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Daily Emerald, May 5, 2008
Basic Rights Oregon endorses Kitty Piercy in upcoming mayoral election

On behalf of the more than 2,000 Basic Rights Oregon supporters who live in Eugene, I am proud to announce BRO's endorsement of Kitty Piercy for mayor. Mayor Piercy has been a vocal champion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality for years.

In contrast, Jim Torrey has refused to fill out the most basic questionnaire stating where he stands on questions of discrimination and legal recognition for same-sex relationships. Why? Torrey knows that the only way he can win this race is if Eugene voters don't know what he stands for. One year he is a registered Republican, the next an independent.

The only sure thing we do know about Jim Torrey is that he is a major contributor to George W. Bush. Campaign finance reports show that the same rich and powerful Republicans who have given him money in the past are filling his campaign war chest right now. During this critical time when Oregonians are threatened by out of state right-wing groups, we need someone we can count on. That person is Mayor Kitty Piercy.

Register Guard, May 3, 2008
Piercy has been the best mayor

Among the six mayors who have served during my 24 years in Eugene, Kitty Piercy is the best. This is faint praise because Eugene’s speculators have, in every other race, succeeded in electing a mayor for all of the developers.

Jim Torrey, on the other hand, was Eugene’s worst mayor by a country mile. He says he wants to “support the police.” Voters should not forget who politicized and militarized our police department and alienated public support for the police.

He blames Piercy for our struggling downtown core. But who presided over eight years of downtown decline? Who wasted tens of millions on failed strategies to revive downtown?

He says he is the business-friendly candidate. But who navigated Eugene to the bottom of the list of Oregon cities on economic measures that gauge citizen prosperity, such as growth in median income, job growth, and job retention, for example? Jim Torrey, that’s who.

Torrey claims he is conveniently reborn as an Independent, but one look at his contributor list shows that he still represents the same Republican old guard and the subset of developers who can’t make an honest buck without a public subsidy.

Given Torrey as an alternative, voters should give Piercy another four years to show that she can implement some of her good ideas.

Eugene Weekly, May 1, 2008
THE BATHROOM ISSUE

I'm all for protecting our children from perverts in public bathrooms, but while Jim Torrey is avidly equating transgender people with perverts, I have to wonder, who's looking out for my kid?

The reality is that for any transgender person, using a public restroom is often a source of anxiety and potential danger. If my transgender daughter were forced to use men's bathrooms, the chance of her being harassed, ridiculed, beat up and even killed is a hundred times greater than the likelihood of some teenage boy pretending to identify as female just for the thrill of going into the girls' bathroom.

This whole bathroom issue is nothing more than a distraction from the real issue — offering to transpeople the same human dignities we extend to others.

When I hear national statistics on hate crimes against transpeople, I am sickened and appalled. I'm glad my family lives in Eugene, where my daughter has a good chance of being treated with respect and a much smaller chance of being fired, evicted or murdered for her "crime" of being whoever she was born to be.

Current Mayor Kitty Piercy is committed to making Eugene a welcoming and safe place for everyone. I hate to think of the steps we'd be taking backwards into bigotry if Jim Torrey were elected.

Thank you, Sally Sheklow, for once again calling a spade a spade and still getting us to laugh.

Eugene Weekly, May 1, 2008
PEOPLE VS CORPS

At last! We have a couple of local elections in which it will be easy to choose whom to vote for. The candidates for the mayoral and North Eugene county commissioner races are as different as could be!

When we look at the type of decisions our next mayor will be facing — the new hospital placement and our downtown renewal — we have to decide between a mayor who is supported by the people of the city or the mayor who gets his financial support from the big businesses of the city and surrounding areas. Jim Torrey's list of political donors is like a who's who of developers and corporate sponsors. Kitty Piercy is still the voice of the people; she is being supported by a wide array of individuals and listens to all their voices. Whom do we want creating our downtown? The people of Eugene or the Big Money folks who think they know what's best for us?

The County Commissioners' race is another easy choice. Look at the donor lists. Bobby Green's donor list almost matches Torrey's businesses and developers. Rob Handy is listening to the voices of the people, asking them what they want and need. Has he been to your doorstep yet? These next few years are going to be big for the county. We have a huge tax deficit coming up. Do we want the people of Lane County deciding how we want it dealt with, or should we just hand it over to developers and big business to take care of it?

If you still aren't sure whether to vote for the big business candidate or the candidate of the people, remember that for the last seven and a half years we have had a man for the corporations in the White House. How has that worked for you so far?

I know that Rob Handy and Kitty Piercy will represent the people.

Eugene Weekly, May 1, 2008
CHECK FUNDERS

During a news broadcast, I heard Jim Torrey boast that he had raised more campaign money than Mayor Piercy. When listening to the Eugene City Club recently, I heard Lane County Commissioner Bobby Green boast that he had "friends."

The following is a public service announcement. Go to oregonvotes.org and see the ORESTAR page, where candidate committees do their finance reporting. On the right side of the page under the big red star, click on public search. This takes you to a page where you can check the candidate box and type in your candidate of interest and then click on submit. Click on the name of the candidate's committee, and this takes you to a page that allows you to view candidate information. At the bottom of the screen under "Additional Candidate Information," click on "Financial Activity." This may sound like a lot of work, but you will be rewarded. You will see who is supporting Torrey and who is supporting Commissioner Green and whom they patronize. Google The Lindholm Company and Ric Lindholm — hardly moderate in the political spectrum.

Now look up Mayor Piercy. Now look up Handy, who is running against Green. Look at the amounts under miscellaneous contributions. These are contributions of $100 or less. These are the people who are the groundswell of voices who want to be heard. And they are the people who will be heard.

Sorry, Mr. Torrey and Commissioner Green. Be careful when you boast.

Register-Guard, April 30, 2008
Piercy backed mobile home law

Every mobile home owner in a Eugene park owes a debt of gratitude to Mayor Kitty Piercy. Casting a vote for Piercy in the May election would be an excellent means of thanking her for her effort.

Mayor Piercy played a pivotal role in the recent adoption of a revised Eugene mobile home park closure ordinance that provides tenants protection from the loss of their home in the event of a park sale. The 2007 Legislature passed a bill that provided for local jurisdictions to pass ordinances granting greater protections than offered by the state, but only if such laws were passed by June 28, 2007. Only Eugene acted responsibly.

It should be noted that neither the Springfield City Council nor the Lane County Board of Commissioners took advantage of being able to provide better protection for their mobile home owners.

Mayor Piercy deserves credit as being the most influential person in getting the state bill passed, followed by the passage of a revised Eugene ordinance. It was her considerable influence in Salem and Eugene that provided the difference.

The residents of the Patrician Mobile Home Park in Springfield are asking why their mayor and council did nothing for them when they had a chance. More park sales lacking adequate homeowner protection will follow.

Mayor Piercy’s effort to gain mobile home owners security should trump any other concerns anyone might have about her. She deserves your vote.

Register Guard, April 26, 2008
Piercy protects local businesses

Wow, prime time television ads! No wonder Jim Torrey needs so much money for his mayoral campaign.

The donor-developers must be champing at the bit to make Eugene a huge city at citizen expense. I believe citizens are becoming aware that growth can be expensive for taxpayers when they see their increased Eugene Water & Electric Board and sewer bills to pay for new infrastructure.

Do we really want more traffic, more accidents, more billboards and more pollution? I seeTorrey signs along Coburg Road on construction plots and the Torrey billboards adding their permanent ugliness to our streets.

Mayor Kitty Piercy, with more than6,000 visits to community events, has urged sustainable growth and support for local businesses that keep our money in our city. She listens to neighborhood voices and works to keep our community prospering and safe. Our local farms and local small businesses need a mayor who continually works for them in this uncertain economic time. I support Mayor Piercy.

Register Guard, April 26, 2008
Piercy has shown leadership

Shortly after Kitty Piercy became mayor of Eugene, workers at Lane Transit District went out on strike.

With bus service halted and negotiations at a standstill, the strike had the potential to become a protracted conflict that would adversely affect not only workers and management but also the community. Mayor Piercy was instrumental in convening a team of community mediators who quickly gained the trust of the parties and were able to help broker an equitable settlement.

Intervening in such a visible, high-stakes event early in her term displayed the qualities of leadership that Mayor Piercy has consistently shown throughout her first term in office: a willingness to take political risks, the ability to bridge differences, and the perseverance to achieve positive results. These qualities have served Eugene well over the last four years and underscore why Piercy deserves re-election.

Register Guard, April 26, 2008
Piercy right to resist inventory

Jim Torrey is attacking Mayor Kitty Piercy for resisting learning whether the city satisfies a state requirement to have a 20-year supply of buildable land for new homes and businesses.

The state law is now absurd. The law must be changed. It is time to say: “Shut the door. We are full up. Stop population growth. We do not need more people, more businesses, more cars, more roads, more pollution.”

We live in a finite world. The oil peak has been reached. There is no comprehensive substitute for oil. Supplies will steadily decline to perhaps 50 percent of current levels by 2030. Food production will diminish. Starvation will increase. We are long overdue in establishing negative population growth. But no politician seems able to tell the public the unpleasant truth.

California became a population hell-hole from my perspective, and so we moved here in 1993. The quality of living here has steadily decreased since then.

Register Guard, April 26, 2008
Torrey’s backers are all familiar

I am confused. I thought Jim Torrey was an independent. I thought he left the Republican Party due to dissatisfaction with itspolicies.

But I read the April 17 Register-Guard article about mayoral campaign contributions showing he received big money from a Who’s Who of big business and developers, including downtown landlord Dan Giustina for almost $4,000 and Hamilton Construction (of Springfield!) for $5,000. His list of donors looks like the usual pro-business interests that backed him in the past, and backed former mayors Brian Obie and Jeff Miller.

So I went to Torrey’s Web site to check out why he left the Republicans to become an independent. No word there. I e-mailed his campaign asking why he switched parties, and the auto-reply said that I’d be hearing back from him shortly.

It’s been over two weeks, and still no word. Why not? I wonder.

If I did hear back, I’d tell Torrey that I am not opposed to development and growth in our city. As our population increases, it is inevitable. And as a small business owner, I recognize that growth can be good.

But I prefer a balanced approach to development that also considers environmental issues, quality of life, and living wages instead of a blank check to the developers.

And speaking of a blank check, I cannot afford the $5,000 or $6,000 Torrey’s backers are contributing, but I can afford the $50 that so many small contributors are making to re-elect Mayor Kitty Piercy.

Register Guard, April 26, 2008
Piercy championed sustainability

Jim Torrey being worried about Eugene’s future makes me laugh. Is that why he’s so eager to tear up our prime farmland so that his developer buddies (and he) can make a buck?

Is that why he blocked citizen oversight of the police, even as the truth about the abuses of Juan Lara and Roger Magaña were coming to light? Abuse occurred on Torrey’s watch.

Is that why he did nothing toward creating sustainable business while he was mayor? Making sustainable business a reality in Eugene took a real environmentalist — Mayor Kitty Piercy.

Register-Guard, April 19, 2008
Torrey thwarted historic district

South University neighbors are fighting the prospect of a seven-story apartment looming over their historic one- and two-story homes. The issues are size, scale and setback.

If Jim Torrey had shown leadership as mayor, it’s probable that this neighborhood would be a historic district where proximity to the proposed apartment would automatically raise those issues.

Torrey first supported the historic district nomination, sponsored by the South University Neighborhood Association through a city matching grant. Yet when well-financed opponents sought to delay the nomination at the eleventh hour, Torrey was all ears to a group whose tactics would make Karl Rove chortle.

They orchestrated the shutdown of a neighborhood meeting so supporters couldn’t present material. They harassed the city’s historic preservation officer to the point where he was forbidden to speak to supporters. So much for participatory democracy.

Meanwhile, Torrey turned his back on the neighbors, refusing to renew his support. One of his last acts in office was to ignore a city-financed Oregon Consensus Program report recommending that the nomination proceed.

One of Kitty Piercy’s earliest acts as mayor was to bring together both sides in the debate. She signed a letter of support. But Torrey’s deed was done. Because of the delay, the nomination was returned to Eugene and a process that started 10 years ago must be repeated.

Our supporters group met with Torrey; each time it was apparent that his mind was made up before he heard us speak. Mayor Piercy, on the other hand, knows how to listen.

Register-Guard, April 19, 2008
Look at Torrey’s contributors

Want an insider’s look at politics? Follow the money.

Nearly all of Mayor Kitty Piercy’s campaign contributions have been amounts less than $100, from people who want a Eugene that’s a great place for ordinary people to live, work, raise kids, stay healthy and enjoy leisure.

Clearly, Jim Torrey has another agenda. Look who has wanted to buy a win for the retired billboard executive in this and past elections.

Local timber baron and land speculator Aaron Jones gave $15,000. Jones is a noted Republican who gave $243,000 to pass Measure 37, which makes taxpayers pay developers or ignore land use regulations. The Associated Oregon Loggers gave Torrey $10,000. Associated Oregon Industries donated $8,600. AOI successfully pushed to shift to state and local taxes away from corporations and onto ordinary citizens. Great, if you own a corporation.

Timber lobbyist Ted Ferrioli gave $5,000. The Oregon Republican Party gave $5,000.

The president of Delta Construction made a personal contribution of $5,000. Three other sand and gravel pit operators gave $1000 each. Great, if you want free rein to grow a business that may damage the ecosystems we depend on and the quality of life for all.

What I see is that these wealthy people trust Torrey to be pro-development, pro-gravel mining, pro-timber cutting, and in favor of a system that favors old money and big business. We need those people, agreed, but do we need a mayor they expect to pay them back with special favors? I don’t doubt they expect Torrey to do just that.

Eugene Weekly, April 17, 2008
BIG BAD KITTY FANS?

I was gratified to learn that Jim Torrey finally agreed to a debate with the three other mayoral candidates at the City Club on May 2. However, I do have some concerns about whether Torrey understands electoral politics. An April 4 Register-Guard article cited Torrey as saying that "he was worried that Piercy's campaign would plug the crowd with her supporters."

These are the very people he should be eager to address. How else will he have the opportunity to sway opinions? Since the mayor is not an appointed position, logic suggests that Torrey will have to change some hearts and minds and demonstrate to all of Eugene, even Piercy's supporters, that he is a better candidate. How better to do this than to face us in a crowded room over and over again for the next several months?

One thing we know for sure is that Kitty Piercy will talk to anybody, anytime, anywhere. This is why Piercy is the mayor for ALL Eugene.

Register-Guard, April 13, 2008
Life is better with bikes

It was good to see SeQuential Biofuels has teamed with Eugene’s mayor and local businesses to reduce carbon emissions (Register-Guard, April 1). Though scientists debate the overall carbon emission reductions achieved by switching from fossil fuels to biofuels, encouraging people to use the bus, walk or bike are significant steps toward this end.

Of all these proposals, cycling is the most effective method for reducing one’s environmental impact. The Worldwatch Institute estimates that a cyclist riding one mile burns about 35 calories, compared to the 1,800 calories needed to fuel a car the same mile. The sheer caloric demands of over 800 million vehicles worldwide using even a partial mix of biofuels will exceed global production capacity.

Considering that 40 percent of trips by car are less than two miles, many trips for errands and commuting can be accomplished by bike, with a guaranteed reduction in carbon emissions. For short trips, using a bike provides even greater benefits since operating a vehicle from a cold start means greater pollution, more wear and tear and less efficiency.

Not everyone can bike, and only a small number live a carless lifestyle. But if we are to admit, as President Bush has, that Americans are addicted to oil, substituting biofuels may be simply switching addictions.

To really make a difference, we should do more to encourage transportation options like cycling and embrace the idea that life is better with bikes.

Register Guard, April 13, 2008
Piercy committed to inclusivity

I am writing in support of re-electing Mayor Kitty Piercy.

She has provided great leadership in Eugene. I am most impressed by who she is as a person.

Piercy is completely committed to inclusivity. She sincerely listens to all points of view. She brings in people on all sides of an issue in search of the best solutions and does so without a pre-conceived agenda. Every individual is respected.

She began the wonderful practice of going out to the real hearts of neighborhoods — local grocery stores and shops — to set up a table and meet and talk with people all around Eugene. What if every elected official listened to all points of view, and spent hours of their time meeting average folks out where they live?

Although she has been the target of sometimes harsh and destructive criticism, she always remains respectful and open-minded to all. She is always calm, fair, even-handed and keeps the big picture in mind. This means she works for the long-term health of Eugene, not short-term profits for a few.

I trust Piercy to always listen, always tell the truth, and always work long and hard, well beyond the call of duty.

She is a remarkable person, and we are very lucky to have her as our mayor.

Register Guard, April 12, 2008
Piercy truly cares about Eugene

I must respond to a recent letter in The Register-Guard touting the accomplishments of Jim Torrey as Eugene mayor.

Let us remember that Kitty Piercy inherited a dying downtown after eight years under Torrey’s leadership. Let us also remember that our crumbling potholed streets were also inherited. They were not Piercy’s creations.

Torrey was hesitant to participate in a debate with questions from the audience. That sounds more than a little strange when the other three candidates were happy to participate. Torrey said he was fearful that Piercy’s supporters would pack the audience and ask him embarrassing questions. Aren’t we curious what questions about his service as mayor would be embarrassing?

I’ve known Piercy for a lot of years. I know her service is given freely and with heart. She truly cares about Eugene and all of its people. She is working hard toward building a healthy, productive downtown, as well as maintaining a healthy environment for all Eugeneans without the urban sprawl of a Los Angeles.

I think we can have both if the city’s future is planned carefully and thoughtfully, as our current mayor is doing. I urge voters to support her re-election.

Register-Guard, April 12, 2008
Don’t be fooled by Torrey

Greg Reeves (letters, April 4) didn’t do his homework. The “low-rent rappers” he refers to are well known in our community for their dedication and creativity in the work they do with youth. Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy had the awareness and the grace to recognize this and include them in her State of the City ceremony.

And what is this “Yes, Eugene, we can” slogan that Jim Torrey is espousing, co-opting Barack Obama and Cesar Chavez, his polar opposites? Don’t be fooled: Support our capable, caring mayor, Kitty Piercy for re-election.

Eugene Weekly, April 10, 2008
NICE SIGNS

I've decided I'm going to vote for Kitty Piercy in the upcoming mayoral election because her yard signs are a really nice shade of blue.

Eugene Weekly, April 10, 2008
TWO-TIMING TORREY

Ever notice how much politics can resemble an abusive relationship?

Take, for instance, ex-Mayor Jim Torrey's pathetic attempt to "get back together" with the city of Eugene — after dumping her years ago for a chance at "something better" in the field of politics.

Does Torrey really believe Eugene smokes so much pot that she's forgotten the years of abuse suffered under his rough handling, including:

• Reckless gambling: in the form of tens of millions of dollars of Eugene's hard-earned money, thrown away as tax breaks to polluting corporations like Hynix/Hyundai.

• Physical violence: Torrey oversaw (literally, sitting in his car!) the police assault of peaceful protestors protecting some of Eugene's last big trees, an act Amnesty International condemned as "torture."

• Sexual abuse: By fighting police accountability measures, Torrey chose to look the other way while EPD cops raped and sexually assaulted over a dozen women.

After being rejected for the Senate seat he'd been lusting after, it seems to have finally dawned on Torrey that Eugene is "as good as he's gonna get." Now let's watch him spend ungodly amounts of money (from anti-environment and Republican donors) to try to seduce Eugene all over again — as if she were some desperate trollop!

Torrey's also talking smack about his rival Mayor Piercy by attacking, of all things, such worthwhile endeavors as the current attempts to protect Amazon Headwaters forest.

Please, Eugene, if only for your own sense of self-worth, keep two-timing Torrey from crawling back into your life. Break the cycle of abuse!

Eugene Weekly, April 10, 2008
OBAMA AND PIERCY

What an amazing and groundbreaking speech Barack Obama gave in Philadelphia last month. It's so wonderful, after these barren Bush years, to be spoken to as an intelligent partner by a political leader, and people have responded positively here in Oregon. Obama, an educated, experienced and emotionally mature man, understands America far beyond the ridiculous media sound bites we are force-fed; he understands us as relational beings who require connection, understanding and the call to become engaged. His vision of America is of all of us working together, sharing our nuanced gifts and viewpoints to truly perfect the union, which is a never-ending process.

I see a powerful connection from Obama to the work of our Mayor Kitty Piercy. They are very much alike in their views of how one leads, how one engages the political process and how one audaciously hopes and works for positive and progressive outcomes. Piercy is a warmly inclusive and encouraging leader who is continuously optimistic and upbeat about Eugene and all its people, and her many accomplishments reflect these qualities. In fact, I'd say that Piercy is creating in Eugene in microcosm what Obama would like to create within the U.S.

So, since Jim Torrey has supposedly endorsed Obama and apparently wants to be him, as Torrey's abject copying of Obama's slogan indicates, Torrey should join the mayoral campaign that is already realizing his dream — Kitty Piercy's.

Register Guard, April 8, 2008
Piercy grasps role of land use

On March 13, The Register-Guard reported that Oregon and Lane County have had fewer home loan foreclosures than many other regions of the country: “Oregon has avoided the woes many other markets are facing because there wasn’t as much questionable lending in this state and Oregon’s land use restrictions discouraged speculation,”real estate sources told The Register-Guard’s Sherri Buri McDonald. Even Ed McMahon, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Lane County, was quoted as saying, “One of the biggest differences here, because of Oregon’s land use system and urban growth boundaries, is we did not overbuild like other places did.”

Managed growth and careful study before expanding urban growth boundaries not only protects valuable agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands, it also helps ensure that our families and community can weather the ups and downs of the economy. That is one of the reasons I am going to vote to re-elect Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy. She understands.

Register-Guard, April 8, 2008
Piercy will answer all questions

Mayor Kitty Piercy is right for Eugene. She is the hardest-working, most accessible and inclusive mayor that I have experienced in my 28 years living in Eugene. The moment Piercy took office over three years ago I saw an immediate difference at City Council meetings. Whether there were five or 25 people signed up to speak at the public forum, she allowed citizens their full three minutes to speak.

Piercy supports ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home now, not later. She understands the catastrophic problems that face our planet and is being proactive about protecting Eugene’s urban growth boundary, promoting green building and alternative energy, and forming a sustainability committee.

Piercy knows the importance of community and livability and cares deeply about Eugene and its citizens, neighborhoods, services, diversity, the arts and parks.

Running on the platform of “Mayor for All Eugene” has proven to have its challenges for her depending what side of the issue she is on; therefore, she takes heat and kudos from both sides of many issues. This clearly shows her stamina for difficult situations and commitment for balance.

I respect that Piercy is unwilling to stoop to hurtful and personal attacks in her campaign style and that she will answer any question from anyone.

Register-Guard, April 8, 2008
Piercy offers contrast to Torrey

Jim Torrey’s refusal to allow audience members to ask questions at a Eugene mayoral candidates’ debate should raise a red flag for voters. It reflects poorly on his openness and respect for democracy. Questions from the audience are a standard practice at all City Club of Eugene meetings, including political debates. If candidates for the U.S. Senate can handle that, why can’t Torrey?

His reluctance to deal with the public shines a light on one of his many weaknesses. His major opponent, incumbent Mayor Kitty Piercy, is a stark contrast to Torrey when it comes to openness. I worked with Piercy for two years when she was an executive with a local nonprofit health organization. She was candid and open with all co-workers, a key factor for success in any venture.

Those are the same qualities she’s displayed in her term as mayor, as well as strong leadership in bringing conflicting sides together for the benefit of all Eugene. Piercy has the city on a path to downtown renewal, as well as sustainability in both the public and private sectors. It should lead to her re-election.

Register-Guard, April 7, 2008
Torrey gave George Bush $2,000

Eugene mayoral candidate Jim Torrey ran as a Republican and lost to state Sen. Vicki Walker in the last election cycle, but now he has had an “Obama moment” and endorsed Barack Obama for president in a recent letter to the editor.

He also appropriated Obama’s campaign slogan, which was first taken in spirit by Obama from Cesar Chavez.

A review of campaign contributions filed with the Federal Elections Commission reveals Torrey contributed exactly nothing to Obama as of the end of February 2008, even though his Obama endorsement was published in the Oregon Daily Emerald on Feb. 12.

Torrey donated to George Bush the maximum permitted, $2,000, in September 2003 of the last presidential election cycle — eight months ahead of the Oregon primary.

Does Torrey admire Bush that much more than Obama? Or is Torrey endorsing Obama on the cheap to boost his own support in a year when conservatives (as he describes himself) are polling poorly?

Register-Guard, April 5, 2008
Piercy works for common good

As a former political talk show host, I have some background in the framework of the progressive movement.

A progressive is one who strives to serve the common good in all aspects of social and environmental endeavors. The common good is always conceived first by the people — from the ground up, not from the top down.

Kitty Piercy is the only Eugene mayoral candidate who can stand under that banner. She is not supported by, nor seeks, big money from the deep pockets of developers, nor positioning strategies from San Francisco PR firms attempting to define her candidacy.

She does not balk at having to take questions from the public in a debate. Piercy is not afraid of the common ground.

Piercy is nationally recognized for her work on community development; companies in violation of pollution standards do not fund her campaign. She understands the complex nature of sustainable economics.

When it comes to policy matters, a clearly defined position for the common good is the only unifying principal possible. Piercy does not jump from one political affiliation to another seeking the prevailing winds of persuasion. Good judgment is her source of a clear and resonant message.

Our future lies within the framework of the common good, and we are best served by the likes of Kitty Piercy, who understands those priorities.

Register-Guard, April 5, 2008
Torrey changes political stripes

Jim Torrey seems not to know what to do next. His announcement that he will attempt to unseat Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy seems to be another shot at city politics.

Of course, he has the backing of developer monies, and I’m sure he’ll spend more than the $649,000 he spent to challenge Vicki Walker for the Senate. And, of course, he will be aided by his political action committees.

It’s also very convenient that Torrey now calls himself an Independent, but most of us know that is a cover to disguise his Republican base just in time to run for mayor. Very convenient!

We all know that as a Republican he campaigned for President Bush. Now he is attempting to hide behind the curtain of being an Independent. Today, he wants to be a conservative in his race against liberal Piercy.

Torrey stated that he was concerned about “common-sense solutions that our community needs” and “boosting student enrollments by making enough buildable land available to provide affordable housing for young families.” Where was all of this when he was on the Eugene School Board?

Register Guard, April 5, 2008
League knows how to hold forum

I have some advice for Jim Torrey. If there is one service that the League of Women Voters knows how to perform better than any other organization, it is running a candidate forum or debate.

The league has been spreading democracy by informing citizens in this country for many years on how to think before they vote, pro and con, and why it is important to vote. I can’t imagine suggesting to the league how to change this nonpartisan service to our community.

What amazes me about the League is its decision-making process and how studies are performed before support is given to issues, never to candidates. Women of very different backgrounds and different political parties from all over the country study and then reach consensus on local, state and national issues.

Instead of opposing the league and the City Club process, I would like to suggest that Torrey and all those running for office participate in at least one League of Women Voters’ study and also join the City Club. Who knows, Torrey might be a changed man, and I might vote for him 10 years in the future.

Register-Guard, April 5, 2008
Give Edewaard column a ticket

There they go again.

You’d have hoped Willy Edewaard and Eric Humphrey (guest viewpoint, March 26) would have learned something from all the negative fallout from their last personally and politically harsh criticism of Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy and her State of the City program. One wondered then and yet again: Are the op-ed utterances of these two vetted by anyone for the harm they do to community-police relations?

To our many valued and respected men in blue: Do these two really represent you?

Moreover, is it a good idea to have the people we entrust and empower to protect us mixed up in City Council politics?

Yet another case where we need and deserve “a more perfect union.”

Call the police! Someone needs to write Edewaard and Humphrey a ticket for tactless speeding at the mouth, parking divisive commentary in a community no-parking zone and driving their union’s credibility recklessly over a steep and slippery slope.

Register Guard, April 3, 2008
Piercy has moved city forward

I was struck that Glenn Mc Mullen’s pro-Jim Torrey letter of March 16 ended with a battle cry that was a takeoff of the one used by the Japanese bomber pilots who destroyed Pearl Harbor in World War II: Tora! Tora! Tora!

Compare this aggressive and destructive symbolism with Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy’s stirring words for peace on the very same day, that “we can build the hope and promise of our nation; our destiny is in our hands.”

This snapshot carries the essence of the differences between the two major candidates for mayor of Eugene. Piercy always has been about creating joyful community, successful businesses, healthy families and a livable environment, and she’s worked tirelessly to build bridges among all these elements for a viable, thriving city. Her record is clear on her Web site: www.kittypiercy.com.

Torrey has a clear record of voting for and with only a narrow sector of the city’s people and pretty much leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. Torrey’s campaign has been nothing if not negative, personal and divisive from the get-go, while admitting that he may be the “cause (of) bad feelings” within the community. Hardly the stuff of “renewal” or “sustainability,” which he claims.

I hope that people use all their sense and sensibility, including their hearts, in comparing these two candidates for mayor. The evidence is clear that Piercy shines as the mayor who has been moving us forward into the 21st century with hope and promise.

Eugene Weekly, April 3, 2008
PIERCY THINKS RIGHT

The national political primaries actually bring into focus just how fortunate we are to have Kitty Piercy serving as our mayor. The candidates' national debates and their positions (and promises) make one ponder what is actually real, what is likely and how quality of life hasn't been enhanced.

Enough of the simplistic arguments nationally and locally offered as explanations. The promises to magically turn lead into gold, as in repairing neglected streets, making downtown Eugene a mega-business center and ridding the city of its "overwhelming" crime, are among the hot-button issues said to be accomplished signally by the "right-thinking" mayor.

A common theme runs through Kitty Piercy's history of public service and leadership: a dedication to improving the quality of people's lives. With her leadership in and efforts on behalf of numerous city or state organizations, she has focused on what will ultimately benefit individuals in their communities. Arguments over the political balance sheet lose sight of the reality of her dedication to the quality of our lives. A mayor who goes out of her way to connect with people in their venue — how novel is that?

The spin and hoopla of false promises, or the use of labels devoid of significant meaning, won't obscure Piercy'scontribution to the vitality of oucommunity. Her commitment to enhancing the quality of our lives defines a "right thinking" mayor.

If you haven't yet, get to know Kitty Piercy.

Eugene Weekly, April 3, 2008
MISPLACED BLAME

I find it ironic that Jim Torrey, who was mayor of Eugene from 1997 to 2005, blames the current mayor, Kitty Piercy, for the move of Sacred Heart to Springfield, and for the blight downtown. By looking at Sacred Heart's website, I saw that the hospital started thinking about moving in 1996 and in September 2001 decided to purchase the Riverbend site. Was Jim Torrey mayor during that time of planning or not? Why did he let the hospital get away?

One of the pits in downtown Eugene used to be the Woolworth building. It was demolished in late 2000. Who was mayor then and for four more years after that? Why didn't he do something about that eyesore when he had the chance? The old Sears building was demolished in 2005 after being vacant for almost two decades. Eight of those empty years were during Torrey's tenure as mayor. The city owned the building; why didn't he do something about it then?

I realize that it is difficult to rebuild down town. But I believe that Piercy is actually trying to do something about it. I see her at many downtown events, interacting with people and asking questions. I have never seen Jim Torrey there. All I hear is misplaced blame. He must know he caries a great deal of responsibility for the things he blames Piercy for. To give him the benefit of the doubt, I'll put it on forgetfulness. I wouldn't want to think he's actually being dishonest.

Eugene Weekly, April 3, 2008
CORE BELIEFS

As a rural Lane County resident who works in the heart of our great city, I know how important sound land use policy is to our quality of life in Eugene. Kitty Piercy has lead us through the difficult and sometimes rancorous debates on how our city should and should not grow. Her efforts to limit unchecked urban sprawl, her support of local businesses and localized agriculture; her commitment to the environment all cause me to be a strong supporter of her policies. Piercy is a gracious, kind, caring, leader who listens to all points of view, yet remains committed to her core beliefs. I share in those beliefs with her, and encourage all of the voters of Eugene to join me in supporting Piercy.

Please help re-elect Kitty Piercy Mayor for ALL Eugene.

Eugene Weekly, April 3, 2008
DANCE RECORD?

As a board member of the Oregon Ballet Foundation, I'd like to thank Kitty Piercy for her upcoming participation in an exiting event. You may not know it, but Eugene is close to appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the World's Largest Ballet Class! On April 20, the Oregon Ballet Foundation will host the class at McArthur Court on the UO campus. Mayor Piercy will participate in the event, which honors National Dance Week by raising money and awareness for dance education in our community. The current world record was set in Cape Town, South Africa, with 530 participants. Eugene's record-breaking class will be led by local dance teachers. Mayor Kitty Piercy will be on hand to demonstrate her best dance skills — as well as her advocacy of quality programming for youth and for the arts.

The Oregon Ballet Foundation funds a free ballet program for boys and also assists in enabling all-youth ballet productions to take place annually in Eugene. This December, the Oregon Ballet Foundation and its associated dance school, the Oregon Ballet Academy, will put on our second production of The Children's Nutcracker at LCC. This Nutcracker features youth performers from the local community in all major roles. For the record, I'd like to thank the mayor for her support of our efforts to help the arts flourish in Eugene! To find out more, or to register for the record-break event, please visit www.oregonballetfoundation.org

Register Guard, April 1, 2008
Mayor candidates very different

Ex-mayor Jim Torrey’s campaign slogan, “Yes, Eugene, We Can,” begs the question, “Can what?”

If the ex-mayor means that we can return to his brand of cronyism, working to serve wealthy development interests and applying old-school solutions to new-world problems, then sure, we can.

I prefer the visionary, pragmatic, coalition-building work of our current mayor, Kitty Piercy. I encourage us all to get their votes in for this election regardless of your position. The candidates are remarkably different.

Register Guard, April 1, 2008
Mayoral race will entertain city

I’m canceling my subscription to Netflix.

What with Jim Torrey, the neocon candidate for mayor of Eugene, all but promising a campaign of negativity and divisiveness, and one of his ardent supporters describing the incumbent’s relatively benign term as “a reign of terror,” the hyperbole and absurd polemics of the right wing are promising to provide plenty of comedy, drama, fantasy/sci-fi, horror and cheap thrills.

Citizens of Eugene will be able to save money on renting movies as we wallow in the free entertainment provided by that familiar group of folks who find honest discussion of the issues just too threatening to their cause of making sure the “haves” continue to get while the “have-nots” continue to give.

We’re in for a fun spring in the Emerald Empire as the Karl Rove wannabes slither out of the woodwork!

Register Guard, March 30, 2008
Piercy is the business candidate

According to the official Eugene Web site, “In 2000, the City of Eugene led many cities across the nation by publicly announcing its commitment to sustainability principles.”

This was under Mayor Jim Torrey’s watch. But it was just talk until Kitty Piercy became mayor in 2004.

Since then, Piercy crafted her Sustainable Business Initiative, under which she established the Office of Sustainability and the Sustainability Commission. During Piercy’s administration, Eugene has won two prominent Green City awards, become home to Oregon’s first bio-fuel station, has improved access to public transportation, has grown its organic food sector and earned commitments for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials.

Eugene has been hard hit economically in the past and, in my opinion, has never truly recovered from those dark days. Sustainable business practices are good not only for our amazing and fragile environment, but they create an economic environment where creative and needed new businesses are encouraged to grow to sustain our people and our families (the triple bottom line). It’s win-win-win.

We need to remember who is the business candidate for all of Eugene in the upcoming mayoral election and who is solely for the wealthy developers who want to pillage our farmland and pocket the profits for themselves. Mayor Piercy has proven her ability to work with and for everyone, from the Chamber of Commerce to the homeless.

Register Guard, March 29, 2008
Jim Torrey’s time is past

I’ve been watching the pages of this paper heat up with canned criticism of our Eugene mayor, Kitty Piercy. So, it came as no surprise when the heat went to a boil and the profit-at-any-cost development interests of this town — just before deadline — rolled out Jim Torrey to run again.

According to Torrey, there needs to be a conservative in the race. There’s a ring of desperation to the whole thing, it seems. Why?

Mayor Piercy has stood tall for maintaining our region’s clean, natural beauty while building an economy based on sustainable practices and resources. She came right out with a pretty smart economic plan. Her Sustainable Business Initiative was innovative and invited a whole new group of people to the table.

At last, a broad spectrum of community members were making decisions about how they want Eugene to be.And it was clear — they don’t want unmitigated sprawl and unregulated growth. I’ve found it refreshing that we can look at growing an economy without damaging what it is that makes this area so special.

Piercy is the mayor for this time in this town. Torrey’s time is past.

Eugene Weekly, March 27, 2008
Cozy Relationship

EW (News Briefs, 3/13) quoted Jim Torrey as follows: "We don't have to get any more money. We need a marriage of business and government in order to pay the bills."

In 1942, President Roosevelt defined fascism in this way: "The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."

So exactly what kind of cozy relationship did Torrey have in mind? Given his prior record, it's apparent that if he is re-elected as mayor, locally we will see more corporate welfare and more benefits for the already wealthy class.

Meanwhile, the rest of us can count on being screwed.

Eugene Weekly, March 27, 2008
6,000 Meetings

I recently heard that Mayor Kitty Piercy has convened or attended well over 6,000 meetings, festivals, conferences, association forums and rallies in her three-plus years as the mayor of Eugene. She meets regularly in her City Hall office with people from across the political spectrum, from far right advocates to far left advocates. Each month she hosts her "Mayor's One-On-One" in a different location in the city, with the corresponding councilor, at a grocery store or other central location during evening hours when working people can stop by and talk with her about neighborhood issues. And she listens really well — you can tell that she remembers you and your concerns when you see her again, which you're bound to do as she is present at events all over the city.

I think all this, and more, qualifies Piercy to be called Mayor of All Eugene. I find her accessibility, warmth and engagement with Eugene and all its factions to be extraordinarily sincere and consistent. She performs gracefully under fire and takes the hard knocks, whether from the left or the right. And she does get them from both sides — when someone draws criticisms from both extremes, that's another proof that she is striving for everyone. Eugene is a better city because of her.

And our mayor answers all her own email. I don't even do that. Do you? I'm very excited about four more years of Mayor Kitty Piercy.

Register Guard, March 26, 2008
Torrey’s terms lacked consensus

Is Jim Torrey counting on citywide amnesia in his run for Eugene mayor? The notion that he brought people together and got things done when he was mayor is a major rewrite of history. I know, because I was there.

The first six of my eight years on the City Council were during the Torrey administration, and I was on the losing end of a ton of 5-3 votes. Not exactly the consensus he’s talking about now! In my final two years, there were a number of 4-4 votes — but that change was due to a change in the members of the City Council, not a change in mayor.

Funny that Torrey is bringing up street repairs, downtown revitalization and the police department as campaign issues now. Those issues were hot during his time as mayor, and he didn’t have a significant impact on any of them. Sorry, Jim, you had your shot at it.

And the idea that Mayor Kitty Piercy is divisive, but he wasn’t? Absurd. Someone who is truly interested in collaboration reaches out to all involved parties to find common ground. In the 72 months that Torrey and I served together, he phoned me a grand total of three or four times to see whether we had common ground to build on.

So, voters of Eugene, don’t believe the spin; believe the record.

Register-Guard, March 20, 2008
Torrey goes negative right away

How ironic that Jim Torrey opened his election campaign by calling Mayor Kitty Piercy “divisive and negative.” Not exactly taking the high road, is he?

Torrey goes on to say he’s not afraid to ruffle feelings. Now who, exactly, is divisive and negative?

Register Guard, February 26, 2008
Piercy preparing for the future

I find the attacks on Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy's effort to prepare our community for the future very revealing.

It appears that some people believe the future will look much like the past. The reality is that global warming and other issues are causing a worldwide shift to sustainable practices and products.

All one has to do is surf the Web or read the newspaper to see this. Piercy understands that the future is going to be very different from the past and has championed efforts to prepare our community for new challenges.

Don't let people looking in their rearview mirror mislead you. Mayor Piercy is the best elected official Eugene has had in a long, long time.

Register Guard, February 10, 2008
Piercy is a great fit for Eugene

There is a definite irony in Eugene's popular mayor, Kitty Piercy, being attacked by a few from both the left and the right, while a majority of Eugene's citizens support her.

She has been criticized by some from the left, as she has tackled such thorny issues as transportation infrastructure and the future of downtown. These issues, of course, affect all of us, and there is no single progressive approach to them.

Criticism from the right, as seen in several recent letters to the editor, is perhaps easier to understand as Piercy is the first solid progressive to serve as mayor and has brought to City Hall proposals addressing sustainability, homelessness and responsibly managed growth. She has also taken on problems that are of a concern to the business community, staying true to her promise to be a mayor for all Eugene.

Kitty Piercy has a rare combination of progressivism, practicality and passion. It's hard to imagine a mayor, or a candidate for that office, that would be a better fit for Eugene.

Register-Guard, February 25, 2008
Police union criticism out of line

As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate the police, especially when they are doing their job protecting our community and remaining sensitive to the economic and cultural diversity in our community.

Reading The Register-Guard's opinion page Jan. 17 caught me by surprise, when the Eugene Police Employees Association rudely bashed our wonderful mayor and two popular city councilors. I realize that they have the right to speak their minds and that they are really just part of a misguided and not-too-subtle campaign to create demand for a new mayor, but the police employees went way over the line when they criticized the youth of our community for merely suggesting that we practice sustainability. Why do the police employees object to young people who want to protect the natural world they live in and will one day inherit?

I really think the police should focus on what they do best - policing. Bashing our elected officials and disrespecting our youth will only cause people to question everything else the police say.

The police employees' guest viewpoint probably will delay the new police station another five years at least. The price tag is huge, and the money could be better spent on sustainability initiatives.

Register Guard, January 27, 2008
Piercy addressed police issues

I would like to make a correction to a comment made by Jim Torrey in a Jan. 11 article in The Register-Guard titled “Candidates, take your positions.”

In this article, Torrey stated that in Mayor Kitty Piercy’s State of the City address she missed an opportunity because she did not mention increasing policing and public safety to the downtown area. Maybe he was unable to attend the speech, because she actually said just that.

About halfway through the speech, she spoke specifically about “focusing public safety efforts on our problem blocks.” But more importantly, Mayor Piercy went even further into the public safety discussion. She spoke about police staffing and addressed the whole of the public safety system and the issues we face.

The take-away message for me was that even if we get more police, we still need jail beds, treatment and the other services that make true public safety work in the long term.

I know that this is an issue that is affecting the whole county, not just Eugene, but I am confident that Mayor Piercy will do everything she can to find a better solution for the city.

Register Guard, January 28, 2008
Piercy critics favor businesses

The drumbeat begins. Jeff Miller and others have initiated a series of deliberately misleading attacks on our hardworking, moderate Mayor Kitty Piercy.

Their obvious aim is to replace her with yet another of their business-only cronies.

For many years, with few exceptions, Eugene's mayors have represented - principally, if not exclusively - their friends and contributors in the business community. Recall Gus Keller, Jim Torrey and Jeff Miller as three recent examples who cared little if at all about the city's general livability or assisting our neediest neighbors.

Eugene's moderate and progressive voters elected Piercy because we knew she would consult and consider the views of all our citizens, not just a favored few from the Chamber of Commerce. She has done exactly that. Certainly she listens far more to business leaders than Miller ever listened to Eugene's progressive community.

So, Eugene, do not be misled. Piercy is, and will continue to be, truly a mayor for us all. We may disagree with her occasionally, as I myself do, but at least we can be confident she acts always in what she believes to be the best interest of the entire city.

She deserves another term.

Register-Guard, January 25, 2008
Criticism of Piercy misses mark

I can only guess from Jeff Miller's ugly and mean-spirited diatribe against Mayor Kitty Piercy (Register-Guard, Jan. 15) that he is thinking of throwing his hat into the ring to run against her. If he should win, I will be very interested to see if he can do a better job.

For starters, I would expect him to pledge that, as mayor, he would never break a tie vote if he knew that some of the citizens of Eugene would be opposed to the outcome. Also, I would expect that he would not allow city boards and committees to hold any meetings until all wards were equally represented on each.

I would expect that he would not push to expand the urban growth boundary to allow construction of more roads and subdivisions if he knew that many people here might be opposed to it. In short, I would expect him to be able to please everyone in Eugene, all the time.

If he can promise to do that, he will have my vote. Otherwise, I will be supporting Piercy.

During the years that she has been mayor, I have continually been impressed with her openness, sincerity and determination to ensure that multiple views are heard and represented. Miller's depressing, negative piece and the prominent placement given to it by The Register-Guard have actually prompted me to work actively for her re- election.

Congratulations are in order. Miller has just recruited another volunteer for the re-elect Kitty Piercy campaign!

Register Guard, January 23, 2008
Despite critics, Piercy is popular

Two recent guest viewpoints have helped us better understand the difficulty Kitty Piercy faces in trying to be a "mayor for all Eugene."

To accomplish that, she'll also have to be willing to include the mean-spirited and ungenerous in our community, as represented by the harsh criticisms by former Mayor Jeff Miller and the two Eugene police officers, Willy Edewaard and Erik Humphrey, of the police employees union.

We have had mayors who were unapologetically (and unimaginatively) mayors of a part of Eugene, and if it happened to be your part, you probably thought they were just wonderful. But isn't it fair to ask: Did such serial partisanship add up to Eugene being in excellent civic shape three years ago? Did their versions of reality help us to assess our times and begin to reposition Eugene in a rapidly changing world? Did they brilliantly succeed in bringing us together? In fixing our streets?

Everyone knows that Piercy, despite her efforts, has been getting plenty of critical flak from across the political spectrum. Yet she remains the most popular mayor in recent memory. Could it be that she is doing something right?

I suspect that what we're witnessing is a political lathering up intended to prop up some dithering candidates who have been weighing the perils of running against her. And losing.

Eugene Weekly, January 31, 2008
Piercy’s Value

While I appreciate the difference in perspective that EW brings to our local media scene, compared to the R-G, I disagree with EW's characterization of our mayor as more moderate or even conservative. Mayor Piercy is offering Eugene almost more than we deserve, a mayor who knows the importance of bridging the ideological divides that are preventing us from moving forward on many critical issues.

Far too many of Eugene's left-leaning activists seem to be holding onto a playbook that hasn't been revised since 1969. While indeed we must defend our fair city from over-development, we also must work with those whom we don't always agree. We have a seat at the table; now we have to use it wisely.

I have seen our mayor lead our city in a productive direction by avoiding using ideological labels and being willing to work with all the people we need to have a productive and sustainable city.

It is not always necessary to contradict the R-G, and in this case I think it was flat-out wrong and sounded even a little mean-spirited. I think all of us who want to see positive, sustainable change in our Emerald City should be a little kinder to those who give their heart and soul as Piercy does, for a job that offers so little compensation. A woman of her talents could be leading an organization that pays her much, much more. She has nothing to gain from this job she's taken (and hasn't tried to exploit her position for financial gain). I'd be surprised if Piercy had any political ambitions beyond Eugene at this point (though I'd be delighted to support her if she did).

We could at least appreciate our honest, ethical, compassionate, hard working, and (dare I say it) liberal leaders who actually get things done. We have few enough; let's not drive them away.

Eugene Weekly, January 17, 2008
A Divided City

I just got finished reading Kitty Piercy's State of the City speech and listening to the video online, and I've got to say it was nothing less than inspiring. I'm certain I wasn't the only one who was inspired by Piercy's speech, but I'm also sure that there are others who don't think she advocated for doing enough.

I was home in Eugene for a couple of weeks over Christmas break from school here at Utah State University. The whole time I was home I simply drank in all that is Eugene — from Smith Family to Holiday Market to LEAD's teen center and a protest against possible war with Iran. What an amazing place Eugene is. Then I'm struck with the ongoing difficulties with getting downtown to be a vital place, and I get frustrated.

While everyone who is butting heads over what to do with downtown Eugene is only trying to do what is best for a city they love, sometimes I think people loose perspective. I live in Logan, Utah right now — right behind a bustling downtown. The differences are so stark between Logan and Eugene, and it makes me wonder how a bunch of conservatives can make this happen, but a city known for its liberal stances can't fix its downtown. Sometimes people in Eugene lose perspective &#