o f f w o rk and attend the special session. He has w orked hard and long to gain public confidence. W e a lso w ish to co m m e n d C h a rle s S toudam ire, a young man new to p o litics but one we b e lie ve has a b rig h t fu tu r e . H e is in te llig e n t, concerned and involved. A lth o u g h his c o m m u n ity a c tiv itie s have n o t been as visible as some othere, he has been busy. We e n co u ra g e S to u d a m ire to becom e m o re in volve d in the p o litic a l and social life o f the c o m m u n ity and to p re p a re h im s e lf now to become a leader in the future. A gain, we urge your vote fo r Bob Boyer fo r the D e m ocratic P arty n o m in a tio n fo r House D istrict 18. ' _ N fW W A P f« x. es y & À. lì. Name MEMBER NêWAL PER Auoclatlon - Founded 1t Subscriptions »10 00 per year in the Tri-County area Post m a ster Send address changes to the Portland Observer, P O. Box 3137, Portland. Oregon 97208 Al McGUberry, Manattmn Editor A! Williams, Advertising Manager 283-2488 National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. New York v Address City____ .State. Portland Observer Box 3137 Portland, OR 97208 -Zip.
