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HAZE Temp: 48 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend October 13, 2002 State Rep. candidates differ on leadership By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune After two sessions in the Legislature, Medford’s state Rep. Rob Patridge says he’s ready to lead the next session to a balanced budget that stabilizes funding for education while it retools the state’s Public Employees Retirement System. "The Legislature needs reasonable leadership," the Republican said. Only one thing could stand in his way — Democrat Barbara Davidson. The retired teacher says the state needs to be run differently, and Patridge has had his chance. It’s time for Democrats and common sense to take over the Legislature, she says. "This Legislature walked out without doing anything to fund the basic services for the state of Oregon," Davidson says of the last special session, when the Legislature wrangled with a $1.7 billion deficit, ultimately referring a temporary income-tax increase to voters. "Instead, they said ‘We’ll let you people decide in January,’ and that’s the end of the budget cycle, so if there are cuts to be made they will be horrendous," Davidson says. "I think it’s a lack of leadership, a lack of wisdom and lack of consideration of the quality of life in the state." Patridge, though, pointed out that if the Legislature had voted on the issue, opponents would have gathered the signatures to get it on the ballot anyway. And even later than January. "Part of leadership is being pragmatic," he said. This is the second time Patridge and Davidson have met in an election battle over Medford’s state representative post. District 6 covers most of Medford. In the first matchup in 2000, Patridge won the heavily Republican district with 62 percent of the vote. Patridge, 33, has been the District’s state representative since 1998. He previously served on the Medford City Council. Patridge is currently general counsel for Pacific Retirement Services, the parent company of Rogue Valley Manor. From 1995 to 1998 he was a Jackson County deputy district attorney. A graduate of Eagle Point High School, Patridge received his bachelor’s and law degrees from Willamette University in Salem. Patridge is the Legislature’s majority whip, which means he is the fourth-ranking member of the Republican delegation. He also has served on the Ways and Means Committee. As a member of a group of moderate Republicans in the House, Patridge worked to broker deals between more no-new-taxes Republicans and the Democrats as the state fell into financial crisis. He also helped pass a bill in the third special session that will use $10 million in lottery funds for the Southern Oregon University library remodel. Patridge has been a leader in the House to reform PERS, which is facing crisis because public employers owe more to retirees and future retirees than they have to pay out. During the third special session, he wrote a bill that would have forced the Legislature to create a new PERS system. "It’s financially unsustainable and will bankrupt the state," Patridge said. The bill failed, but there are several committees currently examining the problem. Patridge suggests creating a 401(k)-style pension for new public employees instead of the current system in which the state pays for all of the retirement, plus matches money that was made by the fund in the stock market. Davidson, 64, of Medford, on the other hand advocates a go-slow approach on PERS reform. "It needs to be reviewed, but any change should be very cautious and made with all the facts and not a knee-jerk reaction," Davidson said. The retired Crater High School English teacher, Davidson has worked in teacher licensing since her retirement in 1999. She received her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and her master’s of education from Southern Oregon University. She’s been active in Democratic Party politics and is currently the party’s Second Congressional District chairwoman. She currently serves on the Medford Communications Advisory Committee and Medford Urban Renewal Agency Budget Committee. Davidson says the biggest issue in the race is education. "You can’t talk about a good economy if you don’t have a good educational system," Davidson said. "I think all the issues that Oregon faces are wrapped up in the need to fund education." She said to better fund education, which has faced deep cuts in the past year, she would look at "the whole revenue gathering process." "A temporary income-tax increase seems to be the best answer in the short term, but we need to look long term," she said. She suggested reviewing the budget for more possible cuts and a possible tax "that wouldn’t create a huge burden." Patridge’s ideas for bringing the state into a more comfortable financial balance include exploring statewide bargaining for school salaries, cuts in the Oregon Health Care Plan, and creating a more stable system of funding state-government services. He said a sales tax is something the state should consider, especially if it is "revenue neutral," meaning that other taxes like property taxes and income taxes would go down. Both Davidson and Patridge have raised about $4,500 in campaign contributions for the general election, according to campaign finance reports filed Sept. 30. Davidson started out with $3,300 and Patridge $4,000. But Patridge has already spent $4,100 on things like meals and campaign cell phones and office supplies, so he has $4,800 left to spend. Davidson has $7,193. Patridge’s biggest contributions this election cycle came from the Oregon Soft Drink Political Action Committee ($2,000) and the Oregon Beverage Political Action Committee ($1,000). Davidson’s biggest contributions came from Jean Maack of Medford ($700) and the Medford Education Association ($2,000). Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S