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Urban League
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State ballot
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NBA draft
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Page 12
PORTLAND OBSERVER
C <*• PW
wss A s m
Volume XIV, Number 27
April 25, 1984
25C Per Copy
( • . Aar / t t d
Campaign '84:
Four vie for state senate seat
Charles Bolden accepts "Volunteer of the Year" Awerd from Fred
dye Petett, President, Urban League of Portland, at the League a an­
nual dinner lest Thursday. See related stories on page B.
(Photo: P C. Perl)
Campaign '84
State ballot measures
challenge voters
by Chuck Goodmacher
Along with all o f the candidates
for public office, voters will also be
asked M ay 15th to approve or
disapprove seven ballot measures
advocates hope w ill provide public
financing o f projects and programs.
O f the seven measures, two will be
voted on statewide, three are subject
to approval only by M ultnom ah
County voters, and one measure will
be decided by voters in each o f the
Port o f Portland special districts
and
the
M etropolitan
Service
District. The Observer presents this
inform ation on ballot measures in
two parts: first, the two statewide
measures
State Measure *1
Passage o f this measure would
allow the State o f Oregon to ( I ) sell
general obligation bonds and loan
the proceeds to local cities and
counties for public works projects,
or (2) buy up bonds already sold by
local Oregon jurisdictions. A com­
munity development finance cor­
poration, managed by governor ap­
pointees, would be created to ap­
prove or disapprove projects for
funding.
Supporters
claim :( I )
Building
new roads, bridges, etc., w ill create
jobs; (2) new industrial sites can be
created; and, (3) borrowing coats
for cities and counties w ill be
reduced.
Opponents claim: (1) There is no
guarantee new roads, etc., in rural
areas will actually create new jobs
(like the clearing o f land around
Emmanuel Hospital); (2) urban
areas w ill not benefit much because
there already exist sufficient public
works— what is lacking is job
training and capital for small
businesses which create most new
jobs; and, (3) State o f Oregon bonds
with their tax exempt feature for
state residents will slightly reduce
the amount o f income available to
tax and will thereby affect programs
or cause other tax raises.
State Measure 12
This measure w ill simply raise
fees for licensing and registration o f
motor vehicles in Oregon to pay for
bridge maintenance and construc­
tion by cities, counties, and the state
itself through the State Department
o f Transportation. The minimum
fee will be raised by S10 toS20 per
vehicle for moat cars with no in­
crease for motorcycles, mopeds and
a few other special categories.
Supporters claim: ( I ) It would
repair bridges and roadways which
are a serious threat to human life;
(2) the last fee increases were in 1950
and are inadequate for maintaining
Oregon’s highways and roads; and,
(3) the registration fee is a user fee
increase, and it is fair that users o f
the highway system pay for it.
Opponents claim: ( I ) Vehicle
registration fees should be based
solely on weight o f vehicle and rate
o f road usage; (2) funds raised
through registration fees should also
be used for safety programs such as
driver improvement and drunk
driver programs as well as for mass
transit; and, (3) increasing the fee is
discriminatory to low-income d tl-
Sen. Bill
McCoy
Bill
Stevenson
Rep. Wally
Priestley
Stephen
McElroy
by L am ia Duke
by Lenita D u k t
by L a m ia Duke
by L arilla D u k t
G R A S S R O O T NEW S. N .W .—
State Senator Bill M cC oy is the
G R A S S R O O T NEW S. N .W .—
Bill Stevenson, a former legislator
and state labor commissioner, said the
ineffectiveness o f the Legislature
and the incumbent forced him out
o f political retirement.
"1 was born and raised in North
Portland. I have a commitment to
use my talents to improve the
legislative process."
Not only does Stevenson feel
M cC oy has been ineffective, but
"Priestley has a total incapacity to
accept anything business suggests.
His stand is not compatible with
creating jobs or improving the
economic climate o f the state.
Business is the entity that creates
job s.”
H e said his presence in the senate
(Please turn to page 4, column 2/
G R A S S R O O T NEW S. N .W .—
W ally Priestley has been called the
liberal’s liberal, who faces the
challenge o f attracting votes outside
his traditional base o f support in
District 17, among peace activists
and nuclear freeze proponents.
Currently, he is a state represen­
tative in District 17, a seat he has
held from 1964-70 and 1972-82.
Priestley admittedly has overt
socialist tendencies. H ow effective
does he expect to be as a state
senator in the legislature o f a
capitalist country?
G R A S S R O O T NEW S. N .W .—
Stephen D . M cE lro y is an active
member o f the North Portland
C itizen’s Com m ittee, a precinct
committee person and the secretary
o f the Democratic party in House
District 17.
H e is running on the platform o f
tax reform and representing the
working class in District 8.
" T h e combination o f taxes that 1
support include a reduced income
tax, property taxes and will make up
the revenue lost by supporting a lot­
tery.”
Although, M cElroy has good in­
tentions, the likelihood o f him
being elected in a race as crowded as
State Senator District 8 is, seems
remote.
(Please turn to page 6. column 2)
American in the Senate. His two
main opponents have charged him
with being an ineffective leader.
"Leadership is getting votes from
your colleagues. I have experience,
chaired committees and when I first
went to the legislature, 1 served on
the Ways and Means Comm ittee
which is the moat p o w erfu l." he
countered.
During the form ation o f District
18, M cC oy was among the most
powerful voices who opposed it.
" I was opposed to the gerryman­
dering o f the district. 1 had a plan
which would have taken in most of
the community and left portions of
the population in other senate
(Pleas* turn lo page 4, column I )
" Y o u can get things done without
compromising. The race riots in the
1960’s did more to bring justice in
the legislative process more than
anything else. It is not appropriate
(Please turn to page 6. column I)
Senate candidates speak on the issues
Each week between now and the
Oregon Prim ary, M a y 15th, the
Portland Observer will explore the
candidates and issues o f concern to
Portland voters
This week, we interviewed the
fo u r candidates f o r the Oregon
Stale Senate D is tn c t 8.
N ext week: The D istrict 19 State
Representative race.
8 te v e n a o n : " T h e major issue is
the effectiveness o f the legislature.
W e were promised property tax
relief and were given none. The
other issue is job development and
the Oregon Legislature has not even
scratched the surface. W e need to
repeal
the unitary
tax.
Also.
HB 2930, which prohibits holding
juvenile offenders for more than
three hours."
What do you feel are major
Issues facing
residents of
District 8?
M c C o y : "Unem ploym ent is the
number one problem. The solution
is to find jobs for the people. This
year,
the
Portland
Meadows
race track was going to dose down. I
was instrumental in going to the
Racing Commission to get them to
operate the race track themselves. ’ ’
M c E lro y : "Unem ploym ent is the
m ajor problem. I believe 40 percent
o f our young Black people are
unemployed. W e could create a bet­
ter
business
environment
by
reducing property taxes, modifying
the unitary tax and reducing the
corporate income tax .”
Priestley: " T h e m ajor problems
ir e not resolvable at the legislature.
They are social and economic as it
relates to the distribution o f wealth.
The legislature can effect the
problem by tax policies and I ’ ve
always supported a progressive tax
approach.”
What
economic
District 8?
would
you
do
development
to
In
M c C o y : " I will keep working to
expand overseas trade, strengthen
small business and preserve existing
job s.”
M c E lro y : " M y answer to the first
question will apply here. I would try
and draw business so we could em­
ploy people.”
Prieetley: " I ’ll tell you what I
w ouldn't do. I would not give our
tax dollars away to private cor­
porations through property tax
benefits or repeal the unitary tax. I
would have tax money invested in
the people such as school, health
and child care. Jobs are created by
new investments.”
S tev en so n : ” 1 support an enter­
prise zone. I would be a strong ad­
vocate for W B E ’s, M B E 's and small
businesses in our district. W e should
I
• • -
7 7
provide venture capital for business
expansion.”
Who ara you going to aupport
and vota for Präsident of the
United States?
M c C o y : "1 don’t know. I was a
supporter o f a candidate who is no
longer in the race. I got on the band­
wagon when the first one or two
people announced their csmdidacy.
I ’m uncom m itted.”
M c E lro y : " T h e only person that
can beat Ronald Reagan is G ary
H a r t.”
Prieetley
to attack the rich and powerful all
the time, on all the issues. Justice
for the ordinary citizen will not
come unless there is a person who
can provide a shield behind which
the standard liberal or moderate
person can proceed. ’ ’
Stevenson: "1 have skills and
experience which are beneficial. I
served in the State Legislature as a
legislator and state' senator. M y
desire to return to the process coin­
cides with what I see are needs to
make changes in Salem.
How would you solicit com­
" I ’ m a contributor
and canvasser for Jesse Jackson."
m u n ity In p u t a n d
th e ir su g gestion ?
8 te v e n a o n : " I t ’s very likely 1
would vote for W alter M ondale. He
is clearly the best prepared can­
didate to assume the presidency.”
M c C o y : Citizen input comes all
the time. People continue to call and
write. W e answer all letters, post­
cards and inquiries. There are many
bills introduced through my office
that come from that type o f in p u t.”
Why should résidants
District 8 vote for you?
In
M c C o y : “ Because o f my ex­
perience and continued contact with
them. I ’ m sincere about solving the
problems in District 8 and have
shown this over the years.”
M c E lro y : "T h e working class
people in our district have not been
represented. N o one is holding
public meetings to find out what is
on the minds o f our constituency.”
Priestley:
" I ’m
something
special at the legislature.
My
colleagues even marvel at my ability
Im p le m e n t
M c E lro y :
”1
would
hold
meetings with district leaders in
both house districts with both par­
ties. I ’ ll find out concerns from a
party perspective. I would attend as
many public meetings as I could to
find out the problems according to
our constituency.”
Priestley: " I t is hard to get com ­
m unity input on things with the
budget o f a state legislator It is
hard to get people out unless you
have a specific issue. I plan to send
(Please turn lo page 2, column I )