With no major budget-cutting measures on the upcoming ballot, the May 18 primary hasn’t received the same attention that surrounded recent elections. While most major races will not be determined until this fall’s general election, it’s important for students to realize that four major races are transpiring, and the outcome of some of these contests is very much in students’ hands.
At the city level, students can vote in the mayoral race, and residents of Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 7 can vote for their area’s City Council delegate. What’s more, any candidate who garners more than 50 percent of the vote is the winner — so if students plan to vote, now is the time to do it!
Below is a list of candidates the Emerald Editorial Board encourages students to vote for.

Mayor
The mayoral race pits former state Rep. Kitty Piercy against current City Councilor Nancy Nathanson. From a functionality standpoint, Nathanson seems to be the clear-cut choice because she has 10-plus years of local legislative experience. Nathanson has solid plans on helping the downtown area, and the University graduate wants to create a city liaison to encourage current businesses to remain in Eugene and to entice others to come to town.
On the other hand, Nathanson voted to increase the powers of the Department of Public Safety during the summer, while students were away, because the Eugene Police Department and the University asked for it. She said she supports the sports arena being built near the new courthouse site, where the University and city could share a new parking structure. Such a location wouldn’t alleviate the parking concerns many students on campus already have.
Lastly, Nathanson said she wouldn’t support citywide housing standards: “I would not be in favor of writing new housing standards for Eugene because that would take months and months.” Nathanson acknowledged there are “obvious abuses,” but said current state law simply needs to be enforced.
On the other hand, Piercy said she hadn’t looked into the DPS situation, but added that she was concerned non-officers were given such power. Piercy said she’d like to see the arena bring downtown and the University together, but also acknowledged a need for easy student-access. Lastly, Piercy said she supports housing standards.
For realizing that the University enrollment is larger than most small cities in the state, as Nathanson pointed out to the Board, she doesn’t seem to think students’ concerns are much of a priority. A vote for Piercy — and subsequently students’ interests — will change that.

Ward 1
Ward 1 needs a breath of fresh air. In 2000, Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey told The Register-Guard that Bonny Bettman, who currently occupies Ward 1, would aid in making it “practically impossible for any meaningful discussion around issues that are important to the city of Eugene.”
Perhaps Tom Slocum, who is running against Bettman, will provide a new voice to the ward. He’s a University graduate who is dedicated to stimulating Eugene’s sad economy. And perhaps he, as a former student, has an understanding of the absurdity of pushing through certain measures, which would greatly affect students, in the summer. See July’s questionable passage of expanding DPS powers, which had Bettman’s support.

Ward 2
Drawing on some seven years of Eugene City Council service (including acting as the council president in 2001), the Editorial Board endorses Councilor Betty Taylor for a third term in Ward 2. Taylor’s priorities are in the right place: She lists economic development and environmental protection among her key issues. Her experience on the Council makes her the most qualified candidate for Ward 2.

Ward 7
The Editorial Board endorses incumbent City Councilor and researcher-writer Scott Meisner for a third term in office, too. Among the numerous changes Meisner has worked for on the council are a new federal courthouse, the new downtown library and the protection of Rasor Park. The councilor and former lawyer’s years of experience in city policy make him the right choice for Ward 7.