Strategies for striking a balance between economic growth and environmental preservation will likely become the key issues in the May 16 election to fill the City Council seat representing Ward 2.
The three candidates’ contrasting perspectives on growth are well reflected by their stance on whether the city should allow the Hyundai semiconductor plant to expand its facility onto nearby wetlands.
Incumbent Betty Taylor, who has served on the council since 1997, calls herself a staunch protector of the city’s woodlands and waterways and opposes all development that is not environmentally friendly. She has opposed Hyundai’s expansion since it was first proposed.
Azra Khalidi works as a security officer and quality control officer for Agripac, Inc., and advocates developing Eugene to its fullest potential to prevent encroaching on the city’s surrounding farms and woodlands. She supports the Hyundai proposal, saying the plant is vital to Eugene’s economy.
Mike Sherlock, president of Sherlock Oil and a legislative lobbyist, treads the philosophic path between Taylor’s and Khalidi’s positions. He supports dense city development that both leaves the city’s waterways and parks in place and prevents the need for expanding the urban growth boundaries. He said he won’t decide whether Hyundai should be allowed to expand until he has heard arguments from both supporters and detractors of the proposal.
Though all three candidates attended the University and ended up living within Ward 2, they come from very different backgrounds.
Taylor, 74, is a retired English teacher who graduated from the University with a Ph.D. in English. Seeking a second term on the council, Taylor has sometimes stood alone in her efforts to protect Eugene’s environment and has received public criticism from Mayor Jim Torrey for being obstinate. But her supporters disagree with the mayor and say Taylor is always willing to listen and consider all points of view.
An immigrant from Pakistan, Khalidi, 46, holds a master’s degree in geography, attended graduate school at the University and is currently enrolled in a technical drafting program at Lane Community College. She’s worked as an intern and cartographer for federal and Lane County government agencies, where she said she learned to listen to constituents and make decisions.
Sherlock, 48, flew cargo planes for the Air Force after graduating from the University with a degree in business. While in the Air Force, he received a master’s degree in management and later took over his family’s business, Sherlock Oil. He is also executive director of the Oregon Gasoline Dealers Association.
Taylor said she supports finding alternative revenue sources to replace regressive taxes, such as transportation fees, and scaling back dependence upon property taxes. Another pet project is a downtown youth center to get kids off the streets and into constructive activities after school.
Khalidi said she supports dense urban development and proposes moving all city government offices downtown to improve efficiency and increase the vitality of the area.
Sherlock said he’s running for the seat to steer the City Council into creating long-term plans and following through with them.
The lack of a clear development plan, Sherlock said, is causing the city to push its boundaries and inefficiently use space within city limits.