District 12 hopefuls differ on priorities, style.

Byline: MATT COOPER The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Rick Henson learned to build consensus during 10 years of forging contracts between unions and management.

Elizabeth Terry Beyer saw it firsthand at the statehouse, during a decade as legislative assistant to her husband, former lawmaker Lee Beyer.

Between the two Democrats vying in the May 21 primary to represent House District 12, experience is measured in different ways.

With Republican candidate Norm Fox unopposed and advancing to November's general election, the question is who will face him: Beyer, 51, the incumbent appointed last November; or Henson, 50, a carpenter and union negotiator.

"My experience," Henson said, "has been out bargaining contracts with Fred Meyer, PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette, over very tough issues - wages, benefits. At the Legislature, you end up with people trying to find common ground - that's very much like contract bargaining."

Beyer countered that there is no substitute for the hands-on experience she received as a Springfield city councilor and, more recently, as a state representative who just weathered two special sessions.

"It's serving the city, being involved in the schools, working with the education foundation in Springfield," Beyer said. "I've participated in two special sessions - I have a more in-depth knowledge of the budget situation and the implications for the next biennium."

This is not the first time Beyer and Henson have squared off.

After state Rep. Bill Morrisette moved to the Senate to fill Lee Beyer's vacancy last year, Henson - and not Terry Beyer - was on the short list for appointment to Morrisette's seat. Ultimately, the decision fell to Gov. John Kitzhaber, who chose Beyer for her experience with the Legislature.

Henson questions that experience. "She basically said she managed (Lee's) office," Henson said. "I'm not sure the value that some might place on that experience is warranted."

District 12, like the old House District 42, encompasses Springfield and is heavily Democratic, but Henson and Beyer share few similarities beyond political party.

Beyer said the tax system is generally fair; Henson said it isn't. Henson said he would probably vote for Measure 13, a proposal to use $220 million from the lottery-funded Education Endowment trust fund for state schools; Beyer voted against it.

Beyer's priority is education funding. If elected, she said she'll ask the Legislative Revenue Office for ways to raise money - likely through taxes - and would work across party lines to broker deals.

Henson's focus is the economy. He would create jobs by encouraging commercial and residential owners to weatherize and retrofit properties, and by enticing companies to install energy-efficient equipment.

Beyer's platform has two fundamental planks: stabilize education funding and reduce the cost of drug prescriptions for senior citizens.

Henson would also work to lower drug costs and strengthen health care for Oregonians. He would also try to step up road repair, and supports dredging the Columbia River in Portland to open the waterway for commerce.

The two, although friends, are also distinguished by their styles.

Henson is aggressive, with pamphlets promising that he'll fight for Oregon's future. He described Beyer as a "fairly passive voice, not someone who's going to go kick in the door," and said he'd push controversial issues in the public arena.

Beyer favors the cautious, team-building approach. ` `My way or the highway' - it's not a good tool to get anything done," she said. "You have to be willing to go in and work in a bipartisan way."

HOUSE DISTRICT 12: DEMOCRATS

ELIZABETH TERRY BEYER

Age: 51

Family: Husband, Lee; two sons, one daughter

Government experience: Springfield city councilor, 1993-1999; Springfield budget committee; Springfield Education Foundation board member; Springfield Library Board, 1995-1999; president, Page Elementary and Hamlin Middle School PTA, 1991; Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County board member, 1993-1999; TransPlan Advisory Committee, 1995-1999

Occupation: State representative

Education: Drama and speech classes at Lane Community College

Residence: Springfield

Endorsements: Gov. John Kitzhaber; Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken; Lane County Peace Officers Association; Springfield Professional Firefighters; Oregon State Firefighters Council; International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, Columbia River District Council; Citizens Alliance for Responsible Education; Lane County Democratic Party

Contact: 746-5889; fax [phone]; P.O. Box 131, Springfield, OR 97477; [e-mail].

Latest book read: "Stone Soup" by Jan Eliot

Latest video rented: "I haven't rented a video in so long. The last time I went to a movie was 'Erin Brockovich.' '

Person or event that most influenced your politics: "The fact that JFK was Catholic was pretty controversial. When (our church) said you can't vote for JFK because he's Catholic, my parents left and never went back. There should definitely be a separation between church and state - it's there for a reason."

Proudest accomplishment in public life: "Being part of the City Council that was involved in developing Gateway, turning the economic base around and restoring public confidence in city services and the fiscal prudence."

RICK HENSON

Age: 50

Family: Wife, Pat Riggs-Henson; two sons, one daughter; another daughter was killed in a car accident two years ago

Government experience: Gov. Kitzhaber's appointment to the Oregon Workforce Investment Board; president, Lane County Labor Council; president, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local No. 2831; chairman, Lane Regional Workforce Quality Council; Southern Willamette Private Industry Council board member; Emerald People's Utility District Rate Advisory Board member; Housing Authority and Community Services Agency Housing and Community Advisory Board

Occupation: Carpenter; coordinator for social justice organizations and labor unions

Education: Industrial technology classes at Lane Community College; arbitration and contract negotiation classes at University of Oregon

Residence: Springfield

Endorsements: Lane County Democratic Party; Oregon AFL-CIO; Oregon Education Association; Lane County Labor Council; Lane Transit District Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 757; Oregon Nurses Association; Lane Community College Education Association; Oregon League of Conservation Voters

Contact: 746-5905; fax [phone]; 317 South F St., Springfield, OR 97477; [e-mail].

Latest book read: "Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run" by David Brower

Latest video rented: "I don't think we've rented a video in a year. The last movie we saw was 'Lord of the Rings.' '

Person or event that most influenced your politics: "When Kennedy was shot and when Dr. Martin Luther King was shot. It profoundly affected me that people could impact the direction of a society and take such personal risk to step out and try to make this a better place. It still motivates me to jump into things (that) would be good for the community."

Proudest accomplishment in public life: "I got involved with the dislocated worker programs through the Private Industry Council at a time when there were a lot of layoffs in the mills and paper/wood products industries. We had a lot of people who had to retrain, and we did a good job of bringing together the private sector, the public sector and labor so there was a much more comprehensive (retraining) approach so they could get back to making family wages."

CANDIDATES Q&A

Do you think Oregon's tax system is fair? If not, what kind of changes are needed?

Beyer: "It's generally fair. Sixty percent of the income tax which pays for most of education and state services is paid by people with incomes over $60,000 per year. Are corporations paying their fair share? Probably not. It needs to be looked at."

Henson: "No. Corporations and the wealthiest individuals are paying much less than they were 10 years ago. I support a progressive tax system based on the ability to pay. I'm not an advocate of the sin taxes but would probably vote for them if necessary."

Which program areas are you willing to reduce if the state faces a budget shortfall as expected for 2003-05?

Beyer: "I'm not willing to cut. You're going to have to go to new revenue - it could be anything from a cigarette tax to a sales tax to taxes on manufactured goods to taxes on soda pop."

Henson: "I don't believe we can reduce services any further. The answer is to fix the tax system."

Do you support Measure 13 to change the Education Endowment Fund to an education stability fund? If not, what long-term funding solution do you have for K-12 education?

Beyer: "No. It makes for funding problems down the road. You're going to have to develop a revenue source, and anytime you're talking revenue, you're talking taxes."

Henson: "I'll probably end up voting for it. You need to adjust the existing income and corporate tax structures to make sure everybody's paying a fair amount. I would modify the kicker (rebates to hold the line on growth in government spending) so the majority went to a fund for mandated state services such as education."

Oregon is the last Western state to keep its rural Interstate speed limit at 65 mph. Are you willing to increase the limit?

Beyer: "Probably. It's not that big of an issue to me."

Henson: "Yes. The highways are safer and capable of handling higher speeds."

What is the main issue facing your district and how will you address it?

Beyer: "Education funding. I've been working with the legislative revenue office (which tracks income tax revenue) about different options. (The answer) is working cooperatively across party lines."

Henson: "The economy. We need to do more with creating local work for small companies."

CAPTION(S):

INSIDE Candidates' biographies and Q&A forum / 6C COMING UP MONDAY: Benton County district attorney TUESDAY: East Lane county commissioner