Summary of recommendations.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Following is a summary of recommendations The Register-Guard has made to voters for the Nov. 2 general election. The editors are fallible human beings who stand an average chance of being wrong. However, these recommendations are made after sincere appraisals of the choices on the ballot. Where there are no contests, no recommendations are listed. A full text of The Register-Guard's endorsements is available for review at www.registerguard.com.

OFFICES

Federal

U.S. President: JOHN KERRY, Democrat. President Bush's management of the war in Iraq and the nation's fiscal affairs should not be rewarded with a second term.

U.S. Senator: RON WYDEN, Democrat. Wyden's talent for bipartisan compromise allows him to serve Oregon effectively. He deserves re-election against token opposition.

U.S. Representative, 4th District: PETER DeFAZIO, Democrat. Republican challenger Jim Feldkamp is DeFazio's toughest opponent in years, but the incumbent has a superior record of independence, hard work and service to his district.

State

Oregon Secretary of State: BILL BRADBURY, Democrat. Allegations of partisanship in Bradbury's conduct as the state's chief elections officer are troubling, but they don't stick. He's energetic, effective and has earned a second term.

Oregon Treasurer: RANDALL EDWARDS, Democrat. Edwards has been a capable manager and a strong advocate of sound financial practices for the state. He has earned a second term.

Oregon Attorney General: HARDY MYERS, Democrat. Myers has provided competent, low-key legal advice to the state of Oregon for eight years. His opponent's agenda reaches beyond the scope of the office. Voters should give Myers a third term, which he says will be his last.

State Senate, District 4: FLOYD PROZANSKI, Democrat. Prozanski, a four-term member of the Oregon House, was appointed to the District 4 position after Tony Corcoran's resignation. Prozanski proved himself an effective legislator in the House and is a good choice for the Senate.

State Senate, District 5: JOANNE VERGER, Democrat. Verger, a two-term House member, is seeking to move up to the Senate seat vacated by Ken Messerle. Her ability to work as a conciliator in Salem's partisan environment would serve her well in the Senate.

House of Representatives, District 7: BRUCE HANNA, Republican. Hanna was appointed to fill the seat made vacant by Jeff Kruse's resignation, and promises to become a good fit for his district - effective and moderate.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 8: PAUL HOLVEY, Democrat. Holvey was appointed to the seat after Floyd Prozanski was named to fill a Senate vacancy. Holvey is a strong voice for labor in the Legislature, where working people's concerns are too easily overlooked.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 9: SUSAN MASSEY, Republican. A former member of the state Board of Education, Massey has unmatched credentials in education policy in her race for the seat being vacated by Joanne Verger. The Republican caucus would benefit from the addition of a passionate advocate for public schools.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 10: ALAN BROWN, Republican. In two legislative terms, Brown has established himself as the Legislature's "Mr. Transportation." With his help the state has made significant progress toward addressing its transportation needs, but there's more to be done. Brown deserves a third term.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 11: PHIL BARNHART, Democrat. Barnhart is seeking a third term in a district that has been reconfigured to extend from south Eugene into rural areas of Lane and Linn counties. He's one of the Legislature's most thoughtful members, and deserves re-election.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 13: ROBERT ACKERMAN, Democrat. Ackerman, seeking a third term, is in a tough race against challenger Gary Pierpoint. Pierpoint would be a good addition to the House, but Ackerman's experience in state and local government are important assets. He deserves re-election.

Oregon House of Representatives, District 14: BEVERLY FICEK, Democrat. The seat is being vacated by Pat Farr, and his wife, Debi, is running as a Republican to replace him. But Ficek, a former Junction City mayor, has civic experience that Farr can't match.

Lane County

Lane County Board of Commissioners, East Lane District: DON HAMPTON. Hampton was appointed to a vacancy created by Tom Lininger's resignation; he's running against Faye Stewart to complete the last two years of the four-year term. Hampton has been a moderate, hard-working commissioner and deserves to be elected.

Springfield

Springfield City Council, Ward 6: JOE PISHIONERI. The two candidates to represent the Thurston area on the council share similar views on the issues, but Pishioneri's experience as a Lane County sheriff's deputy would be useful on the council, particularly if Springfield voters approve the construction of a city jail.

MEASURES

State

Measure 31: YES. The measure allows for special elections in the event that a candidate for certain state offices dies within 30 days of a general election. It's a common-sense proposal to give the voters, not an appointment process, control over who represents them.

Measure 32: YES. The measure would change the constitution to allow taxes on mobile homes to be used for purposes other than highway improvements and parks.

Measure 33: NO. This proposal expands Oregon's Medical Marijuana Act in ways that would invite federal intervention. Oregonians approved a good medical marijuana law six years ago; they should leave it alone.

Measure 34: NO. The proposal would alter the management of the Tillamook and Clatsop state forests in northwestern Oregon, placing half of the forests' lands off-limits to logging. The state Board of Forestry has a sound management plan in place; forests should not be managed by initiative.

Measure 35: NO. Doctors in Oregon and other states face fast-rising premiums for medical malpractice insurance, which is affecting patients' access to some medical services. Capping jury awards for non-economic damages, however, would limit injured patients' rights without achieving a comprehensive solution to the liability insurance problem.

Measure 36: NO. Placing a ban on gay marriage in the Oregon Constitution would inscribe a limit on some citizens' rights in the state's bedrock law. The controversy over gay rights can be resolved in the courts and the Legislature.

Measure 37: NO. Requiring state and local governments to compensate landowners for many actions affecting property values would be costly to taxpayers, would eviscerate Oregon's land-use planning system, or both.

Measure 38: NO. Selling SAIF, the state-owned workers' compensation insurance company, would result in higher rates for thousands of Oregon businesses.

City of Eugene

Measure 20-88: YES. The measure authorizes $6.8 million in bonds that would be added to money on hand for the construction of a new police station downtown. The bond funds would pay for a victims' service center and improvements along Eighth Avenue.

City of Springfield

Measure 20-91: YES. The measure would authorize $28.7 million in bonds for the construction of a new police station, court facilities and a 100-bed jail. The jail will not be built if officials in the region devise a way to slow the Lane County Jail's revolving door - making Measure 20-91 a wake-up call to the metropolitan area.

Measure 20-92: YES. The measure authorizes the formation of an urban renewal district in Glenwood. It's the best way to finance the gradual installation of sewers, storm drains and other infrastructure needed to bring about the development of the Glenwood area.

Eugene School District 

Measure 20-90: YES. The measure renews the school district's local option levy, providing about $6 million a year - enough to support about 70 teachers. Because the measure keeps an existing levy in place, no tax increase would occur.

Willamalane Park & Recreation District

Measure 20-100: YES. The measure would allow the district to issue $4.5 million in bonds to finance the construction of a new community center next to Willamalane Pool. Bonds for other park district projects will be retired soon, which means the measure would result in only a short-lived tax increase.

Fern Ridge Library District

Measure 20-101: YES. The measure would renew a five-year local option operating levy that expired two years ago. Without the levy, the library will need to lay off staff and reduce its hours.

Lane Library District

Measure 20-87: YES. Voters in the Creswell School District will decide whether to form a library district to provide financial support for Creswell's library. The district would have a tax base of 59 cents per $1,000 of property value.