With ballots already mailed to voters and Nov. 4 quickly approaching, it’s decision time. The Eugene city mayor and U.S. senatorial positions are both included in this election, and feature strong candidates in both categories. Former Mayor Jim Torrey is challenging Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy for her position, while Democrat Jeff Merkley and the Republican Senator Gordon Smith and are both running for seats in the Senate.
The Emerald Editorial Board endorses Kitty Piercy for mayor and Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate.
Piercy, having served as mayor for Eugene from 2005 until the present, has done a respectable job of listening to the needs of citizens, and staying in tune with how to fix their problems. She has taken many measures to initiate plans for a sustainable Eugene, including the Sustainable Business Initiative, and continues to positively respond to public issues in a timely manner. During Piercy’s reign as mayor, she has developed a Human Rights City Project and a new Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan. Both projects serve to create equality and accurately showcase the values and high standards that Eugene holds itself to. Were Jim Torrey to be elected mayor of Eugene, he would work for urban sprawl, and the growing influence of big businesses over the city’s economy.
Jeff Merkley, who is also endorsed by Sen. Barack Obama, is the best candidate for the Oregon’s single Senate vacancy. If elected, Merkley plans to cut taxes on workers and middle class families, strengthen education, and end the war in Iraq. When Merkley served as Speaker of the House, he managed to help pass an education budget that increased education funding by 18 percent in two years, and doubled the amount of money available for student financial aid and provided the option of financial aid to part-time students. Merkley helped to legalize domestic partnership in Oregon and supports marriage equality. By supporting an increase in the number of police on the streets, he will aid in reducing crime rates and providing safer communities all across America. In addition to all of the other issues that he supports, Merkley is also committed to strengthening the economy by providing jobs in America and stopping outsourcing.
Conversely, Gordon Smith supported President George W. Bush’s war in Iraq and No Child Left Behind Act. And although Smith has a fairly independent spirit when it comes to making decisions on traditionally Republican issues such as opposing offshore drilling, his other stances on issues are vague. Smith merely states that agriculture is positive, and our natural resources must be saved (but not if it purposes any economic hardship). Jeff Merkley has well-thought out plans for reducing carbon emissions, supporting the Healthy Americans Act and growing rural Oregon.
Many decisions made by elected officials affect education, and other decisions will affect students when they graduate. It is important for students to reasearch the candidates and make their voices heard next month.
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