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June 4, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 18, 2004 Democrats weighing choice between... Experience and Optimism Both Judy Uherbelau and Peter Buckley are emphasizing the positive as their primary election campaigns enter the final stretch. The two Democrats are vying to become their party's candidate for District 5 state representative during the general November election. The winner of the primary will face Republican businesswoman Joanna Lofaso. Voters must turn in their ballots by 8 p.m. tonight in the primary election. "We feel great about the campaign," said Buckley, executive director of Democracy's Edge, an organization dedicated to encouraging citizen participation. "It's been very positive." Uherbelau, a former state representative, practicing attorney and registered nurse, also said she has been getting good feedback from prospective voters. "I feel pretty good about it. You can never really tell how the election will turn out, but we've been working hard and getting positive responses," she said. "I think it will be a tight race." The two candidates and their volunteers have been pounding the pavement to reach voters in Ashland, Talent, Phoenix and Jacksonville, the cities covered by District 5. They also have been working the phones through phone banks and sending direct mail. Buckley and Uherbelau, both known as progressive Democrats, have made several appearances together as they attempt to differentiate themselves. Buckley has emphasized his fresh perspective and enthusiasm, while Uherbelau has talked about her experience. Buckley has not served in the state legislature or Congress, although he gained name recognition during his unsuccessful campaign against national Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., in 2002. "People have a tendency to say Peter and I are alike on the issues, but we're not," Uherbelau said. Looking ahead If she wins the representative seat, Uherbelau said she wants to help convince legislators to establish a list of funding priorities, rather than addressing each budget item piecemeal. "We have to determine our priorities and the amount needed to adequately fund each one and how much we have. We may have to tell people, 'Here are our priorities. We end up at this part of the list that we can't afford to fund adequately.' Right now the legislature looks at priorities one at a time. There's no coherent picture," she said. Amy Amrhein, Buckley's campaign manager, said a new approach is needed in the legislature. "He has a vision for the state and the energy and drive to be not only a good legislator, but a voice for Democrats," she said. Regardless of the outcome, Amrhein said the contest has helped revitalize Democrats. "It's been a very positive race," she said. "It's been good for the Democratic Party to have two candidates. It got people talking, debating and voting." Both Buckley and Uherbelau urged anybody who has not yet voted to drop off their ballots. "I hope and wish and would appreciate the support of those voting, but the most important thing is to vote. If we give up voting, we give up part of the idea that we are a participatory democracy," Uherbelau said. "Everybody vote!" Last chance But, it is too late to return ballots by mail, since postmarks do not count. Instead, voters can deposit their ballots in a 24-hour drop box in the alley off Gresham Street behind the Ashland Public Library until 8 p.m. tonight. Talent area residents can drop off their ballots between noon and 8 p.m. at the Talent Public Library, according to Jackson County elections staff. Staff will begin posting unofficial election results after 8 p.m. on the Internet at www.jacksoncounty.org. Click on the elections icon on the right hand side of the screen and go to the May 18 primary election, said Jackson County Clerk Kathy Beckett. Election workers were not allowed to begin counting ballots that already came in by mail until Election Day, but began counting this morning, she said. Beckett said she hopes the count can be completed by 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Updates and the unofficial final results will be posted on the Web site, although the final official results will not be available until two weeks after the election, she said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams