Lane County takes right turn - incumbents out in Dunes City - Brubaker wins 4th term - gov race still undecided

Lane County Commission could lose progressive label…

Jerry Rust, a former Lane County Commissioner, held a strong advantage following the May primary, but didn’t get a clear majority for the West Lane Seat. Jay Bozievich overcame a 12-percentage point deficit in the primary to come away the clear winner in yesterday’s general election runoff with 55 percent of the vote. The Elmira resident’s victory, combined with that of Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken, by a similar margin over Pat Riggs-Henson, could signal a shift in the direction, but, says Bozievich, the main challenges remain the same.
200 – “I think it brings a more pro-business look to the commission, but I think, you know, the priorities for the commission haven’t changed and that’s dealing with our whole budget issue.”

East Lane Commissioner Fay Stewart was unopposed in the general election, Bozievich says the three rural commissioners will bring a ‘pro-business’ attitude to the Commission, but he hopes to be able to work with Eugene commissioners Rob Handy and Peter Sorenson to make critical decisions.

Looking at local elections, Phil Brubaker won his fourth term as Mayor of Florence yesterday, defeating current councilor and former mayor Alan Burns 1,558 to 1,439… a 119 vote margin. In Dunes City, a six way race for four seats appears to be headed to the newcomers. Troy Sathe, appointed earlier this year, has the most votes with 450 followed by Duke Wells with 399 and Richard Anderson with 390. All three will earn four-year terms. Richard Koehler appears to be in line for a two-year term with 311 votes, but Peter Howison is close behind with 295. Susie Navetta is in sixth place with 264.

Oregon’s congressional delegation will remain intact with all incumbents holding onto their seats in Washington DC. Ron Wyden was declared the winner in the US Senate almost immediately after the polls closed last night with 56-percent off the vote. In the Fourth District, Peter DeFazio earned his 13th congressional victory; this one over Art Robinson; 53 ½ to 44 ½ percent. David Wu was the winner in the First, Earl Blumenauer in the third and Kurt Schrader in the Fifth… all democrats. Greg Walden remains Oregon’s only Republican in Congress… he easily won in the second district with nearly 75-percent of the vote.

The balance of power could find equilibrium in the Oregon House and Senate. Locally, democrat incumbents held on to their positions, Arnie Roblan by a margin of 52 ½ percent to 47 ½ percent in the Ninth. Jean Cowan easily dismissed challenger Becky Lemler in the Tenth by a margin of 59-41. But, the balance of power in that chamber appears to be on the move. 26 GOP candidates have been declared winners to 25 for the Democratic Party. That leaves nine still up in the air with GOPs leading in five of those. If those hold, Republicans could hold a 31-29 majority. Things are closer in the Oregon Senate… Democrats held an 18-12 margin
Headed into the election, but it could come out with a 15-15 stalemate by the time all votes are counted.

Latest Oregon news, sports, business and entertainment:

OREGON GOVERNOR
Oregon governor candidates locked in tight contest

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Democrat John Kitzhaber and Republican
Chris Dudley are locked in a tight race for governor.
The two were within a percentage point of each other Wednesday.
The former two-term governor Kitzhaber and the political rookie
Dudley have spent at least $15 million this year in a race for
which the results may not be known by late Tuesday or later.
Whoever wins will face a tough task the morning after the
victory celebration -- how to make wrenching changes in Oregon's
state government and schools.
The state faces a budget gap expected to be as much as $3
billion when the Legislature begins writing a new budget next year.

Five of seven ballot measures decided by voters were approved in yesterday's election. They said yes to expansion of eligibility for Veteran Home Loans (M70) by 5:1 margin. Annual sessions of the legislature (M71) were approved by a two-to-one margin, as was a measure (M72) that authorized exceptions to state borrowing regulations. That could come in handy as voters said yes by a 57-to-43-percent margin to a measure (M73)that increases sentences for some repeat sex and duii offenders. Voters said yes to a constitutional provision (M76) that would continue to dedicate 15% of State Lottery funds for parks and wildlife. The two no-votes... Measure 74, the medical marijuana dispensary measure lost 43-to-57 and the Multnomah County Casino measure (M75) went down by a two-to-one margin.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
Prep Volleyball:
The Mapleton Sailors enter the first round of the 1A OSAA playoffs at home this evening against Umpqua Valley Christian. The match begins at six at Mapleton High School… admission for adults is $6… $4 for students.

In the 4A ranks, number one ranked Hidden Valley downed Brookings-Harbor last night in three games to wrap up the final ‘play-in’ game at that level. Official pairings will be announced later this morning for the OSAA playoffs… Siuslaw is likely to be paired up with Banks on the road Saturday night.