Zelenka vs. Mulligan Ward 3 race could tip council to right. BY ALAN PITTMAN Decisions on whether the city will build a freeway through wetlands, give out tax breaks and parking garages to corporations, reform police and city government and other important issues could hinge on the Ward 3 Eugene City Council race up for a vote May 16. With the council often split down the middle, the key race pits Bruce Mulligan against Alan Zelenka in the ward surrounding the UO. Zelenka Mullligan Although the two candidates agree on opposing expansion of the urban growth boundary and on many other issues, there are important differences. For example, Mulligan is more supportive of the West Eugene Parkway and corporate tax breaks. Zelenka opposed giving Whole Foods a $12 million city garage next door while Mulligan supported the subsidy. Zelenka is interested in an independent city performance auditor while Mulligan opposes the idea. Zelenka was endorsed by environmental groups, progressive councilors and the mayor. Mulligan was endorsed by the Eugene police union. A third candidate for the ward, Jana Jackson has criticized police reform efforts and opposes many property regulations and taxes, but does not appear to be campaigning as actively. Mulligan is a human resources consultant who served on the Eugene Budget Committee and county Human Services Commission for the last five years. Zelenka is a manager with the Emerald People's Utility District who earlier served nine years on the Budget Committee and Human Services Commission and was president of the Eugene City Club. Here's where the two candidates differ on key issues: West Eugene Parkway Mulligan has concerns about building the freeway's far western half through the most pristine wetlands, but says he would support a highway in the eastern, more industrial section. The "half a WEP" idea has been proposed before by former Republican Jim Torrey and others, but the idea drew concern from environmentalists who saw it simply as an illegal phasing and segmentation of the eventual construction of the full highway through the wetlands in order to circumvent environmental regulations. "I don't know what the federal rules are," admitted Mulligan, although he said the city could lobby for a way around them. Zelenka said he's not sure if the half a freeway idea would work by itself or just be a prelude to the full freeway through the wetlands. He said people should go look at the wetlands, "packed with wildlife and beautiful plants," that the proposed freeway would destroy. "It's such a special spectacular place, and we really need to preserve it." Zelenka said the WEP, which has doubled in price, would "bankrupt" funds for other needed road projects and "is nothing like what we voted for." He said alternative transportation and simple traffic light, driveway and access road improvements on West 11th could be used to address traffic issues. Tax Breaks Mulligan said he supports full enterprise zone tax breaks for Hynix and other corporations. He said the city needs to compete with Springfield and other cities to attract corporations to increase its tax base. But he acknowledges that the tax breaks he supports can undermine revenues for services. "Are we creating a race to the bottom?" he asks. "Those are legitimate questions." Zelenka said, "I'm not a real big fan of enterprise zones." He said in most places "they haven't worked very well." But he remained non-committal on how he'd vote if Hynix applied for extensions on its breaks, "I'd have to look at it when it came up." Zelenka appears to view the idea of competition with Springfield differently. He said he supported putting Triad in Glenwood as a more central location this side of the river. But Mulligan said he viewed Eugene as in competition for the taxes Triad would pay and said he wishes Glenwood were part of Eugene. Police Reform Both Mulligan and Zelenka voted for the new independent police auditor but don't object to having the auditor's staff controlled by the city manager. Both support increases in police spending. Mulligan drew police union support for his staunch stands on the budget committee for increasing the police budget. Last May he was one of only three of the 13 committee members to vote against reducing high entry fees at Amazon Pool, arguing that the money was better spent on more police. Mulligan also voted last year with Budget Committee conservatives to support privatizing firefighter services at the Eugene airport. Mulligan's biggest campaign contributor is the Eugene police union at $3,000. Zelenka's is the Eugene firefighters union at $2,000. Performance Auditor Zelenka said the city should look into the creation of an independent city performance auditor to provide a check to see if the city staff are meeting council goals and not wasting money. "I would be real interested in looking at how that might work." Mulligan opposes the idea of an independent efficiency auditor, arguing that it's not needed. Whole Foods Mulligan said he would have voted for the controversial, $12 million Whole Foods garage while Zelenka said he would not have. Mulligan said more discussion and consideration of alternatives would have helped, but the project is a "net positive" for the city. Zelenka said that while Whole Foods is "a fine corporation" that would help downtown, he's concerned the process was too rushed. He said questions about whether the city needs more parking there and other ideas for the money and space were left unanswered. Both Zelenka and Mulligan said they support city programs to subsidize downtown parking garages and development with urban renewal tax diversions and multiple unit housing tax breaks. Road Fee Both Mulligan and Zelenka support a big tax increase for street maintenance. The fee drew fire when it was last proposed for unfairly charging the same amount to rich and poor residences, and for charging the same fee for suburban residences with lots of driving and closer-in households with little car use. Mulligan said the model was fair as proposed, but Zelenka said he'd like to see changes to reflect car use by households. City Hall Both Zelenka and Mulligan are skeptical about city staff's push for a new City Hall building. Zelenka said if its built it should be a model of environmentally friendly architecture, but he said, "I don't think its one of the highest priorities of the city." Mulligan said he's interested in ideas to remodel the existing structure. "I don't think the city has made the case yet" for a new building, he said. "If you put it on the ballot today, I think it would be voted down." New Ideas Both Mulligan and Zelenka have new ideas for the city. Mulligan would like to see the city help create a new federally funded health clinic for poor people and would like the city to purchase the 120-acre McDougal ridgeline parcel for park land. Mulligan said the local health care crisis is a problem "as big as the potholes in our streets." Zelenka also supports the clinic idea and the land purchase and said he would like to also create a staffed office and commission on sustainability for the city. He describes Eugene as a "special place" with its beautiful river, smart university people and great neighborhoods. "It grabs hold of you," he said, and "you just want to preserve all that."
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