State Rep. Vicki Walker discusses transportation issues with freshmen Garret Hinds Friday at a rally in the EMU. Gov. Kitzhaber was also on hand to endorse Walker for the 41st district seat.
Standing above the “World’s Biggest Ballot Box” outside the EMU, Gov. John Kitzhaber and State Representative Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, encouraged students not to mail their ballots and to vote for Walker.
Kitzhaber and Walker dropped their ballots into the ballot box at the noon rally Friday, and encouraged students to place their votes in ballot boxes, such as the “World’s Biggest Ballot Box,” instead of mailing them.
Most student voters don’t realize that ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Nov. 7 for them to count; if they try to mail their ballots on Nov. 7, it will be too late.
Amid his statements for voter turnout, Kitzhaber also gave his support to Walker in her reelection campaign for District 41, which covers the West University area and most of campus.
Kitzhaber said he felt it was vital for students to elect a representative who shares their concerns of access to quality, affordable education, to increased student grants and to childcare for student parents.
“Because of Vicki Walker, we got college students back on the Oregon Health Plan,” Kitzhaber said. “Vicki is a supporter of the tuition freeze and a tireless advocate of block grants.”
In the past week, prominent Democrats such as former presidential candidate Bill Bradley and the Rev. Jesse Jackson have come to the University. All of them have told students to vote and gave strong support for Vice President Al Gore.
Now that the countdown to the election is in full swing, Kitzhaber instructed rally participants to personally contact 10 friends to get them to vote.
Walker is a University alumnae and a parent of two students who currently attend the school. As a result, Walker said she understands the needs of college students for inexpensive health care and tuition.
“You can count on me to represent you in the 2001 legislation,” Walker said.
Walker thanked the students for being the most registered campus in the nation.
“I care about these issues. I know the value of an education,” Walker said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my education at the University.”
Walker attended the University between 1974 and 1978. She maintained a 4.0 grade point average during the spring term of 1978 when she took 15 credits, despite being pregnant with her son, who is now a fifth-year senior.
Walker said when students make informed votes on the ballot measure they have a crucial impact on services with which they are provided.
“I brought my ballot to drop off today,” said ASUO intern and senior psychology major Lauren Bennett, who helped organize the ASUO’s ballot measure presentations this fall. “I agree with a lot of what Gov. Kitzhaber said … and I’d like to show support for the issues he is behind. I think this is going to be a really close election.”
Lauren Manes, a junior linguistics major who is the publicity director and secretary for College Democrats said she throws her support behind Walker. She attended the rally along with other students to place her vote in the “World’s Biggest Ballot Box.”
“I was already planning to vote, but I figured this would be the time to do it,” Manes said.