OLCV releases environmental scorecards in Lane County

June 29, 2010

Contact: Ashley Miller, OLCV Lane County Organizer,
503-347-6557, ashley@olcv.org

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters releases environmental scorecards in Lane County

County Commission shows vast improvement after election of pro-environment candidates; Eugene City Council holds strong with several stars and a few duds

Eugene, OR—The Lane County chapter of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters today released its environmental scorecards for both the Lane County Commission and the Eugene City Council. The Lane County Commission showed marked improvement on environmental protection in the region and the Eugene City Council was able to hold strong after voters elected commissioners and councilors that they trusted to protect Lane County’s natural legacy. (To view both scorecards, visit www.olcv.org/lane and scroll down.)

“Local leaders realize that their communities care about preserving the unique quality of life in Lane County as the region faces challenges around growth and land use,” said OLCV Political Director Katy Daily. “OLCV works to make sure that our elected officials are held accountable for these important votes –they impact everyone who lives in Lane County."

The Lane County Commission voted on a range of issues from protecting clean water and air to preserving forests, farmland and Oregon’s coast. They voted to protect the environment 10 out of 12 times. 

Two of the five current commissioners—Rob Handy and Pete Sorenson—each earned a score of 100 percent. Commissioners Bill Dwyer and Bill Fleenor received a 91 percent and 83 percent respectively. Commissioner Faye Stewart, who earned only 47 percent in 2008, showed significant improvement, scoring 64 percent. Former Commissioner Bobby Green earned only a 50 percent.

The Lane County Commission has seen improvement in recent years. Voters elected OLCV-endorsed West Lane County Commissioner Bill Fleenor in 2006. Then, with the election of OLCV-endorsed Rob Handy for the North Eugene seat, Lane County voters succeeded in securing a pro-environment majority on the Lane County Commission.

Voters have the opportunity to maintain the pro-conservation majority on the commission in November. OLCV has endorsed two candidates: Pat Riggs-Henson for the Springfield seat currently held by Dwyer, who is not running for re-election, and Jerry Rust in West Lane County for the seat held by 100 percent-er Fleenor, who is also not running again. (For a full list of OLCV’s more than 70 endorsements, including eight in Lane County, visit www.olcv.org/endorsements2010.)

The Eugene City Council follows the commission’s trend, voting to protect livability, public health and Eugene’s special places nine out of 12 times. Voters showed that the environment was important to them in 2008 when they re-elected Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, who scored 100 percent this time. The mayor of Eugene casts any tie-breaking votes.

Two councilors, George Brown and Betty Taylor all scored 100 percent, as well as former Councilor Bonny Bettman, with Councilors Alan Zelenka and Andrea Ortiz scoring 92 percent and 83 percent respectively. But there were disappointing scores as well. Councilor Chris Pryor scored 42 percent. Councilors Mike Clark and George Poling scored only 25 percent, and Councilor Jennifer Solomon scored a dismal 9 percent.

Both scorecards score votes cast between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.

To see past Lane County and other local scorecards, as well as OLCV’s Environmental Scorecard for the Oregon Legislature, which has been published since 1973, visit www.olcv.org/scorecards.

The Oregon League of Conservation Voters passes laws that protect our natural legacy, elects pro-environment candidates, and holds all of our elected officials accountable. www.olcv.org.

###