Only five days remain until the May 18 primary election to determine Eugene’s next mayor, and candidates Kitty Piercy and Nancy Nathanson lead the race.
Piercy, a former state representative, said her experiences as a legislator have given her a “breadth of experience on all issues that affect our state and our community.” Piercy was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1994, and has also worked as an elementary schoolteacher and an early childhood educator.
Piercy said public safety is a main priority.
“I think public safety is the number one thing in a city,” she said. “People want to feel safe where they live.”
She said community policing and prevention measures are vital, adding that the city should explore sharing public safety services regionally.
“When we have limited dollars, it is a challenge to give justice,” she said. “We have to be very focused to make sure the legal process works right for people.”
Piercy said improving Eugene’s economy is another one of her top goals.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re talking to University of Oregon students or people in the community, jobs are the most important things on people’s minds because you can’t raise your family or build a future without having access to jobs,” Piercy said.
Piercy said she plans to focus on bringing environmentally friendly businesses to Eugene. Her plans include creating a “critical mass” of green businesses to allow clusters of such businesses to share materials.
“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. “It seems like Eugene, of all places, … ought to be really hooking into developing sustainable niches for this community.”
Piercy also said the University plays a significant role in her vision for Eugene, saying the city needs to strengthen its ties to the institution.
“The University of Oregon is one of the biggest economic engines in our community,” she said. “The research and work done by both your professors and students have great opportunity for us for spin-off business growth in this community.”
Piercy said she has worked for student issues as a legislator and an activist, including advocating for housing standards such as those in Corvallis.
“I think Eugene should really be addressing that, too, and I’m more than willing to continue to work with student organizations on that,” she said.
She said students are an important part of Eugene.
“I just think we owe our students a lot of respect, attention to their issues and inviting them to the table for all the discussions that affect them in our community,” she said.
Piercy said she is also a proponent for education.
“I taught school for 20 years, so certainly I draw on my understanding of how important education is for kids and how to meet the needs of families in our community,” she said.
Jennifer DeMuth, Lane County field organizer for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, said her organization supports Piercy because of her proven record on environmental issues.
“We interviewed both candidates and we feel confident that Kitty Piercy will be a strong leader for Eugene’s water, air and open spaces,” she said.
Scott Landfield, co-owner of Tsunami Books in Eugene, said Piercy’s progressive stance appeals to him.
“It’s time for a fresh vision here in town,” he said. “Her emphasis on recruiting environmentally friendly businesses … is day and night with the present regime.”
Bart Lewis, a University employee and member of the Service Employees International Union Local 503, said Piercy has always been a friend of education and has worked to secure a living wage for Oregon workers.
“For those of us here on campus, she’s always been someone we admire for all the work she’s done and how she’s helped us,” he said.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 Executive Board Officer Carol Allred said her organization also supports Piercy because of her experience as a legislator and her work for a sufficient minimum wage.
“We’ve got to get people a living wage in this area and I believe she’s the gal who will help us do that,” she said.
Piercy said she is ready to take on the mayoral role with her vision for Eugene.
“We’ve spent a lot of time saying we’re not a good community to do business in or we’re combative,” she said. “We are full of creative, forward thinking creative people. We have a lot to be proud of.”