Today is the last chance for voters to turn in ballots for the state’s primary election, which will decide who will square off in the November mayoral and City Council general election.
Completed ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. If a contestant for a seat receives more than 50 percent of the primary votes, that candidate will be the only one listed for that position on the November 2 general election ticket. Otherwise, the two candidates who receive the most votes will compete in the general election.
Five candidates appear on the ballot for the hotly contested position of mayor, with front-runners Nancy Nathanson and Kitty Piercy expected to pull in the most votes. Ward 8 City Councilor Nathanson and Piercy, a former state representative, are also competing against candidates Alphonsus Donnelly and Eric (Sephiroth) Gross in the election. The ballot also lists local musician Willie Nicholas, who dropped out of the race after the deadline to withdraw.
Nathanson, who has received endorsements from current Mayor Jim Torrey, has stressed her experience with local politics. Her campaign has also focused on the need to foster business development within the city, which she said can be hindered by local and state regulations.
“Getting through the bureaucracy is a major hurdle and we’re not helping,” she told the Emerald on May 12.
Piercy has garnered support from the Oregon League of Conservation Voters and several labor organizations. Piercy, who emphasizes her statewide political experience, also has said jobs are a key issue in the Eugene race.
“I don’t think that Eugene has taken advantage of … promoting the development and long-term growth of existing and new sustainable business,” Piercy said in a May 13 Emerald article. “It seems like Eugene, of all places, … ought to be really hooking into developing sustainable niches for this community.”
City Council Wards 1, 2, 7 and 8 seats are also on the ballot.
Council President Bonny Bettman, local real estate broker Tom Slocum and University student Adam Walsh are seeking the Ward 1 seat. Bettman is the incumbent for the ward, which includes most of West Eugene and encompasses City View Street, Amazon Parkway, West 28th Avenue and West 7th Avenue along the edge of the downtown area.
Maurie Denner, a retiring elementary school principal, is challenging Ward 2 incumbent Betty Taylor. The ward encompasses areas of Eugene south of West 28th Avenue.
Incumbent Scott Meisner is up against Andrea Ortiz, a Bethel School District board member, for the Ward 7 seat. The ward includes the Whiteaker, Trainsong and River Road neighborhoods, as well as portions of downtown.
Ward 8 candidate Chris Pryor, public affairs manager for the Willamalane Park and Recreation District is running unopposed. Ward 8 encompasses the Churchill area, some of Highway 99 and borders West Eugene out to Green Hill Road.
Lane County Chief Deputy County Clerk Annette Newingham said about half of all ballots are usually turned in between the last weekend before an election until the deadline. She added that ballot returns have so far been at normal levels.
“It’s following pretty much the same pattern we’ve had in the past,” she said.
Newingham said about 57 percent of Lane County voters turned out for the primary election in 2000, and about 47 percent voted in the 2002 election. She predicts this year’s final returns to be about 50 percent.
Election results will be displayed live on the Lane County Web site at http://www.co.lane.or.us/Elections/ starting at 8 p.m.