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The Eugene mayor's race is neck and neck between Democrat Kitty Piercy
and erstwhile Republican Jim Torrey. Here's a look at the key
Torrey rhetoric vs. reality. Torrey knows business? Torrey's business
was selling ugly highway billboards, not running a city. Torrey
is a uniter? As mayor, Torrey cast more than a dozen tie votes,
threatened a "train wreck" if progressives were elected and bashed
his opponents on conservative talk radio. Torrey will improve
government relations? Torrey is endorsed by small-town Republican
and conservative mayors, but Piercy will have better relations
with the Democratic state and federal representatives who can
deliver millions of dollars to Eugene. Torrey will rein in the
police union? Torrey opposes independent external review and would
let the police union, which gave Torrey $20,000, run City Hall.
What this really is about is the environment and livability. Piercy would protect both for all Eugene. Torrey would give Eugene to the gravel miners and developers who have invested an unprecedented half-million dollars in his campaign.
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