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Ballot
draws the ire of some voters
Dundee will seek police contract
Who's behind the candidates with their
checkbooks in hand?
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Newberg mayoral race pits new direction vs. stay the course |
The contest between incumbent Bob Stewart and
challenger Ed Leffler boils down to a difference in what government
should be |
| By Andrea
Olson, Newberg Graphic intern |
Ed Leffler
Ed Leffler is challenging incumbent Bob Stewart for Newberg mayor
because he is concerned about the direction the town is headed and
wants to do his part to change its course.
“I’m a fourth generation Newberg guy,” Leffler said. Born and
raised in Newberg, he moved to Alaska for a few years after high
school before moving to Portland where he opened a delicatessen with
his mother.
He returned to Newberg about 10 years ago. Leffler now owns and
operates Manny B’s Jewelry at 211 E. First St. with his wife of six
years, Cindy.
Leffler said he feels that Newberg is “running away with itself.”
He’s concerned that there is “no big activity for families” and
about the city’s crime rate.
“My big thing is with the police department,” Leffler said. He
would like to see police officers get out of their cars and walking
the streets for an hour each day to help discourage crime and to
make the department feel more accessible to citizens.
Another safety measure Leffler would like to see the city take is
the placement of speed bumps in neighborhoods with children.
“They’re low cost, bolt into the ground” and keep people at 25 mph,
Leffler said. “It curbs the speed demons out th ere.”
Unlike his opponent, Leffler is against the Newberg-Dundee bypass.
“I think it’s a great thing for Dundee,” he said. “That’s the place
that needs it.”
But not Newberg. “We get a lot of our business from people just
driving by ...,” he said. “It’s good to have traffic in Newberg.”
Although Leffler doesn’t have experience in civic government, he
said he is “in an excellent position” for the role of mayor.
“I’m a business owner ... I know how to keep a budget,” he said.
With a 2-year-old daughter and 15- and 19-year-old sons, he said he
has resources within the various age groups in the community,
relating to and getting feedback from families with young children,
high school students and young adults.
“I talk to an average of 50 to 70 citizens each day,” Leffler said.
“That’s what I want to do as mayor ... I want to go out and talk to
people. I love my community. I want things to work.”
Bob Stewart
Newberg Mayor Bob Stewart is seeking a second term because he
hasn’t finished everything he set out to do when he started the job
nearly two years ago, particularly regarding the Newberg-Dundee
bypass and education.
The native Oregonian was raised in Madras and moved to Newberg in
August 1967 after attending Linfield College in McMinnville. He
taught biology, health and physical education at Newberg High School
for more than 13 years before becoming a contractor in Newberg for
nine years. As a contractor, Stewart aided in and performed building
inspections.
“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” Stewart said. He cited population
growth as the biggest change during that time: Newberg was a town of
roughly 6,000 in 1967, compared to nearly 20,000 now.
Yet one thing hasn’t changed, Stewart said. The traffic problem.
“It’s been a problem all these years,” he said.
Stewart has pushed for the bypass to help relieve this problem.
During his tenure as mayor the necessary environmental studies were
completed and city ordinances changed. The project is now waiting
approval from the Federal Highway Administration.
“When we get the stamp of approval, then we can start designing
it,” Stewart said. If everything goes smoothly, he speculated, the
bypass could be built in four to five years.
While Stewart cited the bypass’ progress as his biggest
accomplishment while in office, he also noted that the city council
has balanced the budget while maintaining service levels during his
tenure.
“We’re trying to run the very best city we can with the least
funds,” Stewart said, noting that while budget cuts have led to
cutting capital expenses and equipment, he has tried not to cut
employees.
“We’re about down to the bare minimum of what we can cut besides
people,” Stewart added.
Property taxes are the primary source for the city’s budget; while
more residents mean more property taxes, they also mean the need for
providing more services.
Stewart hopes to alleviate the burden of the stretched budget on
residents by attracting businesses to the area. He mentioned plans
in the works for a business, which he declined to name, that would
bring 300 jobs to Newberg.
Overall, Stewart, who enjoys golf, flyfishing and riding his
Harley-Davidson in his spare time, is seeking office again because
he’s enjoyed his time as mayor. He said he enjoys receiving the
information and points of view on various issues before the city.
“I’ve enjoyed being in the middle of everything,” Stewart said. |
|
From
Oct. 23,
2004, Newberg Graphic
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