Election season officially began Monday as Beverly Stein became the first candidate to tour the University.
Stein, one of three democratic candidates for governor, traveled to Eugene to speak with University President Dave Frohnmayer, press the flesh with students, and speak during the “Working for Social Change: Women in Politics” conference at the School of Law.
“The biggest issue of this campaign is the economy,” she said as she spoke to reporters in the Wayne Morse Commons at the Knight Law Center. “We need to get Oregonians working again.”
Stein will face former State Treasurer Jim Hill and Supreme Court Justice Ted Kulongoski in the Democratic primary on May 21, 2002. Three Republicans currently have statewide campaigns: Kevin Mannix, former state senator from Salem; Jack Roberts, Commissioner of Labor and Industries; and Ron Saxton, who served on the Portland Public School Board.
After three terms representing north Portland in the Oregon Legislature, Stein joined the Multnomah Board of County Commissioners in 1993, where she has served as chairwoman. As the chief executive of the third largest government in the state, Stein feels prepared to tackle large budget issues — even as daunting as the $830 million budget deficit presently facing Oregon.
“I am the only person running who has put together seven budgets,” she said.
On a policy level, Stein outlined four major campaign issues: The economy, education, health care and environmental sustainability.
While she will not release a policy statement regarding education issues until next month, Stein admitted she heard a lot of good ideas speaking with Frohnmayer.
“We both see the University primarily as a way to educate people, but also as a sector in the economy that creates jobs,” she said. The University’s attempts to create partnerships with biomedical firms and provide student scholarships through private donations most impressed her, she said.
Because of the large number of undecided Democratic voters, Eugene and the University will play large roles in the primary for governor, she said. Also, the universities across Oregon will see a lot of Stein because she has targeted students as a important interest group, and has created “Students for Stein” contacts at 15 schools.
“Students will certainly have an interest in who their next governor will be,” she said.
While the Democratic primary is still more than three months away, Oregon’s fiscal crisis is forcing candidates to answer voter’s questions on tax and spending issues. Stein said she heard economic worries while politicking at the EMU.
“Students are nervous about the economy; they want jobs,” she said. She would like to work with business leaders throughout the state to create a plan to recruit and retain more jobs to Oregon.
“We want jobs available for the future,” she said. “We want to keep young people here and put their education to use.”

Candidates from both parties have been chided by state leaders for not offering alternate budget proposals for the state’s fiscal crisis. However, candidates should stick with budget philosophies and stay away from specifics, said Carl Hosticka, professor of public policy.
“The budget crisis is a third-rail topic: You touch it, you die.” said Hosticka, who represented South Eugene from 1983-94 in the Oregon House.
If a candidate expresses an opinion on a current budget issue, he said, the Legislature may drag the candidate further into the debate.
“We are probably better off by (candidates) not getting into the details,” he said.
Pauline Austin, spokeswoman for President Frohnmayer, said he will be meeting with each of the six major candidates for governor. However, the nature of those talks are not known.
“I presume they will be talking about the concerns of the University in regards to the state of Oregon,” she said.