Print Version
Email this story
Comment
High desert divide: Eastern Oregon residents, politicians must work hard to be heard in Salem
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Political clout in Salem is a numbers game.
More than two thirds of Oregon's land lies east of the Cascade range. Yet, nearly three quarters of the state's population lives in the Willamette Valley west of the mountains in an area that comprises 15 percent of the state of Oregon.
The population imbalance forces high desert Oregonians and politicians in less-populated eastern Oregon to work harder to be heard in Salem, local leaders say.
“It's an information superhighway with just a northbound lane,” said John Elliott, chairman of the Klamath County commissioners.
But decisions by state government do affect eastern Oregonians. Local and state officials often wrangle over timber harvesting, debating economic and environmental impacts.
Last legislative session, the state denied a request by Klamath Community College for $25 million to build a campus. It was one of two community colleges that didn't receive any funds.
And the east and west clash over growth, most recently with Measure 37, a new land-use law. The state even plans to file suit against Klamath County for its decision to rezone land under the measure.
Voting differences
Population density isn't only one difference: Precipitation, economy and political affiliations run the gamut between the Willamette Valley and high desert.
Valley residents tend to vote Democrat; eastern Oregonians put Republicans in office. Eight House districts and four Senate districts exist east of the Cascades. More than 40 House districts and 17 Senate districts cover the area from Eugene to Portland.
Such a difference in representation is one reason the high desert areas of the state has such a hard time being heard, said Katrina Meyers, a Henley High School teacher and chairwoman of the state Teachers Standards and Practices Commission.
“Our voice in the eastern side of Oregon is just not as loud,” she said.
Community leaders also have problems being heard in the state capital. Highway 97 doesn't draw near the amount of traffic as I-5 , thus reducing the region's pull with commercial and industrial interests, say commissioners John Elliott and Al Switzer.
Education issues
The discrepancy in representation especially affects education, leaders say.
Elliott said that while the state funds schools by a per capita formula, facilities and materials still cost roughly the same and the valley has more funds with which to work. And while the state provides the same funding per student to every district, highly populated districts have more funding because they more easily pass tax levies, Meyers added.
Physical proximity to Salem is another reason eastern Oregonians aren't heard, Meyers said. It's easier for those west of the mountains to visit the state capital to protest issues or visit with lawmakers.
Others say there's been improvement, though. State Rep. Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls, said he's seen a move by lawmakers outside the region to listen to problems and sympathize with constituents, despite differences in political ideology or hometowns.
Ray Sims, Lakeview town manager, was optimistic about the upcoming legislative session and said he is pleased with the area's representatives. Jim Hunter, Klamath Falls police chief, said in years past the area wasn't as well represented, but he thinks Garrard and his fellow area legislators have done a good job of voicing the concerns of Klamath and Lake counties.
“We are much more apt to be heard,” he said.
Switzer and Elliott said they've also seen a shift in knowledge of the regional interests. As I-5 becomes more congested, trucking and shipping companies are utilizing Highway 97, bringing more attention to its maintenance and potential expansion by the Oregon Board of Transportation.
Still, the Basin, as well as the rest of eastern Oregon, have more work to do before they can fully compete with the interests of the valley, leaders say.
More seats
Elliott said one way to level the playing field is to increase the number of Senate districts to 36, providing one for each county instead of having districts that cover up to two or three large counties in the farthest eastern reaches of the state.
Meyers said the region also faces physical and psychological roadblocks to being heard.
Until eastern Oregon and the Klamath Basin have a population that can match that of areas west of the Cascades, and residents continue to advocate their positions, the voice of the region will always be drowned out, she said.
- Ty Beaver
Political clout in Salem is a numbers game.
More than two thirds of Oregon's land lies east of the Cascade range. Yet, nearly three quarters of the state's population lives in the Willamette Valley west of the mountains in an area that comprises 15 percent of the state of Oregon.
The population imbalance forces high desert Oregonians and politicians in less-populated eastern Oregon to work harder to be heard in Salem, local leaders say.
“It's an information superhighway with just a northbound lane,” said John Elliott, chairman of the Klamath County commissioners.
But decisions by state government do affect eastern Oregonians. Local and state officials often wrangle over timber harvesting, debating economic and environmental impacts.
Last legislative session, the state denied a request by Klamath Community College for $25 million to build a campus. It was one of two community colleges that didn't receive any funds.
And the east and west clash over growth, most recently with Measure 37, a new land-use law. The state even plans to file suit against Klamath County for its decision to rezone land under the measure.
Voting differences
Population density isn't only one difference: Precipitation, economy and political affiliations run the gamut between the Willamette Valley and high desert.
Valley residents tend to vote Democrat; eastern Oregonians put Republicans in office. Eight House districts and four Senate districts exist east of the Cascades. More than 40 House districts and 17 Senate districts cover the area from Eugene to Portland.
Such a difference in representation is one reason the high desert areas of the state has such a hard time being heard, said Katrina Meyers, a Henley High School teacher and chairwoman of the state Teachers Standards and Practices Commission.
“Our voice in the eastern side of Oregon is just not as loud,” she said.
Community leaders also have problems being heard in the state capital. Highway 97 doesn't draw near the amount of traffic as I-5 , thus reducing the region's pull with commercial and industrial interests, say commissioners John Elliott and Al Switzer.
Education issues
The discrepancy in representation especially affects education, leaders say.
Elliott said that while the state funds schools by a per capita formula, facilities and materials still cost roughly the same and the valley has more funds with which to work. And while the state provides the same funding per student to every district, highly populated districts have more funding because they more easily pass tax levies, Meyers added.
Physical proximity to Salem is another reason eastern Oregonians aren't heard, Meyers said. It's easier for those west of the mountains to visit the state capital to protest issues or visit with lawmakers.
Others say there's been improvement, though. State Rep. Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls, said he's seen a move by lawmakers outside the region to listen to problems and sympathize with constituents, despite differences in political ideology or hometowns.
Ray Sims, Lakeview town manager, was optimistic about the upcoming legislative session and said he is pleased with the area's representatives. Jim Hunter, Klamath Falls police chief, said in years past the area wasn't as well represented, but he thinks Garrard and his fellow area legislators have done a good job of voicing the concerns of Klamath and Lake counties.
“We are much more apt to be heard,” he said.
Switzer and Elliott said they've also seen a shift in knowledge of the regional interests. As I-5 becomes more congested, trucking and shipping companies are utilizing Highway 97, bringing more attention to its maintenance and potential expansion by the Oregon Board of Transportation.
Still, the Basin, as well as the rest of eastern Oregon, have more work to do before they can fully compete with the interests of the valley, leaders say.
More seats
Elliott said one way to level the playing field is to increase the number of Senate districts to 36, providing one for each county instead of having districts that cover up to two or three large counties in the farthest eastern reaches of the state.
Meyers said the region also faces physical and psychological roadblocks to being heard.
Until eastern Oregon and the Klamath Basin have a population that can match that of areas west of the Cascades, and residents continue to advocate their positions, the voice of the region will always be drowned out, she said.
- Ty Beaver
 |
||
| Lack of care facilities strain families |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
RSS
Tina N. O. wrote on Mar 16, 2009 2:54 AM: