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Supporters will try again on sex-shop zones By Jessica Smith Oregon voters this month turned down a ballot measure to give local governments the ability to regulate where sex stores set up shop. But local Measure 87 supporters say they haven�t ruled out the possibility of asking voters to give the idea a second chance. "Basically, we need a voter education campaign," said Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, who sponsored the measure in the 1999 Legislature. According to Patridge and other supporters, a majority of voters failed to understand the measure�s provisions. "The voters got sold a bill of goods that it�s censorship," said Russ Walker, Southern Oregon coordinator for Oregonians for Children, which backed the measure. The measure, Walker said, was not intended to shut down sex-related businesses. The measure, a constitutional amendment, was meant to give city councils and county commissions the ability to regulate the locations of such businesses through zoning ordinances. "Right now, a community doesn�t have any choice," Walker said. "That kind of (sex-related) business can go anywhere." Measure backers, he added, want to keep adult bookstores, nude-dance bars and other sex shops away from schools, neighborhoods and churches. But 52 percent of voters statewide apparently sided with Measure 87 opponents, who argued that the measure threatened the free-expression guarantee in the Oregon Constitution because its provisions gave governments the ability to regulate businesses based on what they sell. The Nov. 7 vote on Measure 87 followed two other failed measures to change the state constitution�s free-speech clause in recent years. But Walker said he was heartened by local support for the measure. Just two years after Castle Superstore � which sells sex toys and erotic videos � came to town, about 53 percent of Jackson County voters approved giving local governments control over the location of sex shops. Before Patridge decides whether to pursue a future measure to amend the constitution, he said he�ll meet with opponents to see if they can reach middle ground. But he said he doesn�t expect middle ground to come easily. "We need to deal with some of the arguments (made by critics) if we can," Patridge said. "But I have a feeling they�ll be entrenched. I have a feeling they�ll be opposed to any kind of measure like this." Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.