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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 2019)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian A2 Wednesday, February 6, 2019 Nonaffiliated voters could be given their own primary “I’ve been interested in how our electoral process works for a long time, par- ticularly in how the two- party system limits compe- tition and keeps the voting public from exposure to more than just two points of view on issues,” Zundel said. When Zundel was seek- ing office, the Pacific Green Party came the closest to aligning with his beliefs, but he’s spent most of about a decade in Oregon as a non- affiliated voter, he said. Under current law, non- affiliated Oregonians can vote in primary elections only for nonpartisan posi- tions such as for judge. They have no primary vote in races set up by party, such as state representative or governor. Richardson and Zun- del want the state’s 880,000 nonaffiliated voters — who now outnumber registered Republicans — to be able to choose nonaffiliated can- didates for those partisan offices. “Although nearly one- third of Oregon voters are not affiliated with any polit- ical party, those nonaffili- ated voters often feel left out of the primary process in the current system,” Steve Elzinga, Richardson’s gov- ernmental and legal affairs director, told lawmakers on Secretary of State taps former political rival to develop bill By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Oregon Capital Bureau SALEM — The grow- ing bloc of Oregonians who don’t belong to any politi- cal party could have more say in elections under a new proposal from Secretary of State Dennis Richardson. Richardson got the idea from a former rival: Alan Zundel, the Pacific Green Party’s candidate for secre- tary of state in 2016. Since the election, Rich- ardson, a Republican, and Zundel have formed what, on its face, is an unlikely alliance between peo- ple with disparate political views. Two years ago, Richard- son tapped the retired politi- cal science professor to lead a task force studying how the state draws legislative and congressional districts. And now Richardson’s office is advocating for Sen- ate Bill 225, which is based on a concept Zundel sug- gested to him last year. It would allow nonaffiliated voters to participate in their own primary. Staff photo by E.J. Harris/File A bundle of ballots sits in a bin after elections officials verify voter signatures on election night, Nov. 6, 2018, at the Uma- tilla County Elections Division offices in Pendleton. Wednesday, Jan. 30. Under the proposal, non- affiliated candidates could enter a state-run primary where nonaffiliated voters could cast a ballot for the nonaffiliated candidate they preferred. The winning nonaffil- iated candidate would go to the general election in November and be an option for all voters in that contest. Officials from Richard- son’s office shared the pro- posal last week with sen- ators at a meeting of a committee focused on cam- paign finance laws. State Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, expressed concerns about allowing nonaffiliated voters to participate in a major party primary and potentially “sabotage” the outcome. The bill wouldn’t do that, though, Elzinga clarified. “It creates a new, effec- tively, a new party for non- affiliated voters,” Elzinga responded. “They have their own separate primary for voting on nonaffiliated candidates, and the top nonaffiliated candidate goes to the gen- eral election as the nonaffili- ated nominee.” Major party candidates would be ineligible to win the nonaffiliated primary election “so it doesn’t create a proxy battle,” Elzinga said. Major parties have the option of opening their pri- maries to all voters. Republicans and Dem- ocrats typically keep their TODAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Clark County sheriff will enforce gun measure Turning sunny; very cold Partly sunny and cold Cloudy, snow showers; cold Cloudy, a bit of snow; very cold Mostly cloudy and very cold 27° 10° 30° 17° VA N C O U V E R , Wash. (AP) — The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has announced that it will enforce a controversial gun-control measure passed by voters last November. The Columbian reports that the announcement came Saturday that noted that while Initiative 1639 was being challenged in court, the sheriff’s office intended to heed the new law for now. I-1639 was passed last year by Washington vot- ers with 59 percent of the vote. The measure requires safe storage for firearms and increases the age limit to buy a gun to 21. It also redefines many guns as “semi-auto- matic assault” rifles while strengthening the back- ground check required to purchase a firearm. Several other sheriffs in Washington have said they won’t enforce the measure. PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 31° 24° 20° 15° 32° 16° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 31° 18° 32° 25° 26° 19° 32° 21° OREGON FORECAST ALMANAC Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Seattle Olympia 42/25 23/11 31/8 Longview Kennewick Walla Walla 27/14 Lewiston 30/13 40/22 Astoria 44/28 Pullman Yakima 30/12 40/21 31/12 Portland Hermiston 40/25 The Dalles 31/13 Salem Corvallis 42/23 Yesterday Normals Records La Grande 27/6 PRECIPITATION John Day Eugene Bend 44/24 33/13 29/9 26° 23° 45° 29° 61° (1967) -10° (1989) 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Albany 42/23 0.16" 0.77" 0.23" 2.84" 1.85" 1.61" through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Pendleton 24/3 43/24 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date HERMISTON Enterprise 27/10 36/20 24° 18° 44° 28° 65° (2015) -12° (1989) PRECIPITATION Moses Lake 39/17 Aberdeen 24/8 26/12 Tacoma Yesterday Normals Records Spokane Wenatchee 37/22 Ontario 38/15 Caldwell Burns 0.27" 0.68" 0.17" 2.21" 1.24" 1.45" WINDS (in mph) 36/14 29/3 Today Boardman Pendleton Medford 44/22 Thu. NE 4-8 WNW 4-8 NE 4-8 NNE 4-8 SUN AND MOON Klamath Falls 34/9 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019 Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today 7:11 a.m. 5:08 p.m. 8:21 a.m. 7:05 p.m. First Full Last New Feb 12 Feb 19 Feb 26 Mar 6 NATIONAL EXTREMES Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 86° in McAllen, Texas Low -24° in Crane Lake, Minn. NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s 0s showers t-storms 10s rain 20s flurries 30s snow 40s 50s ice to participate in a state- funded primary. Richardson’s proposal is now before the Senate Rules Committee, where its fate is uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, chairs the committee. “That’s undecided,” a spokesman for Burdick said in an email Friday. “Basi- cally it’s too early to tell for sure.” Zundel is clear-eyed about the obstacle his idea faces in a Legislature where all legislators represent the major parties. “Making it easier for nonaffiliated candidates to get on the ballot is going to increase the possibility that they’ll have competition,” Zundel said. “And I think they’re less afraid of com- petition, per se, and more afraid of splitting the vote, causing somebody to lose an election who may have had a majority if there wasn’t another candidate in the race.” ——— Reporter Claire Withy- combe: cwithycombe@ eomediagroup.com or 971- 304-4148. Withycombe is a reporter for the East Orego- nian working for the Oregon Capital Bureau, a collabo- ration of EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group, and Salem Reporter. BRIEFLY Forecast for Pendleton Area 31° 13° primaries closed to party members. The Independent Party of Oregon decided to allow nonaffiliated voters to participate in its primary last May. Nonaffiliated vot- ers could request a special ballot from the Secretary of State’s office to take part. A second proposal from Richardson could apply to the roughly 45,000 Ore- gonians who belong to the state’s five minor parties — the Libertarian, Constitu- tion, Working Families, Pro- gressive and Pacific Green. Oregon laws “bene- fit long-established major parties at the expense of smaller parties,” Elzinga told lawmakers. Members of those parties can select a general elec- tion candidate through a party-run process. Richard- son has proposed allowing the state to pay for and run those primaries instead. “I will tell you, frankly, some of the minor parties are not excited about that,” Elzinga said. “They like the current process, and so we don’t feel it’s appropriate to require them to do so, but to give them that option at least at that time, I think is a good starting point.” The state would pay about $140,000 to run the nonaffiliated primary every election year, and $140,000 per minor party that chooses 60s cold front E AST O REGONIAN — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays EastOregonian.com To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255 or go online to EastOregonian.com and click on ‘Subscribe’ East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday, Monday and postal holidays, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Copyright © 2018, EO Media Group 70s 80s 90s 100s warm front stationary front 110s high AP Photo/Elaine Thompson Children sled down one of Seattle’s steeper hills on Monday. Western Washington was hit by a major winter storm, with several inches of snow, cold temperatures and bone-chilling winds overnight and into the day Monday. Intel confirms plans for factory PORTLAND (AP) — Intel has acknowledged it will soon start building a massive new semiconductor factory in Hillsboro. The Oregonian/Oregon- Live reports the company told about 50 residents living near its Ronler Acres cam- pus that it will build a third phase of its massive D1X manufacturing complex. Intel also said it plans a new technology building to support the factory with emergency generators, util- ities and additional parking. Hillsboro city officials say the chipmaker recently submitted construction permit applications but the city has yet to provide documents. The chipmaker says it plans to start work in Hill- sboro sometime in 2019 but plans remain contingent on unspecified business and economic factors. SECRETARY OF STATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING Oregon Department of Agriculture, Pesticides Program, Administrative Rules Chapter #603, Seán Fornelli, Rules Coordinator, (503) 986-4758. Adopt: 603-057-0392. RULE SUMMARY: This rule prohibits the application of any product containing aminocyclopyrachlor on certain defined rights-of-way; natural areas; restoration areas; marshes, swamps, bogs, and wetlands unless all conditions in an exception are met. This rule prohibits the application of any product containing aminocyclopyrachlor by any type of aerial application method. This rule prohibits the application of any product containing aminocyclopyrachlor in areas where the roots of desirable trees or shrubs may extend; on the inner or outer banks of ditches or canals; or in certain proximity to greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) leks (mating areas). Hearing Dates: February 15, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. Location: Deschutes County Road Department, 61150 SE 27th St., Bend, OR; February 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Location: Oregon Department of Agriculture, Hearing Room, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR. 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