Big money has had little effect on some measures.

Byline: Diane Dietz The Register-Guard

Big campaign donors are least successful when it comes to public safety ballot measures.

Voters said no 10 times in the past five years to measures that would have put more officers on the streets, built a new Eugene police headquarters and expanded the Lane County Jail.

Supporters spent more than $300,000 to persuade people to pass the measures - a third of that money from the 20 largest political donors in Lane County.

"You think it ought to be a no-brainer," said Carolyn Chambers, political donor and head of the Chambers media and construction companies. "That's why you give to them, so they can get their message out."

Anti-crime proponents have tapped the area's biggest donors at every election, said Steve Moe, an electrical engineer who has served as treasurer on almost all of the doomed measures.

"They've been very steady and strong supporters," he said. "Most of those guys have been here forever. They've been successful. They see in the long run that we have a problem."

Police and prosecutors help stock the war chests, too. Public safety is a big share of government general fund budgets: 70 percent for Lane County and nearly 40 percent in Eugene.

Officers and their allies anted up $80,000 in personal and union contributions for the measures in the past five years.

District Attorney Doug Harcleroad chipped in $1,150 himself. Sheriff Jan Clements and his wife, Meredith, contributed $700.

The sums put police and prosecutors, as a group, fourth on the list of sectors that contribute to politics in Lane County - right behind timber, real estate and heavy equipment.

Despite the backing, all of the law enforcement measures within the county but one - a small levy last year to hire eight Springfield police officers - fell at the polls.

Explanations for the failures vary on themes of public mistrust to too little campaign money.

"People are not feeling very good about their incomes," Harcleroad said. "They're frozen or they're taking pay cuts. It's real hard to vote for more taxes. Certainly that's a factor in these measures."

Some voters are also skeptical about government priorities, Harcleroad said. "The one I hear is: Public safety is always held up in front of voters, and the government is spending too much money over here on something else."

Another problem is stacking all of the requests during November elections in even-numbered years because of the state's double- majority law. The law requires local property tax levies to win approval not only by a majority of voters casting ballots, but by having at least 50 percent of registered voters vote in the election.

"People say, `Geez, they want me to spend property tax for this, and property tax for this, and property tax for this.' The cumulative effect is difficult," Harcleroad said.

Government officials insist the need for the money remains. Some are preparing to consider public safety measures for the November 2004 election.

The Eugene City Council may ask voters to consider authorizing bonds for a new police station.

City staff members are developing preliminary plans and financing options for the project, which may include asking voters for $26.7 million in bonds.

The county jail has closed 119 beds this year. The district attorney's office is down two prosecutors. Because of staffing shortages, the county is using only a third of its juvenile detention capacity.

Sheriff Jan Clements said he'd like to wait until November 2006 to ask voters for help with the jail, but if the budget dwindles, he said he'd go to the ballot sooner.

"I can never say never," he said.

10 FAILED MEASURES

May 1998: A measure to create a McKenzie/Mohawk Sheriff's Law Enforcement District that would add four sheriff's deputies and a sergeant, as well as all their equipment - to more than triple the police coverage.

November 1998: A 20-year, $5.1 million bond measure to build a 100-bed intake center designed to slow the revolving door at the Lane County Jail.

November 1998: A four-year, $49 million levy to operate the county's Juvenile Justice Center, plus crime prevention in schools and a record-keeping upgrade.

November 1999: A $22 million-a-year income tax surcharge (8 percent) for an array of public safety programs, including staff for the juvenile justice center, more beds at the work camp and expansion of the jail, plus an increase for the Healthy Start prevention program.

May 2000: A $36.6 million bond measure for construction of a new three-story, 80,000-square-foot headquarters building for Eugene police plus a smaller downtown fire station.

November 2000: A four-year, $40 million property tax levy proposal to fund operations at the sheriff's work camp, jail intake center and juvenile detention programs.

November 2000: An $8 million bond issue to build a 100-bed intake center at the Lane County Jail.

November 2000: A $25 million bond issue to build a new Eugene police station and buy land for a new fire station.

November 2000: A $15.1 million, five-year Springfield local option levy that would add eight police officers as well as make improvements to fire and library budgets.

November 2002: A $10.35 million bond measure to replace Lane County's existing emergency communications system with a new network using digital microwave technology.

ONE SUCCESS

November 2002: A four-year Springfield measure that included $1.7 million per year to add eight officers, five community service officers, four call-taker/records clerks, three dispatchers, two court clerks and one city prosecutor's clerk.

CAPTION(S):

Steve Moe was treasurer for a successful bond measure providing additional police for the city of Springfield, as well as a supporter of many other failed public safety measures.